Gartner: More Collaboration on More Devices

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By 2016 most collaboration applications will be available equally on PCs, smartphones, tablets and browsers, Gartner predicts-- solving app and service fragmentation while enabling employees to collaborate more effectively. 

Mobile Collab"In the past, collaboration on mobile devices meant interaction through wireless messaging and voice calls," the analyst says. "Today smartphones and tablets have larger screens, touch-based UIs, location support, broad network connectivity, enhanced cameras and video support, VoIP, and so on. Such features enable a range of applications-— both traditional and new-— for employees to better communicate, collaborate, socializs, create and consume content."

Fragmentation and lack of standardisation forces organisations to use mobile collaboration to solve specific issues via multiple tools. However Gartner predicts the market will mature over the next 3-5 years  until every business uses mobile collaboration, with the bring your own device (BYOD), personal cloud file sharing and increasing mobile app availability trend driving such growth.

BYOD already drives new mobile and client computing strategies, and will only continue doing so. Employees bringing own mobile devices to work initially ask for (and receive) corporate email, calendar and contact support, before using  other apps to make their jobs easier. 

Smartphones and tablets drive the adoption of personal cloud file synching and sharing services, expanding their scope and capabilities. According to Gartner the average personal cloud in 2016 synchronises "at least" 6 different device types, shifting files across multiple smartphones, tablets, PCs, network drives and other storage devices. 

Meanwhile mobile apps are the "primary entry point" for the access and consumption of complex information and functionality. Mobile collaboration apps are set to take the place of specialised corporate apps-- at least within select workforces involving heavy mobile device use between internal and external peers. 

"A number of challenges can arise from piecemeal, poorly-architected implementations," Gartner concludes. "Successful deployments of mobile collaboration will need an analysis of business requirements-— understanding the potential risks and restrictions while assessing existing investments and obsolescence trends."

Go Gartner Says Most Collaboration Applications Will Be Equally Available Across Multiple Devices by 2016