The largest drawback to using the iPhone in this type of environment is the lack of Full data Encryption. Blackberry supports this, iPhone does not. Honestly without this feature, HSBC would be unwise to adopt the phone in any capacity. When you deal with large amounts of money, the last thing you want is bank data (anything from customer info to IT network info) stored in clear text. For the record, I work for a bank, and security is everything here. If you don't take it seriously, you might as well paint a target on yourself.
Lack of full data encryption may not necessarily be a problem for enterprise users. With the movement towards greater use of cloud computing data doesn't need to reside on the iPhone at all. With a multi billion dollar IT budget HSBC could easily afford to develop custom iPhone Apps or even Web 2.0 apps in safari accessed over SSL. For full access to legacy systems they could VNC into a server profile until new iPhone front ends where built. For the record I used to work for a bank too, 6 years IBM System 370 Assembler programming, 3 years IBM CICS/Cobol/DB2, 3 years IBM CC/2 and Direct Tack/2.
A quick search of Google and it looks like HSBC is a big Lotus Notes user worldwide. So behind the scene it is quite obvious that IBM, with it's recently developed Lotus Notes for iPhone suite, is pushing iPhone into HSBC. IBM hates Microsoft even more than Apple does ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OS/2 ) and has thrown billions of dollars into Linux and other non-Microsoft technologies to break the stranglehold MS had on the desktop market. IBM still have a monolopy of the Big Iron used in virtually every bank in the world and have a lot of clout when it comes to computing directions used by the customers.
Banks and other enterprise users are probably not happy about the possibility that the CIA or other Canadian or US agencies could have computers installed at RIM's Network Operations Center (NOC) in Canada that receive a copy of EVERY SINGLE email sent via a Blackberry phone worldwide. Lotus Notes/iPhone solution is a true client server connection without a single external point of failure (or data snooping risk http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4i7Xe6Ra5E ).
What kind of banking outfit needs a 10% IT force for crissakes? That sounds like the IT group ought to be a profit center somehow. Or is it that 1 tech supports only 10 people because they're stuck on Vista? I can imagine each tech starting out his workday by paying office visits to each of his ten clients. "OK, stick out your tongue...oh-oh, you've got a nasty virus there...let me reload the OS and call me in the morning..."
OK, so I'm stretching it but even if you consider that of the 30,000 tech support group half are management, that still leaves each true tech a client base of only 20 people. Sounds like a nice little fiefdom has been created and grown.
Most Big banks have huge numbers of programmers, business analysts, team leaders and middle management developing and maintaining probably 20-30 legacy computing systems written in languages like assembler and cobol on IBM mainframes. HSBC in it's growth purchased lots of banks around the world and absorbed all their staff / data centers into the parent company. Sometimes it's nearly imposable to move application data from one custom system to another. Conversion projects can have hundreds of staff and run for years to get all customer accounts on "system x" to "system y". So having 10% of a banks workforce working in IT is not that unrealistic at all.
LOL all you like (I doubt you are laughing out loud however), I know plenty of BB users who won't even consider an iPhone due to the lack of tactile keyboard. Apple may have to take those people seriously if it want to replace Blackberries.
Yes I know BB users who say this same thing. The irony is that none of them have ever used an iPhone.
Similar to Windows users who say they will never switch to Mac and have never used one.
Seems like a smart move to make. iPhone lets you use your existing exchange environment and will soon work with Lotus notes once IBM release their iPhone app. http://www.appleinsider.com/articles...reenshots.html
HSBC will be able to do away with Blackberry enterprise server which is a complete pile of shit.
As to battery life...
Rule of thumb. If you ain't browsing the web, switch 3G off (just turn it back on when you are surfing). No more battery problems.
I have the O2 £45 contract which includes 1200 minutes and I use every one of them. I have never had my iPhone die on me yet.
You can buy extended batteries from third parties today. Are you saying it must be Apple-branded?
