Productive Corporation

Is the iPhone is changing the way businesses adopt new technology?
The iPhone has created a wide array of challenges for IT departments.  However, the larger question being posed is, are end users changing the way businesses adopt to new technologies?
The current market reality is that technology products weather it be software or hardware are sold to the IT department or upper management.  Now that the iPhone has 28% of the U.S. smart-phone market (according to Apple) the use of the device is getting used more for business purposes and employees are embracing the product.  This leaves corporate IT in a difficult spot of trying to secure new technology on the fly as well as accepting that their end users can dictate what technology comes into their environment. 
In response to this many IT departments are banning the iPhone in the workplace.  A few of the reasons why IT are having problems with the iPhone;

• Email - email programs such as Lotus Notes and Groupwise are not supported
• Code development - businesses would have to share out it's custom in-house software code to Apple in order to distribute applications to employees
• Lost or stolen - as of today if an iPhone is lost or stolen there is not a way to erase the company data that may be on the phone
  

Apple does plan on addressing these issues in June with a new release that will support Microsoft Exchange software, the ability to erase the contents of the phone as well as provide a secure connection to a corporate network. 

Are your employees beginning to dictate how your company adopts to new technology?  Let us hear your feedback.