IBM MobileFirst aims to smooth enterprise path to mobility

IBM has unveiled a new brand designed to help consolidate and advance its mobile platforms.

Big Blue said that the MobileFirst line-up would include mobile software, services, security and analytics tools into a single brand for the enterprise market.

IBM is hoping that the newly-branded mobile portfolio will help the company connect with customers and give an enterprise-minded offering in a mobile space which has thus far been dominated by a consumer focus.

"To date, mobile computing has been dominated by discussions of new smartphones, operating systems, games and apps," said IBM middleware software senior vice president Robert LeBlanc.

"But enterprises have yet to tap into the potential of mobile business."

In addition to mobile applications and services, IBM said that the MobileFirst brand will offer firms a series of management and analytics tools aimed at the mobile sector. The tools will allow enterprises to track and analyse customer behaviour and patterns.

Additionally, the MobileFirst platform will offer a set of security tools including mobile access control and application vulnerability scanning tools.

The company hopes that the service will help customers get ahead of the mobile market and be better-equipped to handle mobile traffic for both internal and customer-facing applications.

"As these devices become ingrained in everything that we do, businesses are now in the palms of their customers' hands," LeBlanc said.

"IBM MobileFirst is designed to make the transformation to becoming a mobile enterprise a reality."