黑莓手机制造商RIM将很快为iPhone和安卓（Android）设备提供支持服务。这是否可以说是一个时代的象征？没错，RIM于本周二宣布它将发布一项移动装置管理工具，允许IT业内公司对运行其竞争对手操作系统的手机进行控制和安全防护。如果还有人不愿意相信RIM在企业客户领域的霸主地位已经终结，那么这就是证明。

    然而，RIM也有利好消息——虽然它正在困境中挣扎，但如果能够抓住良机，软件工具这种新的服务战略将有利可图。毕竟，RIM在开发企业客户方面拥有多年的经验，在IT部门中享有很高的品牌认可度。当然，成功支持竞争对手的设备也会危及RIM自己的黑莓手机。公司还面临着另一个障碍。作为曾统治企业市场的领导者，在如今“带上自己的设备（BYOD）上班”这一商界盛宴中，RIM显然来晚了一步。

    然而，BYOD风潮正愈演愈烈，促成了移动设备管理行业的兴旺繁荣。进入工作场所的的可移动设备数量日益增长，很多规模稍小的企业也参与到竞争中来，为这些设备提供安全防护服务。

    安卓就是一个突出的例子，它已经催生了一大批管理工具，帮助IT业内公司设置并控制这些依托于谷歌的设备。总部位于加州红木海岸的移动设备服务公司Good Technology提供一款软件，能够帮助确保安卓手机上邮件和数据的安全性。就在本周，移动设备管理初创企业MobileIron也发布了专门针对安卓的新型安全平台。

    MobileIron产品副总裁奥加斯•雷奇称：“我们的客户里有近一半已经在运行安卓设备。”雷奇预计到2012年将会有更多安卓手机进入工作场所。分析认识同样认同这种观点。根据IDC市场研究公司最近的报告，到2015年“总体上安卓手机的巨大数量将使得位于最前沿的安卓操作系统成为迄今为止最领先的操作系统。”

    预计安卓设备在工作场所的运用会越来越广泛。越来越多的公司竞相针对安卓设备提供支持和保护。RIM的新手机管理平台被称为“黑莓手机融合技术”（ BlackBerry Mobile Fusion），该平台将会与所有这些产品进行竞争。当然，搜索引擎公司谷歌比其他任何人都乐意看到安卓在公司客户领域的成功，因此谷歌也于最近发布了针对安卓的移动设备管理工具。

    但是，RIM的想法没错。BYOD风潮不可抗拒。如果不能打败iPhone和安卓，那么次优选择就是，通过努力为他们提供支持来赚钱。但这并不能解决RIM更重要的问题，那就是推出消费者们、而不仅仅是首席信息官们愿意购买的设备。但是RIM眼下采取的行动显然是个正确的开始。

    译者：李玫晓/汪皓

    How's this for a sign of the times: BlackBerry maker Research in Motion will soon support iPhones and Android devices. Yes, that's right. On Tuesday RIM announced it is launching a mobile device management tool that will allow IT departments to control and secure rival phones running on rival operating systems. If anyone had any doubt that RIM's supremacy over the enterprise is over, here's your proof.

    Then again, it's not all bad news for RIM (RIMM). The software tools could signal a lucrative new services strategy for the struggling phone maker -- if it plays its cards right. After all, RIM has years of experience developing for the enterprise and strong brand recognition among IT departments. Of course, it runs the risk of cannibalizing its own handset line in the process of successfully supporting competing devices. And there's yet another hurdle for the company. Once the leader in all things enterprise, RIM is a little late to the "bring your own device" (BYOD) party.

    The BYOD movement is growing and has led to a boom in the mobile device management industry, with multiple smaller players vying to secure the growing number of devices being brought into the workplace.

    Android in particular has already spawned a number of management tools designed to help IT departments configure and control the many flavors of Google-powered devices. Redwood Shores-based Good Technology offers software to help secure email and data on Android phones. And just this week mobile device management startup MobileIron unveiled a new security platform especially for Android.

    "Almost half of our customer base is already running at least some Android devices," says Ojas Rege, VP of products at MobileIron. Rege expects a lot more Android phones to flood the workplace in 2012. So do analysts. According to a recent report by market research firm IDC, by 2015 "the enormous volume of Android phones in general will put the OS in the forefront as a leading employee-liable OS by far."

    A growing number of companies are already rushing in to support and secure the expected proliferation Android devices in the workplace. RIM's new mobile device management platform, called BlackBerry Mobile Fusion, will have to compete with all of these products. Of course, no one has more desire to see Android succeed in the enterprise than Google (GOOG) itself. That's why even the search engine recently launched its own mobile device management tools for Android.

    Still, RIM has the right idea. You can't fight the BYOD movement. And if you can't beat iPhones and Android devices, the next best thing is to try and make a little money by supporting them. That won't solve RIM's bigger problems -- coming out with devices that consumers, not just CIOs, want to buy--but it's a start.