Enterprise Options to Manage Upcoming iPhone 5 Device Swap

Austin, TX: With Apple expected to introduce the iPhone 5 on September 12, mindWireless suggests three options that will enable enterprises with large iPhone 3 or 4 deployments, to prepare for the Great Swap.“While iPhone use is often a ‘bring your own device’ option in business, mindWireless is working with several Fortune 100 enterprises that are planning to upgrade their individual and corporate-liable iPhone 3 and 4 devices,” said David Wise, co-founder and co-CEO of mindWireless. “We’ve applied our telecommunications management best practice expertise to help them get prepared. Our focus is on three key areas: what to do with thousands of still valuable iPhones, minimizing disruption during the upgrade, and controlling the data security aspects of the mass upgrade.”

The three options recommended by mindWireless can save money on the upgrade and protect the enterprise:

1. Redeploy Old Devices as Temporary Replacements: Keep a portion of the old iPhone 3s and 4s to enable the Help Desk to provide overnight replacements for damaged or lost devices.
2. Sell Old Devices: iPhone 3s and 4s are still popular and valuable and can be sold for up to $250. For an organization with 3,000 old iPhones, collecting and selling could bring in $750,000. That’s a significant offset to the equipment costs of the new devices. Enterprises could also offer the phones at a discounted rate to employees who want them for personal use.
3. Clear Sensitive Data: Ensure all old devices are wiped clean by using mobile device management (MDM) and/or mobile application management (MAM) tools.

Apple is typically known to introduce a new iPhone each year, so the recommendations above, while topical today, will be good when the next Great Swap occurs in 2013.

For more information on mindWireless’ recommendations on preparing for your enterprise for an upgrade to iPhone 5, call 512.615.7538 or email: bizdev@mindwireless.com.

About mindWireless
mindWireless helps Fortune 1000 companies manage their wireless devices and usage through technology and outsourcing solutions. Founded in 2000, mindWireless is one of the oldest and largest pure wireless expense management firms and has become a leader in the corporate mobility management market with services deployed worldwide.