An Interview with Nick Harris - NewsGator’s Resident Apple Expert

NewsGator Social inSites (NG): Have you seen a big increase in demand from your user base for Apple device support?

Nick: Yes. Apple devices are as popular as ever, and we're seeing more and more enterprise IT departments "officially" allowing iPhones and iPads within their organizations to access internal resources.

NG: Do you believe Social Sites users are more apt to use their iPhone or iPad to access Social Sites remotely?

Nick: Our main goal is to make the mobile experience the easiest way to use Social Sites remotely so I hope we are succeeding! I find myself catching up on company activity in situations where a laptop would be inconvenient – such as waiting in line for an elevator or something. It helps make time like that more productive.
 
NG: Security is a big issue with mobile device use – how do you ensure Social Sites info accessed via a mobile device is not compromised?

Nick: We follow all of Apple's security guidelines as well as enabling extra security features that Apple provides. Apple wants these devices in as many hands as possible so they know very well the concerns people have with security. They spend the time, money, and research to make sure they get it right and we keep up with their technological advances in each release of iOS.
 
NG: SharePoint 2010 is limited in its mobile device support so the fact users can access SharePoint on the iPhone and iPad via NewsGator Social Sites seems to be a significant option. What are your thoughts on this?

Nick: Absolutely! Accessing your shared documents from SharePoint 2010 is a fantastic and unique feature of Social Sites for iPhone and iPad. This capability allows you to quickly and easily access your files wherever you are and share them with others. We're just getting started with this integration, so there is so much more we can do! Look for better integration in future releases.
 
NG: Are there any user limitations when using Social Sites on the iPhone or iPad?

Nick: We're focusing our mobile strategy on solving the problems people face most when they are mobile - for example, keeping track of a conversation, sharing a photo or a link, or just having easy access to a colleague's phone number. In that regard the mobile experience doesn't have all the bells and whistles of Social Sites, but we have made sure to focus on solving the problems people face when they are away from their desk.
 
NG: Do you believe mobile is just the new way of work or are people still using desktops?

Nick: Desktops are still the number one way to be productive. Mobile devices right now are only filling the gaps in between the time you're not at your desk. It will be exciting to see how the trend develops over the next few years as more iPad-like devices make their way into enterprise environments.
 
NG: What’s your favorite iPhone or iPad app?

Nick: Social Sites for iPhone or iPad of course! ;-) But aside from work, I'm a fan of Pano. I've taken some great panoramic photos with my iPhone 4.