iPhone OS 3.0 pushes Apple into the enterprise
It would appear that, with the introduction of iPhone OS 3.0, Apple is trying to push deeper into the business world. This may be more about Apple than about the iPhone.
Many of the features introduced in the new iPhone operating system make it easier for iPhone developers to produce more complex applications for the iPhone and iPod Touch. There was a fair amount of buzz from game producers about how much better the games can be with the new operating system. That may be true, but it probably is not be the biggest advantage.
The new iPhone API opens up core pieces of the operating system to developers, important pieces such as the parts of the operating system that control the use of maps (perhaps to embed client locations in a map?), the ability to voice-chat (allowing team conversation without dialing?), access to bluetooth functions (bar code readers, perhaps?), and so on. So many of these API functions offer access to the OS that will make it much easier to develop business apps, according to a PC World story. In addition, the inclusion of limited push notifications certainly puts the iPhone squarely in the sights of business app developers.
Other, more esoteric, features will be a part of OS 3.0. There are marvelous enterprise tools being added to calendar functions via CalDAV. Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) was mentioned as a part of the new capabilities, which has application to many business contact functions. Engineers and marketing people were throwing around acronyms like OTA, VPN, and ICS.
All of this points not to improved games but to real business applications for the iPhone. The reason RIM and Blackberry are seen as the business phone of choice is because they positioned themselves that way. The iPhone is arguably more capable that any of the Blackberry offerings. With more business apps, and perhaps a separate “Biz App Store,” Apple could have a great shot at taking over a big slice of the business smartphone market.
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