On October 29th 2012, Microsoft announced Windows Phone 8 alongside a host of new features that allows you to customize your phone to your tastes. If you are a gamer, a socialite, a music junkie or a parent trying to keep you children’s extra-curricular activities in check, Windows Phone 8 can abide by your needs. While Windows Phone 8 excels in connecting your personal life, Microsoft has also done a great job in adhering to the BYOD trend.
Here are a few of the business capabilities offered in Windows Phone 8 to help connect your business to what matters to you organization most:
The Work Hub: One of the challenges IT departments faced with Windows Phone originally was the lack of ability to privately push applications to a device. All applications had to published via the Windows Phone Store and then IT would inform you as to how to download the required app. With Windows Phone 8, businesses are now able to create their own hub that relates to said business. Business can now provide their employees a central point on their Windows Phone to access line-of-business apps and receiving alerts, such as password expiration notifications, pertaining specifically to your business.
Encryption: Many smartphone manufactures in market today speak of encryption capabilities offered on their smartphone’s but negate to mention the costly amounts of software required to add encryption functionality. Microsoft included the industry trusted BitLocker offering for secure boot up and on device storage encryption capability in Windows Phone 8. This can be invoked alongside a great many additional tools, such as remote lock and wipe functionality, and policies via a business’s existing implementation of Microsoft Exchange of Office 365. Further functionality can also be added through the inclusion of System Center Configuration Manager, with the device manager add-on, and can provide a centralized control console for IT departments to manage both desktop and mobile including the newly released Microsoft Surface.
The Office Hub: For those who use Microsoft Office, you most likely understand the challenges associated with viewing Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents on your smartphones and tablets. While most smartphones today load applications to allow someone to view their documents, the look and feel of said document is not always true to its form. Microsoft has created the Office Hub which is included in the Windows Phone offering. Office Hub allow you to experience documents the way that they were intended when created on a desktop computer. Word, Excel and PowerPoint are all fully accessible and allow you to make changes to any document while on the go. Furthermore Microsoft has included a free 7GB storage offering called SkyDrive which allows you to store your documents into “the cloud” as easily as storing a document on a separate drive on your computer. This allows you to create documents on your computer, then save the document into SkyDrive for later access from your Windows Phone and vice versa. You also have the ability to share documents amongst colleagues or friends seamlessly via SkyDrive should you wish to collaborate with them.
Remote Lock and Wipe Functionality: A lost smartphone these days is almost as worrisome as losing your wallet. Having your client information and work related data readily accessible does have its risks as it is easy to lose your smartphone. While enabling password protection is always your best first line of defense, Microsoft has included additional functionality to safeguard the data on your Windows Phone from prying eyes. All that is needed is a Windows Live account (which is free and also gives you access to the 7GB SkyDrive storage mentioned earlier) and access to www.windowsphone.com. Once there you can remotely lock, wipe and even locate your phone via GPS all for free. To add, you are even able to remotely “ring” your phone should you believe you misplaced your phone in your office or at home.
In short Microsoft has really embraced BYOD with its Windows Phone offering. There are many other great features that Windows Phone 8 provides and this list only covers a few. Take the time to learn more and see how Windows Phone can connect your business.
What about secure email? Execs will not use Windows phones at our shop without encrypted email.
SSL Certificates can be utilized on Windows Phone to encrypt the transport of from Exchange to the smartphone. On device encryption, in which Windows Phone utilizes BitLocker technology, can be envoke directly from the Exchange server or System Center Device Manager. Device encryption can also be enabled via mobile device management suites such as Airwatch or SOTI and is a viable option if Microsoft Exchange is not present.