Update to the Update

Wow, ESRI sure are making some moves in the Mobile GIS space. There is already an update to my Updated ESRI Mobile Applications, and hence an update to the update on the Mobile Trends Post.

ESRI have added some information to their Mobile GIS site covering the ArcGIS for Windows Phone offering.

ArcGIS for Windows Phone 7

The solution is coming! It will include an application for use on Windows Phone devices and an API that enables developers to create their own applications.

We will keep you posted with regards to the release of both the Windows Phone and Android solutions.

Updated ESRI Mobile Applications

Further to my initial Mobile Trends Post, when I discussed mobile support for other OS's there are 2 significant Mobile offerings to come out of the recent conference.

Apple iOS

At this point ESRI have confirmed that support for Apple products is going to be through Apple iOS, and iOS supported devices (iPhone, iPad, etc).

To this end ESRI have already released there second iOS application. This is for Business Analyst and is the BAO for iOS App.
I'm sure we can expect to see more and more of these Apps springing up over time. These Apps are focused applications driven behind the scenes by Data sourced from ArcGIS Online, and utilising the Services offered by ArcGIS Server.

ArcGIS Mobile

There have been 2 significant changes to ArcGIS Mobile:

1. A template application is now provided for both Windows 32 and Windows Mobile platforms.
2. A single license of ArcGIS Mobile (Template Application and SDK) is bundled with each ArcGIS Desktop Product (ArcView, ArcEditor, ArcInfo). Additional bundles of 5 licenses can be purchased.

The core of our business is Field Data Capture and Mobile, and hence we would be more than happy to sit down and review your requirements and discuss these and a range of other options with you.

Mobile GIS Trend 1 - Other OS's

Although historically evolving from a number of operating platforms, with the inception of ArcGIS, ESRI has predominantly focused on supporting the Microsoft Windows environment for their Desktop and Mobile products.

With regards to the Mobile GIS arena Windows is the dominate OS for Laptops, UMPC's and Netbook's, and Windows Mobile/CE is the dominant OS for PDA's and Rugged Handheld devices.

ESRI has this side of the market covered with it's existing ArcPad and ArcGIS Mobile offerings.

The mobile area in which Windows is lacking behind the competition is the Smartphone market. In this sector Windows has actually lost market share, whilst in comparison both Apple iOS (iPhone & iPad) and Android OS have substantially increased their market share.

ESRI is now aiming at solutions to cover both these platforms with mobile product offerings:

ArcGIS for iOS

• The ArcGIS for iOS Application is a free application that can be downloaded from iTunes. It allows you to share maps from ArcGIS Online, and use tools to search, measure, identify and query data. (At a later stage it will also include a range of other functions).
• The ArcGIS API for iOS enables iOS developers to build custom applications that leverage of the capabilities of ArcGIS Server.

ArcGIS for Android

• A solution for Android doesn't exist yet - But it's coming!! According to the ESRI 2010 Conference Q & A. It will apparently include both an Application and API similar to the iOS offering.

Over the coming months it is going to be interesting to watch the uptake of the new Windows Phone 7 OS to see if this again alters the Smartphone market. There are some interesting times ahead.