AT&T launches managed mobile application platform

AT&T has announced that it is offering a managed version of its Mobile Enterprise Application Platform (MEAP), which enables enterprises to offer applications across a range of devices, including PCs, smartphones and tablets. The new offering, dubbed MEAP- Managed Solution, provides software from Pyxis Mobile, application development and management on AT&T’s Synaptic Hosting Infrastructure (CP: AT&T enhances cloud services), integration, and professional services.

The new offering could be used to help companies develop brand new applications or to extend existing applications to mobile users, said Chris Hill, vice president of Advanced Mobility Solutions for AT&T Business Solutions (CP: Q&A: AT&T drives enterprise mobility with innovation centers, apps focus), in an email to Connected Planet.

“AT&T can support all aspects of helping a customer manage core business applications that are being extended to mobile devices across multiple operating systems,” said Hill. “AT&T’s experts work with customers’ application development teams to put it all together and ensure the apps are reliable and highly secure.”

AT&T is essentially an end-to-end solution provider, Hill said.

Service details
The MEAP platform provides middleware technology and development tools aimed at efficiently and securely extending leading enterprise requirements planning, customer relationship management and custom back-end applications in mobile devices, along with consulting services and application management services.

Consulting services help facilitate business case development for mobile solutions, requirements definition, application development, testing, deployment and support, Hill said. Application management services provide flexible deployment options and low cost of ownership in a hosted environment, he said.

AT&T’s MEAP solutions should be applicable to businesses in many industries, Hill said. Potential target markets include mobile sales, service and support workers in retail, manufacturing, healthcare, high-tech, medical systems and finance, he said.