IBM, HTC Partner to Push Android Deeper into the Enterprise

HTC and IBM apparently have struck a deal to help HTC gain more Android enterprise love and IBM gain more mobile proliferation of its software. The duo teamed up at IBM’s latest Loutusphere conference and demoed HTC devices running IBM’s smart business applications. So what’s next?

A tip of the hat goes to TechWeekEurope.co.uk, which appears to be the source of all the buzz. According to its report, “IBM executives demonstrated their smart business applications running on HTC smartphones and tablets.” And HTC has chose IBM because it “see(s) IBM as the gold standard for enterprise partnership.”

The relationship between the two companies is more than superficial, too, since HTC spent considerable time ensuring IBM’s business software runs smoothly on HTC devices while also being super secure. HTC sees an enhanced level of Android security as the last hurdle for businesses that instead have been adopting Apple technology when high security needs are a factor. HTC also has made strides to cater to the enterprise experience by including “active stylus” along applications “developed with enterprises in mind,” according to TechWeekEurope.uk report.

I’m not surprised HTC has taken to building out its enterprise presence. Out of many Android phone makers, HTC always seemed focused on building a quality experience and many people seem to enjoy its replacement GUI for Android. In the short term, this relationship could be good for IBM VARs who are working a mobile device management angle.

Bigger picture on the mobile landscape? Android is maturing, mobile operating systems are becoming more sophisticated and their place in the world is becoming less special and more standard. Be on the lookout for similar strategies between big-name vendors and mobile device makers. We already have Microsoft and Nokia, Google and Motorola and, more recently, Samsung and Intel, although their partnership is not Android-related. Instead, I have a hunch Intel and Samsung are considering building a robust alternative to Android with Tizen.

I suspect we’ll learn more about the evolution of the mobile scene when Mobile World Congress 2012 kicks off in February.