If you are an enterprise IT professional here is your challenge. C-levels demand seamless access for the smartphones and tablets they are using to run the business. And, the bring your own device (BYOD) trend of all other employees is picking up speed. Your job now is to accommodate these devices while keeping your company safe and secure.
To date, this has been a mine field. The imperatives to make BYOD devices “enterprise compliant” are clear. However, solutions to bring order to the chaos have been elusive. It is for this reason that the announcement of an alliance between GENBAND and Samsung Mobile to solve precisely this challenge commands attention.
The objective of the GENBAND-Samsung Mobile alliance is to integrate Samsung Mobile’s SAFE (Samsung for Enterprise) designated devices with GENBAND’s SMART OFFICE mobile UC applications. It is part of GENBAND’s recently introduced strategic vision to bring a “SAFE, SMART, and SIMPLE” user experience to the enterprise, and Samsungs desire to be the mobile devices of choice of enterprises.
The SAE pillars for secure enterprise communications
Tim Wagner, VP and GM, Enterprise Sales at Samsung Mobile stated that, “Our SAFE solution, which enhances security for enterprise devices, combined with GENBAND’s industry leading UC software and service provider expertise, offers enterprise customers a holistic, innovative and cost-effective desk phone complement or replacement solution that will allow employees to carry their communications environment with them, whether inside or outside of the office.”
SAFE represents Samsung Mobile’s growing family of enterprise solutions that include the necessary security and feature enhancements suitable for business use – on highly desirable devices recognized worldwide. The portfolio of products is built on four pillars:
- Quick and easy access to corporate e-mail, meeting details, contacts and other critical info.
- On-device encryption (ODE) for storing proprietary documents, presentations and other corporate data on personal devices while keeping it protected.
- Virtual Private Network (VPN) accessibility that allows for secure access on the mobile device when it is nomadic.
- Mobile device management that enables IT to assure that mobile employees are using devices and applications that meet company-specific policies and rules.
GENBAND and the unified communications (UC) connection
GENBAND will offer Samsung Mobile devices through its service provider customers and large systems integrator partners. The significant value-add enterprises will have access to GENBAND’s Innovation Exchange™, ensuring a constant stream of new UC solutions developed specifically for the enterprise community and industry verticals.
“Enterprise communications are quickly evolving to include mobile devices and the cloud, yet services are not integrated, making enterprises primed for the next wave of disruptive innovative mobile UC technologies,” said Sam Waicberg, CMO at GENBAND. “Our relationship with Samsung, complemented by our SMART multimedia portfolio and partner ecosystem, clearly differentiates this solution from competitive offerings by simplifying and enhancing the enterprise user experience.”
Charlie Vogt, president and CEO for GENBAND, featured spearker at the recent ITEXPO Miami event (see session video below) added, “Together with Samsung Mobile we are offering our 600 service provider customers and channel partners turnkey solutions for SAFE, SMART, and SIMPLE unified communications…Our Samsung alliance and Making Networks Smarter approach will define the ultimate mobile office experience for the next decade and beyond.”
What stands out in the announcement is what GENBAND’s Waiberg stated, “Our vision is consistent with the vision of many CIO’s – a mobile tablet as the primary voice and multimedia communications device bundled with a carrier grade, cloud-based UC service.” The fact is that it isn’t just the CIOs. While the solution takes away many of the pain points for IT professionals, it is a win/win/win/win.
IT wins because of the ability to provide security and control over devices and apps. The average worker gets to have one device that because of the protection provided allows them to use it in multiple contexts and as their communications device of preference regardless of whether they are in personal or professional persona. Plus they get access to all of the tools they need to be productive including sophisticated UC capabilities. And, company management wins because C-levels can run their businesses on the go and with peace of mind that mission critical information is not being leaked or exposed to danger. Finally, mobile service providers win because they now have a value proposition for enterprises that can cement their centrality in evolving communications solutions.
Additional information about the alliance is available at this link, and, and if you are in Barcelona for the Mobile World Congress 2013 stop by the GENBAND booth in Hall 6, Booth 6E110 for a test run.
Edited by
Brooke Neuman
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