'I'm unable to make an enterprise case for iPhone' says charity CIO

Combat Stress CIO Richard Burley tells Computing why he chose Android over Apple

Making the case for using Apple's iPhone as a business tool is a big ask when Android smartphones are cheaper and provide all the functionality a mobile employee requires.

That's according to Richard Burley, CIO of Combat Stress, the leading charity for British military veterans' mental health. Combat Stress supports more than 5,600 ex-service men and women, with community outreach teams aiding former military personnel across the UK.

In order to ensure Combat Stress staff can provide the best support to combat veterans and their families, the charity has equipped community outreach personnel with low-cost Android Motorola Moto G smartphones

"Broadly speaking, we are an Android smartphone house. We secure them with some Airwatch mobile device management. And we've got Android tablets, we've standardised on Android as a mobile platform," Burley told Computing, going on to say that considerations of cost were a big part in this decision.

"We're very sensitive to changes in the marketplace, especially in terms of cost because we're a charity, so we're particularly chasing that perfect conjunction of cost and functionality, which at the moment is the Motorola Moto G handset, an incredibly cheap but fantastic Android smartphone," he said.

"All of that is underpinned by Dell laptops. Dell provides all of our core equipment, but our mobile devices are Android, including Samsung, Motorola and other devices," Burley added, referring to a recent Dell infrastructure upgrade that has helped the charity improve and extend its work.

Burley also suggested that iOS isn't suitable for enterprise use.

"At the enterprise level, I've been unable to make a business case for Apple when you consider the flexibility and the functionality of the Android platform, along with the price of the Android handsets," he said.

"For the latest version of a Motorola Moto G handset, with a 5-inch screen and the latest version of Android, it's only £130 brand new, out of contract. It's a very quick handset, very responsive," he said.

"Apple can't get anywhere near that. For the price and functionality of core email and a little bit of collaboration, Android provides all that and I can get four of them for the price of an Apple iPhone," Burley added.

However, there are those who remain unconvinced about the suitability of using Android smartphones as an enterprise tool. Last year, Barry Zubel, head of IT at Cambridge-based game developer Jagex, told Computing the wireless internet capabilities on Android devices are not reliable enough for enterprise-grade use.

"Android needs someone to fix its Wi-Fi stuff. Its Wi-Fi is great for consumer use, but for enterprise grade wireless it's not great," he said. "It's something Apple's very good at."

And while Combat Stress has placed its faith in Android over iOS, there are still plenty of organisations that see Apple as key to their enterprise mobility strategy going forward.