Managing devices from remote laptops and PCs used to be a breakthrough. Then doing the same from smartphones and mobile devices was the next big thing.
But how about doing this from a not-so-simple pair of glasses? You apparently can, but not with ordinary glasses. No, you’ll need the intelligent and trendy new Google Glass, unfortunately still in beta.
That’s the newest way to use the MaaS360 mobility management system from Fiberlink, which can monitor mobile devices and perform control functions.
The Google Glass interface starts to work by simply adding customer authentication and account information.
“MaaS360 through Google Glass now delivers unprecedented ways to interact with real-time data about mobile devices, and ensures devices and apps are in compliance with corporate security policies,” Fiberlink said. “With Google Glass, MaaS360 information is displayed through a revolutionary new interface, with the ability to take real-time device actions such as lock, locate and wipe simply through voice commands or hand gestures. IT can even send messages to users instantly without booting up a laptop or touching their tablet or smartphone.”
Is this Glass Half Full?
The new MaaS360 apps got me thinking about IT apps for Google Glass. So I Googled Google Glass and found next to nothing of any real use to IT besides MaaS360. Of course test versions of Google Glass just shipped and it isn’t exactly the richest, most controllable and flexible interface in the world. It is kind of like looking for business apps on an iPod. There just ain’t much to work with. The advantage Google Glass has is its display, which is projected via the glasses, actually appears quite large. If the voice control proves its mettle, it may turn into a rich way to run software after all.
In fact, Google Glass may prove itself different from little devices like the iPod, and simple interfaces to key IT tools may be the next big thing. Just don’t expect all the features you’d get from a laptop, tablet or even smartphone. These phones, after all, can run Microsoft Office – they just do it rather poorly.
Fiberlink says Google Glass can do real work, and offer up a variety of useful scenarios.
Here’s one: “A traveling employee notifies the IT department that they lost a smartphone used for work. Without delay, the IT administrator immediately asks Google Glass to locate the lost device, and a map instantly appears on the virtual screen displaying its location at the employee’s hotel,” the company argues.
Here’s one more: “An IT administrator checks the MaaS360 Alert Center through Google Glass and discovers that a new device on the network is out of compliance with security policies. Instead of waiting for the user to call asking why they no longer have access to corporate resources, the IT administrator uses voice commands to instantly send a message with instructions on how to remediate the issue.”
Fiberlink has confidence that Google Glass isn’t just a flashy expensive toy, but a device that truly belongs in the IT tool chest.
“Google Glass is a great example of how IT can adopt innovative technology to enhance the management and enablement of the mobile workplace,” said Frank Schloendorn, director of Android ecosystem at Fiberlink. “The ability to literally see your mobile environment right before your eyes and know that users, devices, applications and corporate documents are safe is a wonderful feeling. The freedom to take action on the go and help someone at any time, all by looking through Google Glass, is an amazing experience. It’s just plain cool.”
Edited by
Alisen Downey
