Mobility is becoming the mainstream platform for application access and for on-line transactions. This research report aims to help companies optimize their mobile development strategies and make more intelligent choices with regard to mobile app development tools. We examine the various strategies for automating mobile apps development and specifically look at the applicability and requirements for Mobile Enterprise Application Platforms (MEAPs) - software development environments that can automate creation of mobile applications for many mobile environments from a single code base. The report focuses on how organizations can transition their mobile application strategies from disposable to reusable, from artisanal to industrial, what tools are appropriate for which types of mobile apps and how to evaluate such tools. The research contained in the report blends and balances both the LOB and marketing views of mobile choices with those emanating from within the IT organizations. To view a PDF version of this Buyer's Guide Summary please, click here. 

While Google's Android market share growth is on a fast track, so are the lawsuits over patent violations,the complaints about platform fragmentation and unease about how the company will monetize its mobile business.The purchase of Motorola Mobility Solutions (MMI) dramatically raises the table stakes for Google. One would hope that a deal of such magnitude would result in greater strategic clarity. Instead, in the wake of the announcement, technology buyers, Google Android partners and investors are left with more questions than answers. We believe the key issues for investors and other stakeholders lay at the potential disruption to the viral adoption of the Android portfolio. In this research note we examine key issues related to this acquisition and explore various outcomes that have direct impact on the future makeup of the Android market ecosystem.

Research in Motion, Ltd. (RIM) recent financial guidance put the lingering questions about its strategy and execution into sharp focus. RIM (MGI Index= 2,396) shares lost over 28% since April 28th 2011. Some industry observers feel that the tsunami of Apple (MGI Index=8,327) and Android offerings has irrevocably washed RIM away from its comfortable market position. Others see the current RIM challenges as a temporary hiccup for an otherwise great company in a great market. For one thing, we do not believe that with over $2Bil in cash, no debt and a consistent profitability, RIM is going out of business any time soon. The question is one of relevance and leadership. Can RIM retain a meaningful leadership position in the new mobile computing landscape and generate above market growth and profitability? Can it defend its position in the consumer markets and successfully penetrate the tablet space? Or will it roll back to being a niche provider of mobile access solutions for secure enterprise-class e-mail? Does the company have a realistic vision of the overall mobile computing opportunity? How long will the recovery process take? Do the RIM board and current management team have the right combination of skills to translate the vision into action? In this research note we examine RIM survival and recovery scenarios and share our outlook of why RIM's recovery is likely to take a while.