MEAP and MCAP

Hi,

 Gartner (a leading market research firm) coined the terms MEAP (Mobile Enterprise Application Platform) and MCAP (Mobile Consumer Application Platforms)

What is the difference between MCAP and MEAP?

A mobile consumer application platform is a framework that allows mobile application developers to build, manage, test and deploy mobile apps for end consumer engagement. MCAP delivers rich contextual, delightful user experiences to maximize the reach of their services. A Mobile Consumer Application Platform (MCAP), provides a set of tools and mechanisms that allow companies to create, run and manage multiple mobile applications from a single solution stack. The MCAP consists of a development environment, an integration layer and a management component that together support the secure channeling of relevant data and back-end services to the hands of consumers on a variety of mobile environments.

MCAP Providers: 

• Worklight (Worklight’s open approach allows developers to choose between four development methodologies, namely HTML5, hybrid-web, hybrid-mixed and native)
• Sencha 
• IDC's Mobile Consumer Application Platforms CIS analyzes the development, distribution, and usage of consumer mobile apps and sets that against the competitive evolution of the major app platforms, HTML5, and the dynamics between native and browser-based apps. Mobile app developers are central to the strategies of every player in the mobile ecosystem and create new ways to interact with retailers, content, the mobile Internet, and other users. A key component of this CIS is quarterly mobile application developer sentiment surveys, measuring app developer perceptions and priorities around competing mobile OSs, HTML5, smartphone and media tablets, APIs, social networking, and next-gen mobile app opportunities like augmented reality, interactive retail, and the connected home.
  Markets and Subjects Analyzed

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• Consumer mobile application developer attitudes toward the major mobile ecosystems including Apple's iOS, Google's Android, HTML5, Nokia's Symbian, RIM's BlackBerry OS, Microsoft's Windows Phone 7, and HP-Palm's webOS
• Competitive dynamics and performance of the major consumer mobile app platforms and ecosystems above
• Performance metrics, evolution, and competitive outlook for mobile app storefronts including Apple's App Store, Google's Android Market (Google Play), RIM's App World, Nokia's Ovi Store, MSFT's Marketplace for Mobile, and HP-Palm's App Catalog
• Evolution and the role of social networking in mobile including Facebook, Google+, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Foursquare

 

Examples of Mobile Consumer Applications

A mobile enterprise application platform (MEAP) is a comprehensive suite of products and services that enable development of mobile applications. MEAP is used by large enterprises for deploying mobile applications for their work force. They are more focused on satisfying internal functional requirements and systems.

Examples of Mobile Enterprise Applications

Below some of the points covered-up related to MEAP approach

Purpose: 

MEAPs address the difficulties of developing mobile software by managing the diversity of devices, networks and user groups at the time of deployment and throughout the mobile solution’s lifecycle. Unlike standalone apps, a MEAP provides a comprehensive, long-term approach to deploying mobility. Cross-platform considerations are one big driver behind using MEAPs. For example, a company can use a MEAP to develop the mobile application once and deploy it to a variety of mobile devices (including smart phones, tablets, notebooks and ruggedized handhelds) with no changes to the underlying business logic.

Rule of three:

The Rule of Three refers to a concept developed by analyst firm Gartner, whereby companies are encouraged to consider the MEAP approach to mobility when they need their mobile solutions to:

1. Support three or more mobile applications
2. Support three or more mobile operating systems (OS)
3. Integrate with at least three back-end data sources

According to Gartner, using a common mobility platform, like a MEAP, brings considerable savings and strategic advantages in this situation.

A MEAP solution is generally composed of two parts: a mobile middleware server and a mobile client application. A middleware server is the solution component that handles all system integration, security, communications, scalability, cross-platform support, etc. No data is stored in the middleware server – it just manages data from the back-end system to the mobile device and back. Most MEAPs also come with a mobile configuration/development toolset that allows companies to create and adjust the mobile solutions. Mobile apps can be deployed as "thick" applications -- or native apps that are installed on the device - or rendered in the device's browser using technologies such as HTML5 (something that's often called the "thin" approach). Whether a "thick" or "thin" application is deployed depends on application complexity, device support, requirements for user experience, and the need for app availability in the absence of network coverage.

Features and capabilities

• MEAPs can support more than one type of mobile device and operating system without having to maintain separate sets of code.

• MEAP typically contains a mobile middleware server where integration connectivity, security, app management are supported.

• Writing a custom app extension is very easy with most MEAP solutions because they use 4GL techniques that do not require writing code. This toolset comes in the shape of plug-in for an industry standard IDE, such as Eclipse.

• Integrate with multiple server data sources for leverage SOA services from backend systems.

• Leverage development skill and tools you already know and expertise you already have. More details are in the Mobile application development section.

• Centrally manage mobile applications. The management of the actual devices that is more tailored for B2E scenario and it is typically done with the MDM

• Enhance existing business platforms by making them accessible to users anywhere, at any time.

According to TechNavio's analysts, “the Global Mobile Enterprise Application Platform market will reach $1.6 billion in 2014.”
According to Gartner's 2011 MEAP Magic Quadrant report, the following vendors are the industry-leading MEAP providers:

• Antenna Software
• Kony Solutions
• Pyxis Mobile
• RhoMobile
• Sybase Unwired Platform
• Syclo 
• To form Mobile eco system is across chipset vendors, handset OEM's, Device OS Platform, Enterprise System providers, MEAP (Mobile Enterprise Application Platform) & MCAP (Mobile Consumer Application Platform), and MDM (Mobile Device Management). Alliances include SAP-SUP, Antenna, Google, Kony, Mobile Iron, Zenprise, Eggplant and others name are available into the market.