The external batteries make the phone too big to fit in belt pouches, hat is a no go for BB types. External batteries must be removed before the phone can sync to the desktop, and did I mention that they are just not the right way to do a busines phone? but hey, lack of email search isn't holding these guys back, lack of unlocked-nes isnt stopping them, lack of proper one-place-for-everything device management isnt stopping them so they must be clueless.
The external batteries make the phone too big to fit in belt pouches, hat is a no go for BB types. External batteries must be removed before the phone can sync to the desktop, and did I mention that they are just not the right way to do a busines phone? but hey, lack of email search isn't holding these guys back, lack of unlocked-nes isnt stopping them, lack of proper one-place-for-everything device management isnt stopping them so they must be clueless.
The external battery isn't to be used all the time. Its mostly intended to be used between the time the internal battery runs low and the next time the user is able to charge.
... HSBC will be able to do away with Blackberry enterprise server which is a complete pile of shit...
What's wrong with something that can take almost half-an-hour to activate a new device?
I'm glad I'm not the only admin who has used BES and wondered how it was possible to screw up something which should be so simple so badly.
Not that ActiveSync does not have faults, but Exchange is a bit more straightforward here. This is where Microsoft got it right: control the whole widget, which is an email, calendaring, etc. server. Now if they could only hire back the programmers who put together Outlook 2001 and put Entourage out of its misery!
Edit:
That goes double for Lotus Notes: the complete widget. Forgot that this is a Bank we're talking about here.
Really -can't you see all the IS departments having to mail back iPhones to Apple to replace their worn down batteries?
There is no need to do that. The iPhone 3G's battery can be changed easily with a small screwdriver. Something that all IT departments will have on hand.
Quote:
Originally Posted by teckstud
It just occurred to me- if you're blind how do you use an iPhone? with a keyboard there is no problem
Won't that lack of a feature disciminate and violate ADA in the workplace? Is this one more strike against the iPhone?
And other phones are blind friendly? I don't recall any BB's with Braille keyboards. The iPhone isn't blind friendly, the iPod isn't deaf friendly, and no cellphone is phocomelia freindly.
There are phones for the blind. They have no display, they use audible sounds to inform of your progress through the menu and they have Braille on the keys.
Quote:
Originally Posted by teckstud
"another high profile enterprise level firm"???
Names please- back up - thank you.
Apple
Quote:
Originally Posted by CREB
Until Apple offers an extend battery I do not believe that enterprise will be happy with the iPhone 3G. This is not a criticism, it's based upon experience.
There was a time when companies would sell the phone with a much lighter and cheaper battery but then advertise that you could get a pack that would extended the life. The iPhone's battery for making calls and the mAh of the pack are much higher than other phones. Of course, this seems to be an issue with the iPhone because the multimedia, web browser, and 3rd-party apps are making it a device that is much more useful and thus drains the battery faster than these other devices that aren't as enjoyable to use.
Quote:
Originally Posted by dr_lha
LOL all you like (I doubt you are laughing out loud however), I know plenty of BB users who won't even consider an iPhone due to the lack of tactile keyboard. Apple may have to take those people seriously if it want to replace Blackberries.
It wasn't a serious consideration then why is RiM making the Thunder with no physical keyboard?
I figure it will be a great thing to have when I am on a trip or in an airport. It has enough juice to fully charge the iPhone twice, so between the phone itself and the battery, you can get three charges. Something to consider for people unhappy with the 3G battery life.
At 4400mAh it sould charge your iPhone about 3x. Have you used it yet? I don't see any info saying that it's compatible with the iPhone 3G. If it is, please let me know.
Quote:
Originally Posted by blazeoptimus
The largest drawback to using the iPhone in this type of environment is the lack of Full data Encryption. Blackberry supports this, iPhone does not. Honestly without this feature, HSBC would be unwise to adopt the phone in any capacity. When you deal with large amounts of money, the last thing you want is bank data (anything from customer info to IT network info) stored in clear text. For the record, I work for a bank, and security is everything here. If you don't take it seriously, you might as well paint a target on yourself.
