VMware at the Barcelona World Mobile released a solution to separate the use of an Android enabled smartphone into separate entities that would not overlap. This mobile virtualization solution will help people to have separate profiles on the same Android enabled smartphone for both work and personal usage. The technology was unveiled on the LG Optimus Black phone by VMware’s Chief Technology Officer Stephen Herrod. The main thought behind this solution is that employees have the free choice to buy any mobile they wish and the mobile virtualization technology from VMware will enable corporate IT departments to securely manage sensitive information on these smartphones with enterprise level accredited security and safety. According to VMware’s Chief Technology Officer Stephen Herrod they want to move forward into a world where its not the company that is providing you with a phone and you have the choice and freedom of buying what you like and bring it to work and VMware will enable you to use it in an enterprise-safe way.
It is not possible to download the application after the cell phone has been bought, so manufacturers will be required to pre-load the software in the Android enabled smartphone. VMware is currently working with their partners LG to have the software pre-loaded into the phones. And when it is bought by an employee he can get his IT department to load an application in it using the management console and configure it appear on the homescreen of the phone touching which launches the enterprise version of the smartphone. The IT administrator can configure the device in accordance with the companies policies and thus provide differently ranked employees with different capabilities and access options. The administrator can in accordance with the security issues may block usage of several features like the camera, GPS, Bluetooth, cut/copy options (to ensure sensitive files are not copied into the users personal files). Also the option to remote wipe clean the device is also available with the administrator. The enterprise will also have the option of insuring that any secure calls and voice over IP calls from the PBX have different alert tones than the ones coming from their personal side.
Many other options like Dual SIM option is also available so that the employee can have different personal and work accounts thus reducing the volume of data traffic for both the separate accounts. VMware is planning that the mobile virtualization app preloaded on the phone be for free however enterprises will have to pay per user for the administrator’s management software. The software is scheduled to undergo trials this year and will be soon available for users. However availability of the handsets with the software pre-installed is yet to be known. This is a wonderful attempt by VMware to cash in on the Android boom and make a mark for itself on the mobile app market.
