CIOs: Buy a Private App Store for Mobile

By Jim Lundy

In conversations we have been having with end-user clients lately, one of the hot topics for the CIOs is Mobile, specifically Tablet Computers. They all have to support them, starting with the Executive Suite, followed quickly by Sales.  In fact in what appears to be a repeating story, many firms across multiple industries are struggling with mobile.

Once you get past the preliminary discussions, we discovered that a number of firms are attempting to cobble together their own Private App Store. The main reason for this is that many IT people still are learning about Mobile and they have been tasked by their CIOs to move fast. So when we explain to them that they could save a lot of time (and in some cases money) by going out and procuring a private app store for their mobile devices, a look of relief appears on their faces.

There are a number of providers out there that can help, including AppCentral, App47, Cisco’s AppHQ and PartnerPedia, who has been at it longer than most. We’ll be covering this in detail in some upcoming February 2012 Research, such as the Strategic Report on Tablets and Mobile Ecosystems.

The key advice here is to buy a private app store, don’t build one. You will save time and you’ll be able focus on larger issues such as the apps themselves and the overall mobile ecosystem.