Of Android's weaknesses that prevent it from seeing wider-scale acceptance, its lack of any native enterprise-friendly features has to rank high on the list; sure, HTC and others have taken baby steps to smooth that situation over, but it's going to take a more deep-rooted effort from the OHA proper to fully support policies and those other totally boring security features that make corporate IT managers swoon. Without going into too much detail, Android patron saint Andy Rubin is now saying that business-specific capabilities will be baked into the platform's trunk this year -- though he cautions that the timing for manufacturers to pick up that code and include it in retail devices is totally out of his control (in other words, you realistically shouldn't expect them this year). With Google, Palm, and Apple all gradually making headway into the suitspace -- yes, we just made that word up -- we're guessing RIM's gotta be feeling a little heat.

[Via mocoNews]

T-Mobile customers have been enjoying the WiFi-based spoils of UMA for quite some time, but HotSpot @Home isn't, well, HotSpot @Work. Now, however, those same luxuries are coming to the enterprise space courtesy of a partnership with Meru Networks. The two have teamed to bring fixed-mobile convergence to corporate campuses, enabling T-Mob users to switch seamlessly between cell towers and wireless access points while on "official business." Due to T-Mobile's decision to join Meru's WINS (Wireless Interoperability and Network Solutions) Partner Program, firms who take advantage can expect uninterrupted calls by all employees as they roam around -- which is pretty important when trying to close that next billion dollar deal. Of course, there's no telling what small fortune will be required to hook a corporation up with this, but hey, it's not like companies are being forced to watch their spending these days, right?

[Via phonescoop]

Vehicle tracking is an old trick at this point, but that's not to say there's no demand out there in the enterprise space. Announced today, the TeleNav Vehicle Tracker has been added to the carrier's portfolio of enterprise mobility services. Said GPS-enabled device can be hard-wired or embedded onto a vehicle to provide "companies of all sizes with a hassle-free method for monitoring and managing fleet operations." Specifically, it can log and report via email or SMS (on AT&T's network, obviously) when an employee violates an established policy (speed, stop time, mileage, etc.) and provide "detailed information about vehicle activity, including whether the engine is turned on or doors are open." The tracker will run customers a whopping $399, with a monthly service fee of around $34 (yes, for each device). In other words, you better be really suspicious before diving into this.

[Via RCRWireless]

Nokia has announced that it'll no longer be working on its own "business mobility solutions," reallocating some of the knowledge and manpower in that division over to its consumer-focused push email client that recently launched in beta form. For what it's worth, the announcement comes across not as a message that Nokia's abandoning its enterprise customers -- far from it, in fact, with the Eseries looking better than ever -- but as a genuine admission that other companies with established solutions are better cut out to manage that functionality, even on Nokia's own S60. Interestingly, Microsoft, IBM, and Cisco are all mentioned as partners with commitments to develop for Nokia's wares, but noticeably missing is RIM, whose BlackBerry Connect went missing on the E66 and E71. These days, it's hard to mention "enterprise" without also mentioning "BES" in the same sentence, so we're not too sure how far Nokia's going to get here without roping RIM back into the equation.

Hankerin' for some bona fide push email on your VZW handset, are you? If this is indeed the case, look no further than RemoSync, the latest Get It Now application that enables a handful of the carrier's handsets to get their Exchange-hosted email pushed directly to them. More specifically, those who purchase the app will be able to read, compose, reply, delete, forward, etc. emails, download Outlook contacts and view those immensely annoying calendar events. The pricing structure is quite curious, though. First off, it'll cost you $9.99 per month, and while a data plan isn't required per se, those without one will be charged $1.99 per megabyte (or "airtime") when using RemoSync. For a list of compatible mobiles, tap the read link and give that scroll wheel a few turns.

[Via PhoneScoop]

You already knew Nokia's evolutionary N96 was all set to be shipped in the fall, but it's about time Nokia came clean with the release information on its leaked-out-everywhere E-series. While Anssi Vanjoki, senior executive vice president of Nokia Markets, didn't specify model numbers, it's widely assumed that the E66 and E71 handsets are included when he states that "a group of E-series multimedia computers" will be brought to market in Q3. No mention of a price or expected launch regions, but at least you've a quarter to circle in your date book, yeah?

Remember that sweet little magnifying glass from the iPhone SDK demo? Well apparently we all weren't having a shared hallucination -- it's in the enterprise version of firmware 2.0. Thanks to a tipster, we've now got shots of the search bar clearly hanging out at the top of the contacts list. While we're unraveling mysteries, you'll be happy to know that the little drawer button -- which did nothing in the regular old firmware we had -- is actually a meeting invitations folder, which displays the number of requests just like the SMS and mail icons. Other changes? Enterprise users don't get the app store or iTunes store icons. Boo. Check out the gallery below to see just exactly what we're talking about. Now, on to finding JFK's real killer!

Here's the good news: "select" registered Apple developers won't be the only ones with access to iPhone 2.0 beta software before the official June launch. The bad news? It still probably won't be you. Apple is courting enterprise IT departments to test out the 2.0 beta in a new "iPhone Enterprise Beta Program," but there are quite a few restrictions and caveats, with an extensive application form and no guarantee of success. If you get into the program, you'll get to test out all those new enterprise features announced today, and provide Apple with feedback on how awesome everything is.

According to InfoWorld, the folly that is the iPhone launch just got kicked up another notch with the news that AT&T would be targeting the iPhone at business users. Of course, analysts are quick to point out that without a keypad for dialing while driving, (as a society, we can really do without this anyway) removable battery, and because it's Apple's first outing in the mobile phone space, it would not be recommended nor largely accepted by enterprises. We also have to point out that the iPhone's lack of any useful messaging integration (think BlackBerry, Microsoft Exchange) will also make this a pretty tough sell. Who knows, this just may fuel more rumors about what may end up going into the iPhone, but whatever the case may be, we would love to be a fly on the wall during one of those sales calls. "What? No, it doesn't really have business email.. but it plays movies and music well."