A mobile device management (MDM) solution includes many of the standard features included in PC management solutions but also includes additional functionality that addresses the unique needs of mobile devices such as smartphones and media tablets and, increasingly, other areas (i.e., M2M modules or printers). Mobile application management (MAM) refers to a solution by which specific mobile applications can be managed, secured, and distributed by IT organizations and typically allow for enhanced policies to be applied to individual applications. In recognition of the growing need enterprises have to manage both mobile devices and mobile applications, the market is forcing the merger of these two previously distinct markets - mobile device management enterprise software and mobile application management software - into a new market called mobile enterprise management software. The mobile enterprise management software market will include products that offer standalone MDM, standalone MAM, or combined MDM-MAM functionality.
"Consumerization has brought new challenges to the enterprise in terms of how they must think about managing and securing devices and the sensitive corporate information on those devices," said Stacy Crook, senior analyst, Mobile Enterprise Research at IDC. "The mobile enterprise management software market represents a category of mobility offerings that address the requirements of enterprises - that need solutions for both corporate- and employee-owned mobile devices - and users."
At a high level, the MEM market can be segmented into several broad categories including Systems Management and Security Vendors, Mobility Companies and Others with Mobility Platforms and Pure-Play MEM ISVs.
Mobile operators continue to get serious about their mobile enterprise offerings and see mobile enterprise management software as a core piece of the strategy. Mobile operators will play a key role in delivering SaaS-based MEM and will significantly help drive the overall market on a worldwide basis. While mobile operators used to have a broad portfolio of MDM solutions, many are now choosing to pare down their partnerships to focus on a smaller number of best-of-breed providers.
The IDC study, Worldwide Mobile Enterprise Management Software 2012-2016 Forecast and Analysis and 2011 Vendor Shares (IDC #236835), examines the mobile enterprise management software market for the period from 2011 to 2016, with vendor revenue trends and market growth forecasts. Worldwide market sizing is provided for 2011, with trends from 2011 and 2012. A five-year growth forecast for this market is shown for 2012-2016. A vendor competitive analysis, with vendor revenue and market shares of the leading vendors, is provided for 2011. This study also includes profiles of leading vendors and identifies the characteristics that vendors will need to be successful in the future.