AirWatch, IBM, JAMF and MobileIron collaborate on a common approach to simplify enterprise app development and deployment based on native mobile OS standards
BARCELONA – Feb. 23, 2016 – Today at Mobile World Congress, AirWatch, IBM, JAMF and MobileIron announced the formation of the AppConfig Community. The Community’s mission is to establish a common approach for enterprise app configuration and security based on OS native standards, including the extensive frameworks available in iOS. Working together, the members of the AppConfig Community will create tools, best practices and educational forums to enable developers and organizations to simplify app development and deployment and accelerate the adoption of transformational business apps.
Historically, developers used proprietary software development kits (SDKs) to enable configuration and security features of their apps through EMM. This required app developers to build different versions of their apps for each EMM vendor. Now, with AppConfig Community tools and best practices, developers will not require EMM-specific integrations for many enterprise use cases. End users can also benefit from automated features such as an out-of-the-box experience to give the users instant app access with no setup or user credentials necessary.
AppConfig Community best practices are supported by Apple’s mobility partners. More than 60 companies have committed to AppConfig Community tools and best practices, including leading software vendors Box, Cisco, Oracle, Salesforce and Workday.
The AppConfig Community also announced an open XML schema for iOS enterprise app configurations. The schema streamlines app deployment by making it easy for developers to define app configurations across all of their apps and for businesses to consistently deploy these app configurations. Apps built using native frameworks in iOS and this new AppConfig XML schema will work consistently across participating EMM providers. The AppConfig Community also provides best practices for enterprise developers based on OS-native features such as single sign-on, per-app VPN, security policies and access controls.
With the AppConfig Community, the industry leading EMM solutions IBM MaaS360, JAMF Casper Suite, MobileIron and VMware AirWatch have come together to make it easier for developers and customers to drive mobility in business. Additionally, all App Configuration for Enterprise (ACE) members are now members of the new AppConfig Community. To learn more about the AppConfig Community and to download the AppConfig XML schema, visit appconfig.org.
Supporting Quotes
“Oracle has been a leader in enterprise applications for decades and understands the complexities organizations are dealing with in defining an enterprise mobile strategy, as they transition to a mobile only, cloud world. Mobile users expect increased productivity, efficiency, simplicity and excellent customer service, which translate into backend app requirements for tight integration, security and manageable maintenance. Oracle Mobile Cloud Service’s open, agnostic architecture along with the efforts of the AppConfig community can provide the foundation for successful enterprise mobile strategies.” – Sri Ramanathan, Group Vice President Mobile, Oracle
“Today, iPhone and iPad are transforming the way organizations collaborate, communicate, and delight their customers. And yet, we know that we’re just getting started. By standardizing the way apps are built and delivered, the AppConfig Community will accelerate the pace of mobile transformation.” – Dean Hager, CEO, JAMF
“The AppConfig Community is important for both iOS developers and IT leaders who need to build, secure and deploy enterprise apps at scale. Our partnership with Apple and the cofounding of this new community, further drives our mission to help enable business transformation with impactful enterprise apps.” – Jim Brennan, director of Strategy and Offering Management for MaaS360, IBM
“Over the last five years, Apple has built rich, native app security and configuration frameworks for developers into iOS. The AppConfig Community and XML schema will give those developers a standard, consistent and scalable way to easily build and deploy secure apps using the power of native.” – Ojas Rege, vice president, Strategy, MobileIron
"The AppConfig Community addresses a critical need that will allow developers to streamline their integration with EMMs, and will help offer customers a more consistent experience across mobile apps. With standards and best practices for business apps that work across EMMs, we believe AppConfig Community will help organizations simplify mobile and ultimately innovate through new business transformation.” – Mimi Spier, senior director of marketing and strategy, Business Mobility and IoT, VMware
About AppConfig Community
The AppConfig Community’s mission is to provide education and best practices to configure and secure mobile apps by leveraging native OS functionality in iOS, Android and Windows. Using AppConfig Community best practices, application providers can consistently and securely develop enterprise-ready mobile apps. For more information, please visit appconfig.org.
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Press Contacts:
Jonathan Dale
IBM
jdale@us.ibm.com
215-664-1641
Tanaya Lukaszewski
Kulesa Faul for JAMF Software
jamf@kulesafaul.com
(916) 712-3791
Clarissa Horowitz
MobileIron
clarissa@mobileiron.com
415-608-6825
Gabrielle Ferree
VMware AirWatch
gabrielleferree@air-watch.com
1 470-247-6742