HSBC could order 200,000 iPhones
HSBC, which bills itself as "the world's local bank," is considering ditching its BlackBerry smartphones in favor of the Apple iPhone. Seen here is HSBC's U.K. trading floor.
(Credit: HSBC)Global banking giant HSBC is considering ditching the BlackBerry and adopting Apple's iPhone as its standard staff mobile device, a move that could result in an order for some 200,000 iPhones.
"We are actually reviewing iPhones from a HSBC Group perspective...and when I say that, I mean globally," Brenton Hush, HSBC's Australia and New Zealand chief information officer, told ZDNet.com.au this week.
HSBC has some 300,000 staff internationally. A decision to standardize on the iPhone on its corporate networks would likely lead to one of the world's largest iPhone orders.
"A decision on a piece of hardware like that would potentially be deployed, conservatively, to 200,000 people," Hush said. "You know, it's a big decision, especially when you have an existing fleet out there."
"But it's definitely something we are considering from a HSBC Group perspective," he said. "We always explore the potential application of new technologies, and this is no different."
Should HSBC select the iPhone as its official corporate mobile device, the decision would be a major blow to Research In Motion, maker of the BlackBerry, which is HSBC's current standard staff mobile.
Most corporations passed on the iPhone when it was first released, due to limited availability and the device's lack of support for Microsoft's Exchange e-mail platform. However, Apple has rectified both issues, and has additionally built a number of tools into the new iPhone 3G specifically targeted at corporate use.
HSBC's Australian presence is small compared to major Australian banks, but its global operations have a $6 billion annual technology budget and a technology team of 30,000 supporting 300,000 employees.
Hush said he did not own an iPhone, but added, "I have obviously had hands-on experience with them."
iPhone: OK for corporate use?
Heads of technology of other large organizations were cautious about the idea of standardizing the iPhone for corporate network access at the time of its launch.
While one of Australia's big four banks, CommBank, has flagged its iPhone trading application as part of its $523 million growth strategy for the year, chief information officer Michael Harte recently expressed caution about the phone's introduction into its own networks.
Steven Bandrowczak, global CIO of Nortel, which has 30,000 staff, said he doubted whether his staff would choose the iPhone over its current device, the BlackBerry, due to the latter device's superior e-mail functionality.
However, Hush's opinion differed on this matter. ZDNet.com.au asked Hush whether he thought the BlackBerry had any advantage over the iPhone.
"No, I don't. I think (the iPhone) would change some underlying infrastructure considerations from an enterprise perspective. But (Apple) have been pretty smart with the design."
No time frame has been given for a decision on the iPhone move, with Hush adding that for his position located in Australia, the iPhone was a low-ranking priority at this stage.
The CIO, whose office is located at HSBC's Sydney headquarters on George Street, Sydney, is just 500 meters away from Apple's new Sydney store, but he said he had not entered due to persistent queues.
"I'm blown away every time I walk past that Apple store, and there's always people queued up outside to get in," he said. "I haven't been in there. It's always too busy."
Liam Tung of ZDNet Australia reported from Sydney.
http://www.macdailynews.com/index.php/weblog/comments/software_fix_on_the_way_for_iphone_3g_reception_glitches/
On to the next problem...
Hands down, the Blackberry is a much much better than business device than the iPhone. I will go back to the Blackberry when the Blackberry Bold comes out next month for AT&T and I will give my iPhone to my daughter.
Personally, I have supported Blackberries (and have used them), and seriously? The keyboard with birth-control-pill-sized keys is kinda crappy. BES is pricey. Push email is pricey. RIM's protocols are proprietary beyond belief. I'd rather have something a bit more open, and something that doesn't require heavy expenses on the back-end just to support at a business. an iPhone w/ WiFi can do the trick easily enough, and 3G is an open standard.
That.. and the seamless VPN... and true RDC application WinAdmin... I can't imagine a better business solution NOW.. not considering that the app store is only a few weeks old. Imagine what will be available in the next few years....
Now HSBC is by no means technologically savvy. I worked with a firm that was partnered with HSBC and they are beyond incompetent. Just because they are big, does not mean they are good. Seriously, what CTO in their right mind would throw away years of BE services, tried and true, for something that just received enterprise support 10 minutes ago?? Forcing your employees to use an iPhone when the blackberry is what they want? What about lost productivity when a battery fails and they need to deal with that replacement debacle? What about when your corp account does not qualify for the iPhone (Like ours)?
Bottom line: Once apple develops a BES "back office" alternative, then I will see that they are serious about the enterprise. Right now they are using a port of a 3rd party application (with no enterprise support btw) to get everything done that the BES does so easily. Apple side-stepping the enterprise will continue to stunt the growth of Apple products ability to replace MSFT.
- by dansilva76 August 14, 2008 9:10 PM PDT
- Funny how irrelevant Microsoft Exchange support is in this case since HBSC is an IBM Lotus Domino customer.
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