Enterprise, consumer needs differ for mobile devices

While consumerization has blurred the line between the two, there are still certain needs that companies look for that may differ from those of consumers when purchasing a mobile device.

According to a recent Australian IT report, data security, durability, ease of configuration and battery life are all priorities for enterprise mobility users. While mobile professionals need smartphones or tablets that help them be more productive, they also require devices that are reliable and will protect business-critical data.

"What business needs from a tablet computer can differ markedly from what consumers need," the report stated.

In spite of this, consumerization still rules enterprise mobility today. That could have a lot to do with mobile professionals wanting the usability of consumer-based products in addition to the requirements of enterprise mobility.

Though organizations have a familiarity with the Microsoft Windows operating system, many companies have chosen to focus their tablet mobile device management solutions on Apple's iPad and various devices based on Google's Android.

According to a new report from ABI Research, the iPad continues to dominate the market, but Android-based devices ate away 20 percent market share in the past 12 months.