They are currently working with laptops that are long light

The touch tablet, tool for managers in business in the same way as the BlackBerry Some manufacturers want to believe. Last week, the Group Cisco has unveiled ICSU, has a 7 inch screen touch tablet dedicated to the professional segment. It will carry such solutions in high-definition videoconferencing and collaborative tools, and will be marketed worldwide in the first quarter of 2011. An alternative to the Apple iPad, which, from his presentation last January, had also been submitted as a professional tool full.

In fact, on the ground, several companies think about equip their staff in tablets. "We feel an interest, although it is still low compared with that for"smartphones"or SFF PC", j. Pascal Ancian, Director of mobile business at Orange Business Services. Since late may, the operator is the only one to propose a package specifically dedicated to professionals, Business Everywhere for tablets, to which more than 100 companies have already subscribed.

The image of employers is at stake. "Previously, innovations were first conducted in the workplace, to spread in the general public, as was still the case with the BlackBerry." Today, it is the opposite. "The employees are so equipped in high-tech products in their homes that they expect to find these tools in their business," slip Jean-Laurent Poitou, global head of the sector of high technology at Accenture.

For mobile executives

Who are the chosen "We talk about mobile populations, or for which the visual aspect of things is important, given the ergonomics of the screen," notes Philippe Monchauzou, Director of operations to cabinet Nomad Consulting, a firm dedicated to mobility. Executives or frequent, commercial, technicians travel consultants (read above against), logistics, real estate agents, architects... Last month, Mercedes announced its intention to equip 40 of its iPad American concessions, so that its business can better manage customer information and show in a playful manner the different ranges of the constructor. Same approach from the French SMEs LPG Systems (250 employees, specializes in the manufacture of cosmetic care) which has order of ten iPad to its sales. "They are currently working with laptops that are long light." There, it can be shown to the client our products in a playful and effective way by zooming with the fingers... "This gives more an image of modernity to our customers," says Mathieu Reynaud, it Manager of LPG Systems.

Are many brakes. Also the question of the price - the iPad is marketed from 499 euros, against less than 300 euros for a "netbook"-, some employees may be cooled by the touch keyboard, which limits the applications below to upgrade to a separate physical keyboard. Similarly, the lack of multitasking on the iPad is a real problem, even if it could soon be lifted. Not to mention different practical limits such as the absence, on the iPad, camera or USB port, or computer security queries. "For that tablets are necessary, should it directors working on the compatibility of their networks and data security", note Jean-Laurent Poitou. Not what discouraged interested parties. "We are at the beginning of a cycle." "Other products will reach, some will even be better suited to the professional world", j. Pascal Ancian.