O2 launches smartphone-management service

O2 UK has launched a managed-services offering for enterprises looking to cope with increasing numbers of employees wielding smartphones.

Ben Dowd, business sales director at O2 UK, said in a statement: "Mobile email is no longer simply a tool for senior executives but is now ubiquitous at all levels of an organisation, placing huge pressures on IT departments."

The service is aimed at businesses with more than 100 mobile data devices, and O2 claims it will help enterprises "better predict and control the cost and complexity of running a mobile email service".

The managed-services offering covers the initial configuration of the device and its dispatch to the user; day-to-day account administration, such as password and licence management, monitoring and alerts, activity reports and recommending changes; and technical support.

Businesses signing up will also have access to O2's Professional Services team for strategic input and regular service "health checks".

The service is priced on a per-device, per-month basis. The BlackBerry and devices compatible with Good Mobile Email — including the Palm Treo and Motorola Q9 — are supported. Devices running the Symbian OS are not supported.