????黑莓手機制造商RIM將很快為iPhone和安卓（Android）設備提供支持服務。這是否可以說是一個時代的象征？沒錯，RIM于本周二宣布它將發布一項移動裝置管理工具，允許IT業內公司對運行其競爭對手操作系統的手機進行控制和安全防護。如果還有人不愿意相信RIM在企業客戶領域的霸主地位已經終結，那么這就是證明。

????然而，RIM也有利好消息——雖然它正在困境中掙扎，但如果能夠抓住良機，軟件工具這種新的服務戰略將有利可圖。畢竟，RIM在開發企業客戶方面擁有多年的經驗，在IT部門中享有很高的品牌認可度。當然，成功支持競爭對手的設備也會危及RIM自己的黑莓手機。公司還面臨著另一個障礙。作為曾統治企業市場的領導者，在如今“帶上自己的設備（BYOD）上班”這一商界盛宴中，RIM顯然來晚了一步。

????然而，BYOD風潮正愈演愈烈，促成了移動設備管理行業的興旺繁榮。進入工作場所的的可移動設備數量日益增長，很多規模稍小的企業也參與到競爭中來，為這些設備提供安全防護服務。

????安卓就是一個突出的例子，它已經催生了一大批管理工具，幫助IT業內公司設置并控制這些依托于谷歌的設備。總部位于加州紅木海岸的移動設備服務公司Good Technology提供一款軟件，能夠幫助確保安卓手機上郵件和數據的安全性。就在本周，移動設備管理初創企業MobileIron也發布了專門針對安卓的新型安全平臺。

????MobileIron產品副總裁奧加斯?雷奇稱：“我們的客戶里有近一半已經在運行安卓設備。”雷奇預計到2012年將會有更多安卓手機進入工作場所。分析認識同樣認同這種觀點。根據IDC市場研究公司最近的報告，到2015年“總體上安卓手機的巨大數量將使得位于最前沿的安卓操作系統成為迄今為止最領先的操作系統。”

????預計安卓設備在工作場所的運用會越來越廣泛。越來越多的公司競相針對安卓設備提供支持和保護。RIM的新手機管理平臺被稱為“黑莓手機融合技術”（ BlackBerry Mobile Fusion），該平臺將會與所有這些產品進行競爭。當然，搜索引擎公司谷歌比其他任何人都樂意看到安卓在公司客戶領域的成功，因此谷歌也于最近發布了針對安卓的移動設備管理工具。

????但是，RIM的想法沒錯。BYOD風潮不可抗拒。如果不能打敗iPhone和安卓，那么次優選擇就是，通過努力為他們提供支持來賺錢。但這并不能解決RIM更重要的問題，那就是推出消費者們、而不僅僅是首席信息官們愿意購買的設備。但是RIM眼下采取的行動顯然是個正確的開始。

????譯者：李玫曉/汪皓

????How's this for a sign of the times: BlackBerry maker Research in Motion will soon support iPhones and Android devices. Yes, that's right. On Tuesday RIM announced it is launching a mobile device management tool that will allow IT departments to control and secure rival phones running on rival operating systems. If anyone had any doubt that RIM's supremacy over the enterprise is over, here's your proof.

????Then again, it's not all bad news for RIM (RIMM). The software tools could signal a lucrative new services strategy for the struggling phone maker -- if it plays its cards right. After all, RIM has years of experience developing for the enterprise and strong brand recognition among IT departments. Of course, it runs the risk of cannibalizing its own handset line in the process of successfully supporting competing devices. And there's yet another hurdle for the company. Once the leader in all things enterprise, RIM is a little late to the "bring your own device" (BYOD) party.

????The BYOD movement is growing and has led to a boom in the mobile device management industry, with multiple smaller players vying to secure the growing number of devices being brought into the workplace.

????Android in particular has already spawned a number of management tools designed to help IT departments configure and control the many flavors of Google-powered devices. Redwood Shores-based Good Technology offers software to help secure email and data on Android phones. And just this week mobile device management startup MobileIron unveiled a new security platform especially for Android.

????"Almost half of our customer base is already running at least some Android devices," says Ojas Rege, VP of products at MobileIron. Rege expects a lot more Android phones to flood the workplace in 2012. So do analysts. According to a recent report by market research firm IDC, by 2015 "the enormous volume of Android phones in general will put the OS in the forefront as a leading employee-liable OS by far."

????A growing number of companies are already rushing in to support and secure the expected proliferation Android devices in the workplace. RIM's new mobile device management platform, called BlackBerry Mobile Fusion, will have to compete with all of these products. Of course, no one has more desire to see Android succeed in the enterprise than Google (GOOG) itself. That's why even the search engine recently launched its own mobile device management tools for Android.

????Still, RIM has the right idea. You can't fight the BYOD movement. And if you can't beat iPhones and Android devices, the next best thing is to try and make a little money by supporting them. That won't solve RIM's bigger problems -- coming out with devices that consumers, not just CIOs, want to buy--but it's a start.