IBM (NYSE: IBM) is expected to introduce a new enterprise mobile software strategy today to industry analysts as part of its unveiling of a new software development lab in Littleton, Mass.

A spokeswoman told Computerworld that the strategy will involve IBM services and software with some initiatives involving middleware software to support mobile users. The main theme will be about collaboration and "using mobile devices to manage your business," she said.

Analysts have been concerned about IBM's presence in the mobile market. They say IBM could play a bigger role with software given the myriad of smartphone apps and operating systems.

"IBM, except for its professional services side, has lost its way in mobile," Jack Gold, an analyst at J.Gold Associates, told Computerworld.

So far, IBM's mobility moves have had limited impact, Gold said. Implementations of WebSphere in enterprises has been costly while a partnership with Research In Motion to extend Lotus Notes and IM to BlackBerry hasn't had much success. In January, IBM introduced applications for Apple's iPhone and Google's Android platforms that allow users to read their encrypted Lotus Notes email.

"IBM does not have a strong presence in mobility on a standardized product basis and must modernize to support multiple [mobile] platforms to gain share," Gold said. "It has to be seen as offering a compelling solution to the market at a reasonable cost but has a lot of work to do."

Ken Dulaney, an analyst at Gartner, said that given IBM's pivotal role in creating landmark software for decades, it "should be doing much better than they are in mobility."

For more:
- see this Computerworld article

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