The following is a contributed article by Mark Gentile, founder, president and CEO of Odyssey Software:

The use of converged mobile devices that combine communication and computing capabilities is growing dramatically. Research shows that it will double in three years, as 46 percent of mobile workers will use converged mobile devices by 2011, compared to 23 percent who used them at the beginning of this year. Access to enterprise applications from smartphones will grow even faster - 71 percent this year alone and 196 percent during the next three years. Mobile-related risks are growing accordingly. As the use of converged mobile devices to access and share information grows, so do the enterprise vulnerabilities and management challenges associated with them.

Cutting Wireless Costs

Organizations need data to document transmission failures and other events so they can successfully enforce quality-of-service (QoS) agreements and resolve billing disputes with carriers. By being able to tell exactly when and where wireless transmissions failed, organizations can pinpoint problems and better determine if the failure resulted from network or device issues. Organizations also need data showing usage trends and other information so they can optimize their wireless plans. The correct mobile device management software can provide the information needed to reduce wireless costs and deliver the documentation to effectively deal with carriers.

Decrease Downtime - Implement Remote Access and Control

Adding real-time connectivity to mobile devices raises the level of sophistication for mobile applications, and therefore raises the consequences of service interruptions and device failures. When mobile computers connect to ERP and other enterprise applications, users may not have the ability to troubleshoot their own devices, or while accessing applications they could potentially delete important records. In these situations, mobile workers may not be able to service customers and perform tasks until applications are restored. The more users depend on wireless connectivity and real-time information access to do their jobs, the greater the losses resulting from device failures. Therefore it is important to support wireless devices with systems that allow Help Desk staff to monitor operations in real time and remotely take control of devices to perform troubleshooting when necessary.

Visibility for Policy Enforcement

Mobile device management software does not set policies, but can give organizations the visibility and control needed to enforce them. At the very least, the software should provide data about call and messaging volume. More sophisticated reporting provides the information organizations need to police their policies. For example, systems can automatically generate reports when users have unusually high activity, or when devices are communicating outside normal working hours. Additionally, managers can be alerted when calls or messages are sent to non-authorized numbers, or when non-work-related URLs are visited. Systems can also be set to block communication entirely to sites, phone numbers and e-mail addresses that have not been pre-approved, and to restrict access to specific applications.

Case and Point

Millions of new smartphones and other converged computing and communications devices are being deployed each quarter, and are changing the way business is done. Converged devices that bundle GPS, voice, text and data communications into a single device enable efficient new business processes, but also introduce significant management challenges and potential liabilities to the enterprise. Unless mobile device management software is developed specifically to support wireless communication, organizations are at risk for unnecessary wireless expenses, lost productivity and reduced customer service.

The convergence of computing and communications technology is changing how people work, while creating a critical need for system administrators to change how mobile devices are monitored, managed and secured.

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Mark Gentile is founder, president and CEO of Odyssey Software Inc, a pioneer in the mobile enterprise software market. He has led the design, development, and implementation of mobile enterprise solutions for many Fortune 500 companies across North America. Odyssey Software is the creator of Athena, the industry's premier enterprise-class mobile device management product for the Windows Mobile® platform. For more information visit: www.odysseysoftware.com.