Which aspects of the iPhone's Exchange is not encrypted?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr Underhill
Sounds like he's trying to negotiate his next order of Blackberries to me.
That is what I was thinking. It's certainly what I'd do if I wanted to get a hefty discount on future BB handsets and RiM's expensive enterprise HW and licensing fees.
Quote:
Originally Posted by a_greer
The external batteries make the phone too big to fit in belt pouches, that is a no go for BB types. External batteries must be removed before the phone can sync to the desktop, and did I mention that they are just not the right way to do a busines phone?
1) The external batteries are designed to charge the internal battery by having a higher voltage (usually 5.0V) than the iPhone's 3.5V not to be used all the time.
2) If you are connecting to a computer for syncing there is no need to be using an external battery for charging as the ubiquitous USB2.0 will charge it as it syncs up.
I love the iPhone -but I truly believe, as currently designed, it's a dud for "primary" corporate use... it's fine for secondary use. there is no cut and past function, no ability to invite attendees to meeting requests, no ability to search emails for email with specific content. If someone sends you an email in HTML - the iPhone ignores your "size of text settings" and you have to manually zoom in to read the tiny print and then manually scroll back and forth to read the email, because when you zoom it to read - it doesn't resize the text to fit within the window...
I frankly hope apple addresses all these issues - because I would very much like to use the iPhone as my corporate wireless solution - also as mentioned in a separate post - international 3g and edge connectivity (at least in Asia) is terrible.
Entertaining for an Apple fan boy to see but hardly exciting for a slick piece of soft and hardware to eat into a mundane corporate market. How exciting is a calendar and diary?
All corporations consider new machines.
This is a hack selling a comment based off of a single question.
Dude, you're killing your post count with the multiquote...
Quote:
Originally Posted by solipsism
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr Underhill
Sounds like he's trying to negotiate his next order of Blackberries to me.
That is what I was thinking. It's certainly what I'd do if I wanted to get a hefty discount on future BB handsets and RiM's expensive enterprise HW and licensing fees.
My first thought was "bargaining chip" as well. However, even if Apple doesn't get the order, the fact is that the iPhone gets good publicity out of it. If this story shows up in the business section of the paper tomorrow it is equivalent to many $$$ worth of advertising. If HSBC eventually decides not to switch I doubt it makes news...
Still, kiwirob gives me hope that they may have serious interest... That would be cool.
To those of you who complain about the lack of x, y, and z features--rest assured that a large corporation like HSBC would not jump into this willy-nilly. It would take time for them to align their infrastructure, create the custom iApps they want and test them all. I am sure that before they went through that trouble they would have assurances from Apple that x, y, and z were coming (if they were really important to them) before the planned switch time. I seriously doubt that there would be a "what, it doesn't cut and paste?!?" moment after 300K units were purchased...
Well as an HSBC employee currently using a Blackberry - I am very excited about the prospect of having an iPhone. Knowing HSBC though I can't see this happening very soon as they are naturally cautious regarding these type of decisions. (BTW - 10% of the workforce being in IT seems rather inflated!)
I love the iPhone -but I truly believe, as currently designed, it's a dud for "primary" corporate use... it's fine for secondary use. there is no cut and past function, no ability to invite attendees to meeting requests, no ability to search emails for email with specific content.
Yes, these are faults, but they can be easily resolved through a software update. The fact the iphone is mainly software (and easily update able) gives it an advantage. Some of these large corporations are probably working with apple and know what's coming down the pipe in future updates.
Do you really think that the likes of HSBC doesn't have the expertise in planning, vetting, coordinating, deploying, etc., communication devices such as the iphone to make their own decision?
Or are you guys so well above them that they have come here to listen to continually disparaging rhetoric from the same individuals over and over again?
I've been thinking the same thing.
