How Microsoft Is Trying To Win Mobile In The Enterprise

No other company has been hurt more by the rise of new devices in the enterprise than Microsoft.

The iPad is a particular threat, as it could replace a significant number of Windows PC sales, and could loosen the company's hold on other enterprise business software.

A recent report from BI Intelligence explains how this disruption is threatening the former leader in enterprise computing, and what Microsoft is doing to respond. 

So, what do Microsoft's mobile in the enterprise efforts look like?

• Windows 8 Is A BYOD Play: Windows 8, which will ship this October, is a two-in-one operating system. It features a new interface called Metro that is designed to be used with fingers. It also includes a traditional desktop, which is meant for legacy applications and functions that are better used with a keyboard and mouse. With this strategy, Microsoft is hoping to capture a very specific market: business users who want a tablet for casual personal use, but don't want to carry a separate laptop to work.
• What about smartphones? The next version of Windows Phone will be based on the same underlying technology as Windows 8 and Windows RT. This was Microsoft's best choice: Windows Phone 7 never got enough traction among developers to get the apps it needed to take on iOS and Android, particularly so-called "long tail" apps.
• Microsoft has huge strengths in the enterprise that will help mobile efforts: Many clients are locked into including long-term licensing agreements for products like Office and Exchange. It's revamping its core business apps for the cloud with Office 365. And it's got a renewed focus on touch screens with Windows 8 Metro. So despite its complete lack of progress in smartphones so far, Microsoft is still in a great position when it comes to mobile in the enterprise. 

See  more at businessinsider.com's "BII REPORT: Here's How Microsoft Is Trying To Win Mobile In The Enterprise".