Mobile Apps in the Enterprise, Part 2

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Mobile Apps in the Enterprise, Part 2

• Beyond the Service Fleet Innovative Apps
• Presented by Sean Gallagher
• sean_at_seanmgallagher.com

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Traditional Enterprise Mobile

• Connected Thick Client
• Data is stored locally, refreshed through sync,
  application logic is local
• Best for unpredictable bandwidth, heavy mobile
  clients
• Applicable outside fleet apps
• New tools make Android, webOS platforms for
  thick client apps

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Examples of Thick Connected Client on Mobile
Sybase SQL Anywhere

• Mobilization of transactional applications
• Can integrate with transactional middleware,
  synchronize when connected
• Used to create Web-based local apps for US Air
  Force logistics

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Examples of Thick Connected Client on Mobile
CouchBase CouchOne

• A schema-less database engine using a document
  format
• Uses local HTML links to drive Javascript
  interface
• Cloud service back-end DB
• Combined with OcastaTrade cloud trading service
  for Vodafone's Project Agora, a mobile social
  marketplace for direct, localized,
  person-to-person sales via mobile app

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Thick ClientActionComplete for Android

• A project management tool based on Getting
  Things Done
• Leverages location-based data from client,
  generates location-based alerts to remind you of
  things that need to be done at a location
• Syncs with cloud service, or can run standalone

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Approaches to Mobile App Architecture Thin Client

• Data is mostly stored remotely, with small local
  cache for config info
• Presentation is powered locally, but most
  processing happens on server or in cloud
• Integration with mobile device features
• Best for predictable bandwidth or on-premises,
  smartphones and other connected devices

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Examples of Thin Client Cloud CloudTalk

• Threaded voice chat
• Private threaded conversations
• Uses phone to record and play-back messages
• Cloud server handles audio processing and delivery

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Example of Thin Client Square

• App has code to work credit card reader
• Allows mobile payments
• Only user config data resides on client passes
  transaction to server for processing

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Approaches to Mobile App Architecture Mobile Web
Client

• Uses mobile browser to access server-based Web
  application all data resides on back end
• Can be part of a cloud app/SaaS
• Best for multi-device, predictable bandwidth,
  secures data
• Mobile Touch Web apps are fastest growing
  segment of mobile app market

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Mobile Web Client Example Fabasoft Folio

• Cloud-based digital records management and
  collaboration software
• Creates Web-based collaboration spaces
• Mobile Web interface provides access to
  collaborative spaces, files
• Workflow management component lets users track
  business processes from mobile device
• Can download PDFs of documents in system to
  mobile device to read
• Uses WebDAV to support uploads from phone

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Approaches to Mobile App Architecture App
Virtualization

• Virtual client software on device connects to
  desktop or app on remote server
• All data resides on back end, access can be
  coupled to strong authentication
• Display/form-factor issues
• Best for multi-client, reliable connectivity,
  direct access to corporate apps.

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Examples of App Virtualization

• Citrix Receiver for iPhone
• Lutheran Services of Iowa uses for homecare
  provider access to HIPAA-sensitive apps, so data
  doesn't reside on laptop or phone
• Other health providers using for EMR access