All of the "power users" here have already made these decisions for their large companies, and are sharing.
The largest drawback to using the iPhone in this type of environment is the lack of Full data Encryption. Blackberry supports this, iPhone does not. Honestly without this feature, HSBC would be unwise to adopt the phone in any capacity. When you deal with large amounts of money, the last thing you want is bank data (anything from customer info to IT network info) stored in clear text. For the record, I work for a bank, and security is everything here. If you don't take it seriously, you might as well paint a target on yourself.
I'm curious. You are giving one of the worlds largest corporations advice, as are a few others here.
What qualifications do you have that would trump the director of IT for that company that has a $6 billion yearly IT budget, and 30,000 IT workers?
He is stating that they are LOOKING into it. No decision has been made.
Do you think they understand the issues, or do you think they are kids ogling it?
Do you think it's possible that they understand security issues, and can work out whatever they need to, should they decide to move to this?
What kind of banking outfit needs a 10% IT force for crissakes? That sounds like the IT group ought to be a profit center somehow. Or is it that 1 tech supports only 10 people because they're stuck on Vista? I can imagine each tech starting out his workday by paying office visits to each of his ten clients. "OK, stick out your tongue...oh-oh, you've got a nasty virus there...let me reload the OS and call me in the morning..."
OK, so I'm stretching it but even if you consider that of the 30,000 tech support group half are management, that still leaves each true tech a client base of only 20 people. Sounds like a nice little fiefdom has been created and grown.
Banks are some of the heaviest IT users. Their operations are very much focussed around IT. Citigroup, where my wife works, is similar.
Does anyone have any idea how HSBC is going to manage that many iPhones? I tried to pose this question on another forum, but there didn't seem to be any concern about this type of transition.
The first hurdle was whether HSBC is willing to put iTunes on all of their computers in order to sync up each iPhone. If each person has iTunes on their computer, then I imagine IT wouldn't be able to control whether the person wanted to add games or any apps or media on their iPhone, which might be a security problem.
Secondly, if HSBC was to use the ad hoc method of managing iPhones, how difficult would it be to manage iPhones in blocks of 100 which is currently the limit for the ad hoc management method. So far there there isn't any scalable solution beyond 100.
I'm sure HSBC has a pilot program going, but making the leap from, say, 50 iPhones to 200,000 seems like it would be rather difficult unless Apple supplied the tools to manage much larger numbers of iPhones.
Am I wrong in thinking this might be a serious problem for the IT people, or is this something that is easily solved. I would appreciate some honest comments to these questions. I always seem to be called an Apple hater if I ask these sort of questions.
Comments
The largest drawback to using the iPhone in this type of environment is the lack of Full data Encryption. Blackberry supports this, iPhone does not. Honestly without this feature, HSBC would be unwise to adopt the phone in any capacity. When you deal with large amounts of money, the last thing you want is bank data (anything from customer info to IT network info) stored in clear text. For the record, I work for a bank, and security is everything here. If you don't take it seriously, you might as well paint a target on yourself.
Lack of full data encryption may not necessarily be a problem for enterprise users. With the movement towards greater use of cloud computing data doesn't need to reside on the iPhone at all. With a multi billion dollar IT budget HSBC could easily afford to develop custom iPhone Apps or even Web 2.0 apps in safari accessed over SSL. For full access to legacy systems they could VNC into a server profile until new iPhone front ends where built. For the record I used to work for a bank too, 6 years IBM System 370 Assembler programming, 3 years IBM CICS/Cobol/DB2, 3 years IBM CC/2 and Direct Tack/2.
A quick search of Google and it looks like HSBC is a big Lotus Notes user worldwide. So behind the scene it is quite obvious that IBM, with it's recently developed Lotus Notes for iPhone suite, is pushing iPhone into HSBC. IBM hates Microsoft even more than Apple does ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OS/2 ) and has thrown billions of dollars into Linux and other non-Microsoft technologies to break the stranglehold MS had on the desktop market. IBM still have a monolopy of the Big Iron used in virtually every bank in the world and have a lot of clout when it comes to computing directions used by the customers.
