It is not surprising that many employees have turned toward mobile devices as a key tool for completing business tasks. The functionality of mobile applications and continuing evolution of the hardware make it hard to ignore this fact and, with Apple gearing up to possibly announce an upgraded iPad line, it may not be long before tablets and smartphones are not only the preferred company tech tool, but also the only one.
Some companies have already taken steps to try and put this future in motion. Last month, Acer, a leading PC manufacturer, unveiled a prototype device called the Acer Extend, during Germany's annual gadget show IFA.
The device is essentially a shell laptop (keyboard and screen only). However, when you plug a specialized smartphone into it through USB, the screen comes to life and becomes a laptop-shaped version of the phone with the same apps, media and wireless connectivity.
This is not the first time a product like this has been attempted. Dating as far back as 2007, companies have been rolling out versions of this idea, but they have yet to catch-on. It's no secret that some tasks are still easier to do on a large screen, but will this idea catch-on?
An article from Quartz says no, though the reasons why this was the case for older versions may not be in play here.
"This time is likely to be no different, and for an entirely new set of reasons: the cloud, specifically Google's cloud, has made the physical unification of all our personal computing devices irrelevant," the article reads.
Platforms like Google Drive and Apple's new cloud productivity suite are making it easier than ever for organizations to share documents and information across multiple devices with ease. However, IT departments will still face the problem of managing all of these devices and keeping an eye on the cloud system.
With the help of an IT consulting firm that specializes in installing and maintaining mobile devices in a corporate setting, organizations can roll out an iPad deployment and rest easy knowing that the smart devices that are gaining popularity with employees are benefiting their company as well.
