Zenprise Keeps Tabs On Mobile Devices
Company:
Headquarters: Fremont, Calif.
Technology Sector: Software
Key Product: Zenprise Mobile Manager
Year Founded: 2003
Number of Channel Partners: 30 worldwide, including 20 in North America
Ideal Channel Partner: Enterprise-focused solution provider
Why You Should Care: Zenprise tackles the business challenges of managing multiple mobile devices and platforms through an automated process that detects and troubleshoots problems as they arise.
The Lowdown: Companies are expanding mobile deployments, but they're not always equipped to support multiple mobile devices and platforms. Those taking the ambitious leap into heterogeneous mobile rollouts often find their support teams swamped with calls from employees.
Despite the associated expenses, giving employees the option of using RIM BlackBerries, Apple iPhones or Microsoft Windows Mobile devices can make them vastly more productive. And that's where Zenprise, a Fremont, Calif.-based developer of mobile management software, sees opportunity for itself and its partners.
Zenprise's flagship Mobile Manager automatically monitors and troubleshoots companies'
mobile infrastructures, keeping tabs on Exchange servers, BlackBerry servers, databases, wireless networks and mobile devices to ensure that everything's running smoothly.
Zenprise Mobile Manager supports BlackBerry and iPhone platforms, and in early March, added support for Windows Mobile, a move facilitated by a $10 million oversubscribed B round of venture capital funding.
It's the automation aspect that is causing more companies to take a closer look at Zenprise, says Ahmed Datoo, vice president of marketing. "We allow IT to manage the growth of mobile [devices] in a cost-effective way," he said.
Zenprise Mobile Manager proactively finds and fixes technical problems whenever they befall mobile device users. For example, if a CEO's BlackBerry isn't receiving e-mail while he or she is on the road, the software identifies and diagnoses the issue, and then offers instructions on how to resolve it.
"When a problem arises, Zenprise Mobile Manager not only sets off the fire alarm, it also sends in the firefighters to deal with it," Datoo said.
Zenprise's channel consists of wireless VARs that specialize in architecting, implementing and supporting organizations' mobile infrastructure. New York-based wireless VAR Saturn Wireless uses Zenprise Mobile Manager in a business continuity solution it sells to companies with large mobile deployments.
Manika Sood, founder and CEO of Saturn Wireless, said Zenprise brings high-level technical and channel support expertise to the table. "Every time we've needed support from Zenprise's team, they've been there, and it's great to get that level of support from an ISV," Sood said.