Banks and other enterprise users are probably not happy about the possibility that the CIA or other Canadian or US agencies could have computers installed at RIM's Network Operations Center (NOC) in Canada that receive a copy of EVERY SINGLE email sent via a Blackberry phone worldwide. Lotus Notes/iPhone solution is a true client server connection without a single external point of failure (or data snooping risk http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4i7Xe6Ra5E ).
What kind of banking outfit needs a 10% IT force for crissakes? That sounds like the IT group ought to be a profit center somehow. Or is it that 1 tech supports only 10 people because they're stuck on Vista? I can imagine each tech starting out his workday by paying office visits to each of his ten clients. "OK, stick out your tongue...oh-oh, you've got a nasty virus there...let me reload the OS and call me in the morning..."
OK, so I'm stretching it but even if you consider that of the 30,000 tech support group half are management, that still leaves each true tech a client base of only 20 people. Sounds like a nice little fiefdom has been created and grown.
Most Big banks have huge numbers of programmers, business analysts, team leaders and middle management developing and maintaining probably 20-30 legacy computing systems written in languages like assembler and cobol on IBM mainframes. HSBC in it's growth purchased lots of banks around the world and absorbed all their staff / data centers into the parent company. Sometimes it's nearly imposable to move application data from one custom system to another. Conversion projects can have hundreds of staff and run for years to get all customer accounts on "system x" to "system y". So having 10% of a banks workforce working in IT is not that unrealistic at all.
LOL all you like (I doubt you are laughing out loud however), I know plenty of BB users who won't even consider an iPhone due to the lack of tactile keyboard. Apple may have to take those people seriously if it want to replace Blackberries.
Yes I know BB users who say this same thing. The irony is that none of them have ever used an iPhone.
Similar to Windows users who say they will never switch to Mac and have never used one.
HSBC will be able to do away with Blackberry enterprise server which is a complete pile of shit.
As to battery life...
Rule of thumb. If you ain't browsing the web, switch 3G off (just turn it back on when you are surfing). No more battery problems.
I have the O2 £45 contract which includes 1200 minutes and I use every one of them. I have never had my iPhone die on me yet.
You can buy extended batteries from third parties today. Are you saying it must be Apple-branded?
The external batteries make the phone too big to fit in belt pouches, hat is a no go for BB types. External batteries must be removed before the phone can sync to the desktop, and did I mention that they are just not the right way to do a busines phone? but hey, lack of email search isn't holding these guys back, lack of unlocked-nes isnt stopping them, lack of proper one-place-for-everything device management isnt stopping them so they must be clueless.
The external batteries make the phone too big to fit in belt pouches, hat is a no go for BB types. External batteries must be removed before the phone can sync to the desktop, and did I mention that they are just not the right way to do a busines phone? but hey, lack of email search isn't holding these guys back, lack of unlocked-nes isnt stopping them, lack of proper one-place-for-everything device management isnt stopping them so they must be clueless.
The external battery isn't to be used all the time. Its mostly intended to be used between the time the internal battery runs low and the next time the user is able to charge.
... HSBC will be able to do away with Blackberry enterprise server which is a complete pile of shit...
What's wrong with something that can take almost half-an-hour to activate a new device?
I'm glad I'm not the only admin who has used BES and wondered how it was possible to screw up something which should be so simple so badly.
Not that ActiveSync does not have faults, but Exchange is a bit more straightforward here. This is where Microsoft got it right: control the whole widget, which is an email, calendaring, etc. server. Now if they could only hire back the programmers who put together Outlook 2001 and put Entourage out of its misery!
Edit:
That goes double for Lotus Notes: the complete widget. Forgot that this is a Bank we're talking about here.
Really -can't you see all the IS departments having to mail back iPhones to Apple to replace their worn down batteries?
