Editor's note
There's no shortage of mobile app delivery approaches to help business users get real work done on their smartphones and tablets.
Virtualization, application refactoring and enterprise app stores are all potential options, but IT pros must consider the cost, complexity and user-friendliness of each before making any decisions. Delivering Windows applications to mobile devices may be easy -- especially in shops that already use desktop or application virtualization -- but it doesn't always make for a great user experience. Native mobile apps are easier to use, but building, buying and deploying them can get tricky.
There's more than one right way to approach mobile app delivery, and many organizations use a combination of different strategies. Evaluate your options with the resources in this Essential Guide.
1Comparing app delivery strategies
Desktop and application virtualization are often the first technologies IT pros turn to when they need to deliver legacy software to mobile devices. Virtualization streams Windows applications -- which are designed for mouse-and-keyboard interfaces -- to mobile devices, which have touchscreens. As such, it may not provide the greatest user experience compared to apps that have been developed from the ground up for mobile. Refactoring could emerge as a beneficial middle ground.
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Four ways to deliver mobile apps
With the right application delivery strategy in place, users can perform their jobs better while IT deals with fewer headaches. A carefully chosen approach also helps IT secure data, which can be a challenge in the consumerization era. Read Now
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Virtualization vs. Web-based apps
Web apps and desktop virtualization are two ways to bring corporate software to mobile devices, but they have different use cases. Web apps are built specifically for browser-based access, whereas desktop virtualization delivers existing Windows applications to smartphones, tablets and other endpoints. Read Now
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The drawbacks of mobile application delivery
There's no perfect approach to delivering mobile applications. Connectivity requirements, support costs and deployment challenges can all sneak up and cause problems. Be aware of the potential gotchas and you'll be in a better position to overcome them. Read Now
2Pros and cons of enterprise app stores
Enterprise app stores are a good way for companies to empower mobile workers. Whether your company has custom applications or wants to take advantage of publicly available apps, an enterprise app store can help you get them into the right hands.