Enterprise Mobility: Mobile Application Development Seminar

Enterprise Mobility: Mobile Application Development Seminar took place at the Union League Club. From my view, it was a great turn out. Incredible presentations, that provided technology executives with suggestions and tips on taking their company mobile. The presentations had a general theme, past, present, and future. What follows is a highlight of what I found interesting.

John Gavilin VP and CTO of Bridgepoint Technologies covered the adoption of mobile technologies. “Apps are here to stay,” he said, and sees the future market holding either a hybrid device and/ or tablet. His first suggestion was to build a mobile strategy, one step was to choose the app development road map keeping in mind that enterprise users expectations are now high. Complicated interfaces are no longer accepted. Users are now expecting the full package, design and features needs to be highly considered when developing the road map.

Doug Wilson Co-founder of Breakthrough Technologies captured the audience by bringing us back to history. “The dawn of an enlighten period –a period of unprecedented change. “ He compared that age to today where we are forced to change the way we do things. I couldn’t agree more, there is a  “penetration of software into all aspects of our personal and business lives.” Mr. Wilson believed that “Frameworks are important” and choosing to either develop multiplatform or native apps can help in planning your strategy. He also suggested to make a strategy to get from point a to b, it doesn’t matter if you are right or wrong, just don’t be left behind!  

J Schwan founder of Solstice Mobile took the audience through a mobile time capsule, highlighting the past, when mobile technology first arrived, and fast-forwarding to a couple years from now. The previous presentations mentioned to go mobile first, and desktop second, and Mr. Schwan didn’t fail at mentioning it too! Third times a charm, its engrained in my brain: mobile first, desktop second everyone. Bringing it full circle to why going mobile is important is the blatant fact, everyone is already doing it. Using our smart phones for transactions is becoming just as natural as swiping our cards. From standing in line at Starbucks to purchasing groceries in South Korea by using a QR code in the subway station. The most memorable part of the presentation and which really had me left with a dumfounded awe expression was the Google Glasses ad video. Watching the sunset with your significant other has taken new lengths. Wait for it . Awe.

Kudos to Technology Executives Club for keeping this event informative! "Apps and mobile devices are not going anywhere," was the prediction of the day, and the technology executives could now leave this seminar with a bases of how to start their a to b plan.

GeneXus USA Sponsorship Booth

Enterprises are definitely going mobile, heck, people are already going mobile in their own homes, I spoke to a new dad, who was showing me the camera he had set up in his kids room, that he can view from his iPhone! That, is incredibly innovative, fast forward 15 years from now, those teenagers wont get away with anything, there’s my prediction!

Sponsors:

            GeneXus USA

            Breakthrough Technologies

BridgePoint Technologies

            Compuware Corporation

            Solistice Mobile

            Analytics8

            Motorola Solutions

            Project Leadership Association

            Softweb Solutions

Smart & Simple Mobile Security

Smart & Simple Mobile Security 

By Reena Prema

Mobile security is an interesting subject because it has really pushed the boundaries of what security means in the computing world. Originally security meant the prevention of data loss and malfunction and to a lesser degree identity. Phishing, malware, viruses, and so on were the primary culprits that security tools tried to prohibit, however more and more people are using their mobile phones, tablets and other personal devices in lieu of their computers and this poses a series of different challenges. A phone for example is the primary conduit of information exchange. Its value ranges from the data the phone stores-- from their contacts, business information, financial information (1 click shopping? yep), to the physical phone itself. The data that’s on that phone is valuable to people looking to use someone’s identity, marketers trying to understand their audience, or hooligans trying to mess with someone. Regardless when we think of mobile security, we have to think more broadly:

1) 'Soft Protection'- Malware, phishing, viruses. These are all still prevalent. Although Apple does a rigorous background check on many of the apps they allow on the App Market some bad apps still make it out. It’s even easier on Android phones to install non-approved market apps.

2) Data Backup- A mobile device is a source of a lot of data, including but not limited to photos, videos, or music. This data aside from its sentimental value, can be worth something to others. What people need is a way to backup this information, and keep it safe if they have it on their phone. Does click to cloud help with this? I would presume so!

3) Phone Recovery- Ways of tracking your phone (and your data) are imperative, especially since it’s so easy for such a device to go missing. Apple has built-in tracking like the Find my iPad/iPhone feature and Android phones have 3rd party utilities like Prey. However none of these are ever fool proof.

As with any aspect of mobile security, being aware and having a good sense for how you use your phone is required.

This general view of mobile security could include these few don’ts: Don't go to shady sites, make sure your passwords not just for your phone, but for all your applications are secure, and of course and don't lose your phone. The last I have trouble doing myself, so no judgment there!

Watch GeneXus USA's Webinar, and view how to create a secure and full featured apps!