There is no need to do that. The iPhone 3G's battery can be changed easily with a small screwdriver. Something that all IT departments will have on hand.
It just occurred to me- if you're blind how do you use an iPhone? with a keyboard there is no problem
Won't that lack of a feature disciminate and violate ADA in the workplace? Is this one more strike against the iPhone?
And other phones are blind friendly? I don't recall any BB's with Braille keyboards. The iPhone isn't blind friendly, the iPod isn't deaf friendly, and no cellphone is phocomelia freindly.
There are phones for the blind. They have no display, they use audible sounds to inform of your progress through the menu and they have Braille on the keys.
"another high profile enterprise level firm"???
Names please- back up - thank you.
Apple
Until Apple offers an extend battery I do not believe that enterprise will be happy with the iPhone 3G. This is not a criticism, it's based upon experience.
There was a time when companies would sell the phone with a much lighter and cheaper battery but then advertise that you could get a pack that would extended the life. The iPhone's battery for making calls and the mAh of the pack are much higher than other phones. Of course, this seems to be an issue with the iPhone because the multimedia, web browser, and 3rd-party apps are making it a device that is much more useful and thus drains the battery faster than these other devices that aren't as enjoyable to use.
LOL all you like (I doubt you are laughing out loud however), I know plenty of BB users who won't even consider an iPhone due to the lack of tactile keyboard. Apple may have to take those people seriously if it want to replace Blackberries.
It wasn't a serious consideration then why is RiM making the Thunder with no physical keyboard?
I just picked up one of these: http://www.amazon.com/Amstron-PP33-E.../dp/B000U8F94Y
I figure it will be a great thing to have when I am on a trip or in an airport. It has enough juice to fully charge the iPhone twice, so between the phone itself and the battery, you can get three charges. Something to consider for people unhappy with the 3G battery life.
At 4400mAh it sould charge your iPhone about 3x. Have you used it yet? I don't see any info saying that it's compatible with the iPhone 3G. If it is, please let me know.
The largest drawback to using the iPhone in this type of environment is the lack of Full data Encryption. Blackberry supports this, iPhone does not. Honestly without this feature, HSBC would be unwise to adopt the phone in any capacity. When you deal with large amounts of money, the last thing you want is bank data (anything from customer info to IT network info) stored in clear text. For the record, I work for a bank, and security is everything here. If you don't take it seriously, you might as well paint a target on yourself.
Which aspects of the iPhone's Exchange is not encrypted?
Sounds like he's trying to negotiate his next order of Blackberries to me.
That is what I was thinking. It's certainly what I'd do if I wanted to get a hefty discount on future BB handsets and RiM's expensive enterprise HW and licensing fees.
The external batteries make the phone too big to fit in belt pouches, that is a no go for BB types. External batteries must be removed before the phone can sync to the desktop, and did I mention that they are just not the right way to do a busines phone?
1) The external batteries are designed to charge the internal battery by having a higher voltage (usually 5.0V) than the iPhone's 3.5V not to be used all the time.
2) If you are connecting to a computer for syncing there is no need to be using an external battery for charging as the ubiquitous USB2.0 will charge it as it syncs up.
I frankly hope apple addresses all these issues - because I would very much like to use the iPhone as my corporate wireless solution - also as mentioned in a separate post - international 3g and edge connectivity (at least in Asia) is terrible.
All corporations consider new machines.
This is a hack selling a comment based off of a single question.
Free advertising for HSBC (see! did it myself)
Originally Posted by Mr Underhill
Sounds like he's trying to negotiate his next order of Blackberries to me.
That is what I was thinking. It's certainly what I'd do if I wanted to get a hefty discount on future BB handsets and RiM's expensive enterprise HW and licensing fees.
My first thought was "bargaining chip" as well. However, even if Apple doesn't get the order, the fact is that the iPhone gets good publicity out of it. If this story shows up in the business section of the paper tomorrow it is equivalent to many $$$ worth of advertising. If HSBC eventually decides not to switch I doubt it makes news...
