iOS 8: What you need to know

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Mobile devices are rapidly becoming the professional tool of choice for workers, and IT administrators are finding themselves paying closer attention to mobile operating system (OS) updates. Few are more anxiously anticipated than those of Apple’s iOS.

Only months after its last update, Apple’s iOS 8 presents a host of new features that will once again redefine how consumers and enterprises use iOS devices. Based on our initial hands-on experience, we believe this is the most fundamental update to iOS for enterprises and developers to date. Organisations will need a clear strategy to get the most out of the changes.

iOS 7’s most substantial advances arose from its aesthetic and user experience changes. The shift to iOS 8 will be less immediately felt by end users, but the update represents a much more significant development. We believe there are three aspects organisations should consider:

Openness The update introduces over 4,000 APIs that expand how apps work and what they can do. Some of these have the potential to be disruptive to whole industries.

Security Many new features make iOS 8 more enterprise-ready, and a new development language, Swift, will make desktop and mobile development more straightforward.

Execution Getting the most out of iOS 8 will require organisations to think through the apps that currently exist, as well as how to build for new demand.

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Creating an open ecosystem

iOS 8 marks a significant change in Apple’s approach to the platform. It opens up new capabilities for developers and allows smoother development of existing functionalities across applications.

For example, iOS 8 introduces a range of productivity enhancements, including an adaptive user interface for better usability across different device screens. It also introduces geo-location improvements for

more accurate indoor location mapping, allowing enterprises to market to in-store shoppers more effectively. Feature enhancements include Handoff – part of Apple’s Continuity feature set – which allows for more seamless integration between devices, and Extensions, which allows integration between applications. The update also introduces interactive notifications, which may improve engagement by keeping users up-to-date when not in your application.

The majority of these developments are small but significant enhancements. However, two new features foreshadow iOS eventually becoming a platform that extends beyond mobile devices:

HomeKit, a framework for APIs that facilitates connectivity between home devices.

HealthKit, a framework for APIs that makes it simpler to share health-related information, and may be useful in healthcare as well as the burgeoning wearables market.

If Apple successfully creates ecosystems around these new features, they may be significant for the healthcare, smart home and wearable technology industries.

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The launch of iOS 8 will introduce a range of updates that are likely to be welcomed by enterprises using applications to connect with staff and customers.

Mobile Device ManagementFor example, new mobile device management (MDM) tools allow administrators to monitor iCloud backups for individual devices and prevent users from adding restrictions or erasing services. This will have an impact on how enterprises think about MDM and accelerate the commoditisation of this market.

Touch IDTouch ID authentication enables administrators to establish new levels of granular personal security with biometric fingerprinting at the app level. Similarly, the operating system’s expanded data protection gives administrators the ability to build passcode entry into all applications for enhanced data security. This will allow enterprises to mobilise a greater range of corporate applications at lower cost. It may also create a new set of headaches for administrators who find themselves managing another passcode set.

SwiftThe new Swift programming language accelerates app development and is simpler to use than the alternative, Objective-C. This will reduce the cost of development and make the platform more attractive to developers.

TestFlight IntegrationTestFlight integration now allows developers to more easily distribute beta apps to employees via the cloud for crowd testing.

Virtual Private NetworkiOS 8 introduces a number of features that will improve employee productivity. The update has made virtual private network (VPN) connections more practical. Previously, a VPN connection would quickly drain the batteries of iOS devices. iOS 8 manages VPN connections more efficiently and selectively, allowing devices to be constantly connected without taxing battery life.

The cumulative impact of these changes is to make the platform easier to develop on, easier to secure and more ready to support enterprise deployments.

Being enterprise-ready

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Getting the most out of iOS 8

The launch of iOS 8 presents many opportunities for more efficient application development and operation. If your company is yet to adapt to Apple’s changes, now is the time to act. We suggest following six key steps when modifying apps for Apple’s new operating system:

1. Examine each new feature offered in the iOS 8 update and identify those that could make life easier for your developers, employees and customers.

2. Train your development team to account for the new features and languages, or engage a development team with the requisite skills.

3. Embark on a planning and design phase to harness new features and identify fixes found during regression testing.

4. Review the functionality, codes and features of current applications to determine whether the iOS 8 updates present any obstacles to use. Also run regression tests to ensure your existing apps continue to work on relevant devices and systems after upgrading. For example, organisations running existing MDM platforms may need to update and test their version of the application to account for iOS 8’s new MDM features.

5. Run through an interactive cycle of building and testing new applications to adapt to the changes and ensure the best user experience possible for new features.

6. Release your updated applications to the market and promote the benefits of the upgrade to allow users to get more out of your app and your organisation.

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Accenture is helping businesses around the world manage operating system upgrades across multiple platforms. We bring together leading experts – including application architects, user experience and interface designers, test automation experts and engineers – to help you develop high-quality apps that can be rapidly deployed.

For more information, please contact:

Trent Mayberry Managing Director, Accenture Mobility, Asia Pacific Trent.A.Mayberry@accenture.com.

Craig McNeil Managing Director, Accenture Mobility, North America Craig.A.McNeil@accenture.com.

Michele Marrone Managing Director, Accenture Mobility, Europe, Africa and Latin America Michele.Marrone@accenture.com.

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How Accenture can help

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CoverAbout Accenture Mobility

Accenture Mobility, part of Accenture Digital, plans, implements and manages mobility solutions for businesses and public organizations, including developing and implementing enterprise mobility strategies; incorporating applications and managed services; creating and delivering mCommerce solutions; and supplying credible, business ready Connected Product offerings. Accenture Mobility services are based on deep industry insights and technical expertise that helps clients across all industries achieve growth, efficiency and manage a successful transformation as they adopt the tools of a digital business. Find out more by following @mobilitywise and visiting www.accenture.com/mobility.

About Accenture

Accenture is a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company, with more than 293,000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries. Combining unparalleled experience, comprehensive capabilities across all industries and business functions, and extensive research on the world’s most successful companies, Accenture collaborates with clients to help them become high-performance businesses and governments. The company generated net revenues of US$28.6 billion for the fiscal year ended Aug. 31, 2013. Its home page is www.accenture.com.

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Disclaimer: This report has been prepared by and distributed by Accenture. This document is for information purposes. No part of this document may be reproduced in any manner without the written permission of Accenture. While we take precautions to ensure that the source and the information we base our judgments on is reliable, we do not represent that this information is accurate or complete and it should not be relied upon as such. It is provided with the understanding that Accenture is not acting in a fiduciary capacity. Opinions expressed herein are subject to change without notice. July 2014 | 14-3878