Securing smart devices for the workplace 

Singapore, 1 February 2012 - Singapore Telecommunications Limited (Singtel) today announced the launch of a global cloud-based service that enables companies to secure, control and manage corporate data and mobile devices of their employees, regardless of their location.

With the Singtel Mobility Device Manager (MDM) service, companies are able to manage devices of different mobile OS and ensure information security for mobile devices used by their workforce. This includes company-issued devices, as well as those belonging to employees.

Mr Bill Chang, Singtel’s Executive Vice President, Business Group said: “We are seeing a surge in the number of companies that allow their employees to bring their own mobile devices for work.  In fact, the use of smartphones for business activities worldwide is projected to grow by 116% by 2014[1].  This opens up new security issues, particularly for companies with regional operations. With Singtel MDM, companies can now secure data through security policy settings and governance, control on devices, manage apps deployment and control cost through usage policy management. These can all be done via the simple-to-use web-based portal.”

In the event of the loss or theft of an employee’s mobile device, an administrator can remotely lock the device or selectively erase corporate data to prevent market sensitive information from falling into the wrong hands.  Administrators can determine the location of the missing devices and remotely deploy and track apps downloads within the enterprise. They are also able to configure and provision the devices over-the-air.

Singtel MDM is compatible with all mobile OS platforms including iOS, Android, Blackberry, Windows Phone, Symbian and Windows Mobile. In addition, it is independent of the location and mobile network, thus facilitating the seamless control of mobile devices globally.

With the apps management and in-house apps publishing features, companies can publish their in-house apps separately from public apps. This ensures that only a company’s employees have access to the company’s apps such as sales, marketing or HR-related applications. Analysts believe that more companies will develop and deploy their own in-house apps for their workforce. The mobile device management market is expected to grow to US$6.6 billion by 2015[2].

With the ability to disable selected data-intensive applications, cost will also be controlled and managed, especially when a user is roaming. Furthermore, companies are also able to manage roaming costs by setting roaming alerts.

Mr Chang said: “As Singtel MDM is offered on a monthly subscription basis, companies do not need to make upfront investments in equipment and can avoid the ongoing costs of managing and maintaining complex systems and hardware. This allows them to improve their productivity, increase business agility and reduce their operating costs significantly.”

“We are gaining strong traction in Singapore and the region with this cloud-based service as we are able to help enterprises scale and roll out the service very quickly. This includes offering companies the option of hosting the service on their own premises. We will continue to offer a full suite of mobility IT services that help to address different customer needs,” he said.

Singtel MDM is collaboration between Singtel and MobileIron, a leading global MDM service provider. 

“Over the last two years, we’ve seen global business running more and more often on mobile devices and demand for MobileIron is exploding globally,” said Bob Tinker, CEO of MobileIron. “We are very pleased to have Singtel, Asia Pacific’s leading communications group, as a major partner and to work with them to meet the needs of enterprise customers in the region.”

For more information on the Singtel MDM enterprise solution, please visit www.singtel.com/mdm.

About Singtel

Singtel is Asia's leading communications group providing a portfolio of services including voice and data solutions over fixed, wireless and Internet platforms as well as infocomm technology and pay TV. The Group has presence in Asia and Africa with 424 million mobile customers in 25 countries, including Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, the Philippines and Thailand. It also has a network of 35 offices in 19 countries and territories throughout Asia Pacific, Europe and the United States. 

About MobileIron

Positioned in the Leaders Quadrant of Gartner, Inc.'s Magic Quadrant for Mobile Device Management Software 2011, MobileIron is solving the problems CIOs face as business data and applications move to smartphones and tablets. The MobileIron Virtual Smartphone Platform and the MobileIron Connected Cloud are the first solutions to give IT and users real-time intelligence and control over mobile content, activity, and apps in order to secure the enterprise, reduce wireless cost, and improve the mobile user experience. For more information, please visit www.mobileiron.com.

[1] IDC, Worldwide Business Use Smartphone 2010-2014 Forecast and Analysis, September 2010

[2] Forrester Research, Mobile Management Takes A 180-Degree Turn, August 2011