The next version of the iPhone operating system, and a new iPhone model, is expected this summer. Current iPhone 3G and 3GS models will be upgradeable to the new OS. So how can the Enterprise expect to benefit from the next version of the iPhone?
I have blogged previously about the Exchange and Device Management capabilities of the current platform, but when compared with solutions such as BlackBerry and Windows Mobile / Windows Phone, the iPhone does not provide all of the integration and security features that help IT administrators sleep at night.

Apple have detailed the new business features that iPhone OS 4 will include on their web site - http://www.apple.com/iphone/business/preview-iphone-os/

New features include:

Multi-tasking

• Application developers will be able to access up to 7 multi-tasking engines, crucially enabling the holy grail of running applications in the background. This has significant implications for device management vendors as it means their client application will be able to run permanently in the background and will not be circumvented each time the user, say, receives a phone call as happens with the current 3.x platform. Messaging and other notification-based services will also benefit from this welcome addition. From a simple usability perspective it means you'll be able to listen to music whilst trawling through emails, or reading an e-book (see below).

Data Protection

• Email messages and attachments can be encrypted using the device passcode as an encryption key

Wireless application distribution

• OS 4 will support OTA delivery of corporate-hosted applications via either WiFi or 3G without requiring users to connect their device to iTunes on a PC or Mac

Exchange Email

• Multiple Exchange ActiveSync accounts will be supported as well as official support for Exchange 2010 server. A new unified Inbox displays all messages in one location, as well as allowing users to view messages by account if preferred

Device Management

• In addition to the existing iPhone Enterprise Configuration Utility, which provides the IT administrator the ability to create device configuration profiles including Exchange ActiveSync, password, VPN and WiFi settings as well as hardware and software restrictions, iPhone OS 4 will include APIs to enable third party device management solutions to configure devices

SSL VPN Support

• In addition to the PPTP, L2TP and Cisco IPSec VPN client capability of the iPhone, OS 4 will also provide support for SSL VPNs. Apple reference support for the Juniper and Cisco SSL VPN solutions, personally support for the OpenVPN solution would be attractive.

For general users, the iPhone OS 4 will also offer the ability to arrange application icons into folders, and it will be possible to install a greater number of applications on devices.
The iBooks application will allow users to browse for, download and read e-book publications on the device and sync those books with the desktop via iTunes.

The addition of multi-tasking for the iPhone, and the opening up of API integration to Apple's own configuration provisioning utility will hopefully open up a wealth of device management capabilities for the platform.
Personally, for the business user on the go I would like to see enhancements to the Exchange email client, including the ability to define synchronisation schedules (as opposed to simply 'on and off') as well as the ability to edit Out Of Office message text and status (as is already possible on the Android platform if you're lucky enough to have the HTC Desire or any of the Microsoft Windows Phone devices)

iPhone OS 4 is expected for release this summer.