Finally, a mobile enterprise app store

We've been asking the question for a while now: Where is the app store for the enterprise? Last week, mobile applications and platform provider Ondeego took the industry's first plunge, announcing the launch of AppCentral, a new virtual storefront that targets the enterprise-user segment.

AppCentral is platform agnostic and supports applications for most enterprise-grade smartphones. However, it doesn't support the iPhone yet because of legal restrictions.

According to Ondeego, AppCentral enables third-party software developers to more effectively and cost-efficiently reach business users, while promising workers a channel to acquire applications and productivity tools without long purchasing and procurement cycles. In addition, AppCentral allows IT departments to manage application deployments across multiple mobile platforms--companies can manage third-party and proprietary applications remotely while simultaneously securing data within them. AppCentral additionally boasts Ondeego's patent-pending Securitization solution, enabling remote lockdown or wiping of data in the event a device is lost or stolen.

But the question is: Can the success of the app store concept in the consumer world be replicated in the enterprise environment? Collaboration software such as email, line-of-business applications like CRM and personal productivity applications such as expense tracking are all valuable tools that can be downloaded from an enterprise app store. But will the app store be useful for selling beyond basic enterprise software? If so, how easy is it going to be to download and configure enterprise software? Moreover, will IT department approval mire down the proliferation of apps? And most importantly, how much of a monetization model will there be for enterprise app developers?

These questions should be answered in due time as more companies come into the space to play their hand at the lucrative yet complicated world of applications for the enterprise. To participate in the private beta of AppCentral, click here. - Lynnette

P.S. Philippe Winthrop, analyst with Strategy Analytics, and David Goldschlag is CTO of Trust Digital, spelled out the needs of the enterprise when it comes to an enterprise-focused app store a while back. Check it out here.