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Apple planning enterprise additions for iPad?

updated 11:50 am EST, Fri January 29, 2010

Changes include printing, file server support


Apple may have serious changes in mind for selling the iPad to enterprise customers, according to sources in contact with Apple's business unit. The device is mainly geared towards personal media consumption in the form of books, video and music. It also supports a range of apps however, in some cases more advanced than those possible with the iPhone and iPod touch. Among these is a iPhone OS version of iWork.

To improve the business utility of the iPad, Apple is said to have at least two major software upgrades in mind. The first is support for direct network printing, as opposed to the current scheme which mostly limits people to output through printer-specific software. The second is access to local file servers, which would be enabled through an app similar to iDisk.

Some analysts have however criticized other aspects of the iPad's enterprise support. There is currently no known VPN compatibility, or proper support of push e-mail and Microsoft Exchange. The tablet even lacks the option of remote locking by an IT administrator, something already possible on the iPhone. Corporations may also resent having to deploy apps download-by-download through the App Store.


by MacNN Staff

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 enterprise, iPad

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  1. pg

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Jun 2002

    +3
    01/29, 12:22pm | report spam | (1 reply) Reply |

    comment title

    I resent most corporations not wanting to support Apple products.

  1. ccoulson

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    Joined: Nov 2008

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    01/29, 12:50pm | report spam | Reply |

    comment title

    Camera for video conferencing...

  1. Geoduck

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

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    01/29, 01:18pm | report spam | (1 reply) Reply |

    VPN?

    No VPN? So you VPN into a Windows Terminal server and use it how? You have no mouse or physical keyboard. The screen keyboard will get in the way of what you're trying to do.

    I see this as ideal in a managed environment for sales staff, medical staff, and other people that need something they can carry easily, access on line and/or web based documents, and enter data. A POS device. A device for a house inspector/Dr./other professional to make notes on the run. As a device where people can make notes or look up on-line documents during a meeting without a clattering keyboard.

    I could also see this as good for IT people who access a unix system within a shell. When I do that the shell is small enough that it would not get covered by the keyboard. Being able to use that on the fly would be sweet.

  1. Tulse

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Mar 2009

    +6
    01/29, 01:23pm | report spam | (1 reply) Reply |

    The iPhone already has these

    The iPhone already has Exchange support, push email support, and remote locking/wiping support. So why wouldn't the much-more-capable iPad?

  1. testudo

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Aug 2001

    -1
    01/29, 02:18pm | report spam | Reply |

    Re: VPN

    I don't know. VPN into your network to access your corporate email, files, servers, etc.

  1. testudo

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Aug 2001

    -2
    01/29, 02:21pm | report spam | (1 reply) Reply |

    Re: The iPhone already has these

    The iPhone already has Exchange support, push email support, and remote locking/wiping support. So why wouldn't the much-more-capable iPad?


    Because Apple might not want the more capable iPad to have them? Apple pre-determines what market they want a product to belong to. As such, they then determine what features might or might not contain for that reason.

  1. Loren

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Mar 2001

    -2
    01/29, 02:43pm | report spam | Reply |

    and...?

    The camera for web conferencing? The microphone for memos? The ability to recognize handwriting? Eh? Hello? Apple? Hello?

    Hello?

    Clunk.

  1. Nate83

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Jan 2010

    -1
    01/29, 03:00pm | report spam | Reply |

    Not for me

    The more I learn about the iPad, the more I would rather save another few hundred bucks and get a 13" macbook pro. Maybe it'll be more useful a couple generations down the road, but right now it seems like a toy for the computer-illiterate and apple fanbois.

  1. iphonerulez

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Nov 2008

    +1
    01/29, 05:43pm | report spam | Reply |

    The iPad is a couple of months away from

    shipping, so what is the hurry for corporations. Why don't they just go use the latest Android tablet or better yet, the HP Slate for the time being? The corporations never wanted Apple products to begin with and now that Apple partially ignored them, they're getting all upset for being ignored. From they way they're acting, it's like they can barely wait to get their hands on the iPad.

    There is a microphone built into the iPad, but it must not have been mentioned. Eventually you'll be able to use Skype for telephony and voice messages when an app has been written for such.
    The iPhone and Touch can do handwriting recognition (there was Graffitti for iPhone at one time), so there doesn't seem to be any reason that the iPad won't be able to if an app is written for it. I guess the camera is being reserved for iPad-TNG.

  1. testudo

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Aug 2001

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    01/29, 06:40pm | report spam | (1 reply) Reply |

    Re: couple of months

    so what is the hurry for corporations. Why don't they just go use the latest Android tablet or better yet, the HP Slate for the time being? The corporations never wanted Apple products to begin with and now that Apple partially ignored them, they're getting all upset for being ignored. From they way they're acting, it's like they can barely wait to get their hands on the iPad.

    Um, it isn't the corporations who are all up in arms (except some small company folks who're also fanboys and think anything Apple comes out with is the perfect device to push throughout the company).

    It's the analysts or are spouting this. And they're doing it because they know that stuff like missing enterprise features reduces the potential market to just consumers. And analysts would like everyone to buy an iPad because that would help boost Apple's earnings even more and get the stock price over $300!

    The iPhone and Touch can do handwriting recognition (there was Graffitti for iPhone at one time), so there doesn't seem to be any reason that the iPad won't be able to if an app is written for it.

    One shouldn't need an app for that. Apple developed Ink back in the 10.2 days, touted it as the 'next big thing' and a major feature of OS X, and then just ignored it (like they do with so much of their 'next big things' in the OS). It's still there and should have been ported over to the iPhone long ago. Maybe it'll finally be brought into the iPad.

    I guess the camera is being reserved for iPad-TNG.

    Or it isn't coming. Everyone keeps saying "Oh, the next iPod touch will get a camera".

    Oh, right. It was going to be there, but rumors say it was pulled due to issues at the last minute...

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