iPad for Enterprise Use

[BASE91]

Would like to know if anyone here is managing and administering the iPad for enterprise use. One question I have, is it possible to purchase a 3rd party app and deploy it to all the iPads in the company?

Would love to hear about real world experiences out there! 🙂

 

[wackymacky]

Despite what Apple says I don’t believe that the iPad is ready for widespread enterprise use.

iPad doesn't have a robust solution for deploying device and network configurations to large numbers of devices. If you work for a firm that has a small number of devices and you trust all users I don’t think it is and issue.



There are options available through the iPhone Configuration Utility for the deploying managed device settings; security settings and certificates; wireless network and VPN configurations; server configurations (including general mail, Exchange, and alternate calendar and contact server settings); subscriptions to calendars published using the iCalendar (.isc files) standard; and for populating Web bookmarks and Web-based applications as home screen icons.

There are also options for deploying internal native iPad apps. This can be done with via the development program where you can distribute the Apps directly rather that the iTunes store.

Have you looked a the below links for advice directly from Apple?

http://images.apple.com/support/ipad/enterprise/ (Apple's iPad Enterprise Support Site_

http://images.apple.com/ipad/business/pdf/iPad_Deployment_Scenarios.pdf
(Apple's iPad Enterprise Deployment Scenarios Document)

http://discussions.apple.com/category.jspa?categoryID=269 (Apple's iPad Enterprise Support and Discussion Forum )

 

[rjphoto]

Had a client ask about Citrix the other day and haven't had a chance to check it out.

Anyone have info on Citrix on iPad?

 

[DoFoT9]

Had a client ask about Citrix the other day and haven't had a chance to check it out.

Anyone have info on Citrix on iPad?

the only info i know is that you have to pay 😛

from what i know, there is no way to administer the devices as a whole.

 

[bt22]

The Citrix App for iPad is a free download. My company does not use iPad's, but I downloaded the Citrix App the other day and let the IT guys set it up and they were very impressed. The response to touch is a little slow, reminds me of the Android experience I've seen on You Tube, but all in all is a nice option. I would recommend it.

 

[BASE91]

Thank you for your responses. We are currently in the process of deploying these devices and it seems we are struggling with managing the deployment of third party apps. As it would make sense for us as an organization to centralize the licensing and distribution we seem to be running into a wall.

I hope others in enterprise environments will continue to contribute to this thread as I plan to do.