Nokia and IBM offer secure business applications on mobiles

Nokia and IBM are to provide end-to-end secure business applications on advanced mobile handsets for businesses. IBM Global Services will act as system integrator for Nokia’s Mobile VPN solution for Symbian OS-based mobile handsets of any kind. The system consists of Nokia Security Service Manager (NSSM) and its Mobile VPN Client for secure, maintenance-free ‘over-air provisioning’ of Mobile VPN client software. IBM Global Services’ contribution will be installation, maintenance, financing and consultancy. It means that advanced mobile handset and laptop users will be able to get the same level of network security and systems management as that available in the traditional IT infrastructure environment. “A key component of setting up and maintaining a mobile workforce is securing information transactions from employees’ mobile terminals to their corporate networks,” explains Dan MacDonald, vice president of product management and marketing at Nokia Internet Communications. This means that enterprises can be more productive and competitive while their employees can work smarter and more efficiently.” Says John Kirby, vice president of Wireless e-business Services at IBM: “By combining IBM Global Services expertise with Nokia’s mobile security offerings, we can now offer customers new levels of VPN security.” And he adds: “Over-the-air provisioning systems offer significant cost savings by reducing the maintenance work involved in installation of VPN clients and updating of security policies.” Mobile handsets are a logical extension to the traditional corporate IT infrastructure. This offering makes it possible for companies to integrate their mobile workers with wireless devices to their corporate processes securely. The pair expect their collaboration to “accelerate business usage of advanced mobile handsets, increasing productivity in mobile work environments.” Applications initially covered include: personal productivity (calendar, messaging, groupware solutions and intranet access); customer service (field service, workforce management, etc); sales force automation (order management and configuration tools); and operational productivity.