Still, kiwirob gives me hope that they may have serious interest... That would be cool.
To those of you who complain about the lack of x, y, and z features--rest assured that a large corporation like HSBC would not jump into this willy-nilly. It would take time for them to align their infrastructure, create the custom iApps they want and test them all. I am sure that before they went through that trouble they would have assurances from Apple that x, y, and z were coming (if they were really important to them) before the planned switch time. I seriously doubt that there would be a "what, it doesn't cut and paste?!?" moment after 300K units were purchased...
I love the iPhone -but I truly believe, as currently designed, it's a dud for "primary" corporate use... it's fine for secondary use. there is no cut and past function, no ability to invite attendees to meeting requests, no ability to search emails for email with specific content.
Yes, these are faults, but they can be easily resolved through a software update. The fact the iphone is mainly software (and easily update able) gives it an advantage. Some of these large corporations are probably working with apple and know what's coming down the pipe in future updates.
Do you really think that the likes of HSBC doesn't have the expertise in planning, vetting, coordinating, deploying, etc., communication devices such as the iphone to make their own decision?
Or are you guys so well above them that they have come here to listen to continually disparaging rhetoric from the same individuals over and over again?
I've been thinking the same thing.
All of the "power users" here have already made these decisions for their large companies, and are sharing.
The largest drawback to using the iPhone in this type of environment is the lack of Full data Encryption. Blackberry supports this, iPhone does not. Honestly without this feature, HSBC would be unwise to adopt the phone in any capacity. When you deal with large amounts of money, the last thing you want is bank data (anything from customer info to IT network info) stored in clear text. For the record, I work for a bank, and security is everything here. If you don't take it seriously, you might as well paint a target on yourself.
I'm curious. You are giving one of the worlds largest corporations advice, as are a few others here.
What qualifications do you have that would trump the director of IT for that company that has a $6 billion yearly IT budget, and 30,000 IT workers?
He is stating that they are LOOKING into it. No decision has been made.
Do you think they understand the issues, or do you think they are kids ogling it?
Do you think it's possible that they understand security issues, and can work out whatever they need to, should they decide to move to this?
What kind of banking outfit needs a 10% IT force for crissakes? That sounds like the IT group ought to be a profit center somehow. Or is it that 1 tech supports only 10 people because they're stuck on Vista? I can imagine each tech starting out his workday by paying office visits to each of his ten clients. "OK, stick out your tongue...oh-oh, you've got a nasty virus there...let me reload the OS and call me in the morning..."
OK, so I'm stretching it but even if you consider that of the 30,000 tech support group half are management, that still leaves each true tech a client base of only 20 people. Sounds like a nice little fiefdom has been created and grown.
Banks are some of the heaviest IT users. Their operations are very much focussed around IT. Citigroup, where my wife works, is similar.
AI, y'all needs a spell checker!
We all have one. It's the use of it that isn't always there. I can vouch for that for myself, sadly. And it doesn't always work.
Sometimes using Google for spellchecking is better.
The first hurdle was whether HSBC is willing to put iTunes on all of their computers in order to sync up each iPhone. If each person has iTunes on their computer, then I imagine IT wouldn't be able to control whether the person wanted to add games or any apps or media on their iPhone, which might be a security problem.
Secondly, if HSBC was to use the ad hoc method of managing iPhones, how difficult would it be to manage iPhones in blocks of 100 which is currently the limit for the ad hoc management method. So far there there isn't any scalable solution beyond 100.
I'm sure HSBC has a pilot program going, but making the leap from, say, 50 iPhones to 200,000 seems like it would be rather difficult unless Apple supplied the tools to manage much larger numbers of iPhones.
Am I wrong in thinking this might be a serious problem for the IT people, or is this something that is easily solved. I would appreciate some honest comments to these questions. I always seem to be called an Apple hater if I ask these sort of questions.