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Mobile Device Management

Mobile device management is a generic term for the systems that can be used by or on behalf of users to configure, manage, and update applications and network access settings in mobile devices. With device management, an operator, service provider or an enterprise can help users to use new services and applications, as well as modify existing configurations.

The very first instance of device management takes place when you insert a SIM card and switch the phone on for the first time. If the operator has placed their network settings in the SIM card, an S60 device automatically activates the correct settings for the browser », multimedia messaging (MMS »), and operator access points for data usage and streaming.

S60 licensees can also improve the user experience when it comes to basic settings. For example, Nokia as a S60 licensee has developed S60 software, called Setting Wizard, which enables the user to configure their email » and operator-specific configurations for the device. In addition, Nokia provides an online service on Nokia.com for users to configure their phones.

Mobile devices can be also configured and managed from device management servers, typically used by operators, service providers, and enterprises.

An agreed standard

To control the rapid growth of different mobile devices and management tools, S60 software on Symbian OS uses Open Mobile Alliance (OMA) standard device management technology, which includes OMA client provisioning and OMA device management. A standard protocol also makes it easy to integrate mobile device management into traditional IT management systems.

  • The OMA Client Provisioning (CP) specification is used to send the initial key parameters to the device. These include email, MMS settings, WAP gateway/HTTP proxy, and network access points, giving customers full access to standard applications. OMA CP is mainly conducted over Short Message Service because the IP connectivity settings are not yet in place.

  • After setting the initial parameters, repetitive management tasks are performed using OMA Device Management (DM). This is designed to work in the wireless environment and makes it possible to add, modify, and remove parameters, to provide new services and applications, and to perform troubleshooting by identifying configuration issues.

Together with OMA Client Provisioning, OMA Device Management forms a complete, standardized device management architecture.


Improving on OMA

To provide even more powerful device management, the new Advanced Device Management » has been developed for S60 3rd Edition Feature Pack 1. Based on the standard OMA, the protocols can now be extended by management objects, which provide application- and product-specific extensions without additional implementation work in the OMA protocol stack itself.

One of the exciting new features of the Advanced Device Management for S60 is its support for multiple separate device management servers, with different privileges to configure different settings on the mobile device in a controlled way. This is very useful if you consider that different parties that manage mobile devices (such as mobile operators and enterprisers) have different needs.

The server-side solution is based on the multiple simultaneous servers' model. The device management capability can be provided by stand-alone products or be bundled and hidden in single application management or network/multi-application management solutions. These can range from a ten-device management solution to solutions that can handle tens of thousands of devices in a corporate environment, or millions of devices in an operator environment.

Due to the open environment, the servers can easily be developed by server vendors. Advanced Device Management is already supported by the Nokia Intellisync Device Management » solution, while other server vendors are working on supporting S60 Advanced Device Management. The Advanced Device Management specifications are available at Forum Nokia website ».

Feature-rich management

S60 Advanced Device Management includes the following features:

  • Application Management »: deliver and manage native Symbian and Java » add-on applications over OMA DM

  • Customization »: install and manage all device UI elements over-the-air

  • Terminal Management Security: use the device's security features and configurations remotely, such as device lock, wipe, settings enforcement, silent updates, file scan, file delete, reboot etc.

The Advanced Device Management will be available in S60 3rd Edition » Feature Pack 1 onwards, and has already been implemented in the new Nokia E-series E50, E60, E61, and E70 devices.

If you are planning or already supporting a S60 Advanced Device Management feature set with your server side solution, and would like to collaborate with S60, please contact us.