MicroStrategy Makes BI Mobile with iPhone, iPad App
MicroStrategy (NASDAQ: MSTR) today announced the general availability of MicroStrategy Mobile, a business intelligence (BI) application platform for Apple's (NASDAQ: AAPL) iPhone and iPad.
MicroStrategy made the announcement today at its worldwide launch event and user conference in Cannes, France. The company has offered mobile BI support for Research in Motion's (NASDAQ: RIMM) BlackBerry smartphone since 2007.
The app is aimed at users who need access to BI data anywhere, not just at their desktops. Smartphones and tablets that include sensor technologies such as GPS, cameras and multi-touch screens make mobile BI possible, the company said.
MicroStrategy COO Sanju Bansal said in a statement that the app “will allow insight to be injected into every conversation and decision.”
MicroStrategy Mobile lets companies extend graphs, grids, enterprise reports and information dashboards to the iPhone and iPad. The new app lets existing MicroStrategy projects be extended to the iPhone, iPad and BlackBerry, typically within days. MicroStrategy Mobile applications are assembled in point-and-click fashion and do not require coding. Reports are portable between platforms, including iPhone, iPad, BlackBerry, Web browsers and Microsoft Office and Windows.
Integration with Google maps allows for easy visualization of geospatial data and rapid location identification. The platform also takes advantage of a number of iPhone and iPad features such as multi-touch and data exploration features, and information can be captured through on-device sensors such as a camera or bar code reader.
MicroStrategy also announced a number of customer implementations of the mobile BI technology.
Alloso Technologies is using MicroStrategy Mobile to provide hotel general managers with access to real-time information, including budgets, revenue segments, expenses and links to guest reviews, while a number of other companies are using it to spot sales trends.
To get users started, MicroStrategy is offering a free Mobile Suite that includes 25 perpetual named user licenses of MicroStrategy Mobile, development tools, online training and technical support, available at www.microstrategy.com/freemobileBI.
The MicroStrategy Mobile iPhone app is available on the Apple App store, and includes three demo data sets, including Restaurant Trends, Casino Management and Retail Performance Management. It can be found at itunes.apple.com/us/app/microstrategy-mobile/id376256699?mt=8.
Paul Ferrill has been writing for over 15 years about computers and network technology. He holds a BS in Electrical Engineering as well as a MS in Electrical Engineering. He is a regular contributor to the computer trade press. He has a specialization in complex data analysis and storage. He has written hundreds of articles and two books for various outlets over the years. His articles have appeared in Enterprise Apps Today and InfoWorld, Network World, PC Magazine, Forbes, and many other publications.
