IBM unveiled seven new social networking and collaboration mobile apps designed to address enterprise-class requirements in India. The new offerings span the widest range of tablets, including the iPad. The software allows employees to more effectively collaborate and share data, images and conduct meeting on the fly and more securely as part of their everyday work experience.

IBM’s release of social networking and collaboration mobile apps is in line with the increase in the usage of tablets in business. Increasingly, employees require enterprise connectivity from their personal smartphones and tablet devices, also known as the "Bring Your Own Device" to work trend. A recent IBM study revealed that 73 percent of business leaders surveyed currently allow mobile devices or tablets to connect to their corporate networks.

“India is, undoubtedly, an emerging market for tablets and smartphones. More of these devices are finding their way into enterprises as employees entering the organization will expect to be allowed to use them. Employees increasingly seek to take full advantage of better browsers and innovative applications from app stores,” said Karthik Padmanabhan, Country Manager, Lotus, IBM Software Group India/ South Asia. “The ability to quickly access Angry Birds is fun, but being able to also access business applications and sales leads is beguiling today’s customers.”

IBM has launched apps to support social networking for iPad, instant messaging, access business documents, etc. This new software is part of a suite of capabilities IBM offers to effectively address 21st century workforce trends. For example, IBM recently introduced a new mobile service that helps organizations protect against data loss and other risks caused by device theft, unauthorized access, malware, spyware, and inappropriate applications. IBM is also advancing the use of business analytics by delivering expanded mobile device support with IBM Cognos Mobile on the iPad.