Apple Fights for Top Smartphone Billing Among Business Users

Apple's (News - Alert) iOS 7 operating system was launched in September to much fanfare, but there was a chorus of rather quick complaints from users about bugs. Some of these likely were fixed by the company through a recent update.

Among the early bugs found with the new operating system were that the iMessage feature could not get activated or it failed to send. Another concern related to the bypass of the password for the lock screen. There were other concerns about iWork apps and stability. And there was significant attention paid to calibration and accelerometers to measure movement.

The troubles were not welcome news for Apple, which wants to see the new operating system become the preferred choice among not just consumers but also among business users opting for iPhones.

In the past, it was the Blackberry that many business users favored for a smartphone. But repeated problems and competition from rivals has decimated its once favorite status among businesses. Now, Blackberry is the subject of many rumors. Among the companies that may try to take the struggling Canadian firm over are: Fairfax Financial, IBM (News - Alert), Microsoft, Samsung, Lenovo, Google, Cisco, SAP, Amazon and Facebook, according to the Financial Times. Still, it is a long way off that Blackberry could become a serious player again for business users.

That is not the case for Apple. It has long been a favorite among consumers and the company is trying to improve its reputation among business users. “Apple has come leaps and bounds in its business offerings in the past few years, and iOS7 does seem to be the cherry on top that crowns the iPhone (News - Alert) as the best phone for businesses,” according to a recent report from Social Barrel.

At the same time, Apple’s rivals – often using the Android (News - Alert) operating system or maybe one from Microsoft – have some impressive features that may lure business users.

There also are some stumbling blocks that could keep Apple from winning top billing among business users. For instance, it appears that IT departments at businesses still have some concern about Apple’s smartphone offerings. “iPhones have never been particularly sought after for their security as Blackberrys were, and the lackluster security features of iPhones in the past, along with data management, left many businesses with no option but to rule it out as a business phone,” the report adds.

Yet, mobile device management has improved with the new Apple phones with iOS7, thanks in part to a closed ecosystem, and the new iPhones were described as “security behemoths,” the report said. On the other hand, Android phones do not have a lot in the way of standardization when it comes to security – but they do have many security options, the report said.

Now, as more and more companies are implementing bring your own device (BYOD) policies in the workplace, Apple is pushing itself as the best phone provider for this new trend. That could be important for businesses concerned about security issues with BYOD. In addition, many individual employees prefer using the iPhone – for both personal use and in the workplace. So it is natural they would gravitate toward it for fulfilling BYOD needs.

Consider, too, the benefit that comes because the iOS7 can “restrict certain documents being used on certain apps, and ensures that company data stays within the company ecosystem,” the report said. Also, Apple is taking BYOD seriously. Social Barrel reported how Apple filled a page of its website “to describe how some large companies use BYOD and to give advice on how a business can build its own BYOD program.”

In addition to security, mail is another priority for business users. For instance, the Mail app found in iOS7 has a new design. “The new Mail app irons out previous Exchange problems and allows for multiple mailboxes to be easily used with little-to-no effort from the phone user,” Social Barrel said. “Better synchronization with Exchange and a much zippy search function allows the Mail app to glide through thousands of emails without stuttering.”

Of course, whether it is for business or consumer use, calling is an important feature for any phone. The iOS7 features a revamped interface in the phone app, an improved Do Not Disturb offering, and improved contacts system for better access. Yet, the Android operating system has probably better contact technology than iOS, Social Barrel said.

Some other features found on new Apple phones are TouchID and Find My iPhone (an iCloud system which can track the location of the phone and clear data if needed.) These may be options that business users may favor, too.

The rivalry among smartphone providers will likely continue indefinitely. Apple is ready for the competition – whether for the consumer or the business market.