MSP Vendors Take Tools to the iPad

Several managed services provider tools vendors are making parts of their software available for iPad-wielding MSPs through the Apple App Store.

This week, LabTech Software put new versions of its LabTech Mobile remote monitoring and management (RMM) application for iPhone and iPad on the App Store. According to the Tampa, Fla.-based vendor with about 1,000 MSP customers, the application offers the ability to work tickets, access client data and work with scripts.

For now, the tool is really an iPhone application that is compatible with an iPad, although the company says a dedicated iPad version is coming soon.

"Having a dedicated app for the iPhone in addition to LabTech Mobile apps for Windows Mobile and Android means that we offer the greatest breadth of choices for our customers in how they choose to connect to their LabTech interface," said Brett Cheloff, director of development for LabTech Software, in a statement.

While LabTech announced the apps this week, the iPhone app has been in the App Store since at least November 2010. Such soft launches are fairly common among vendors dabbling in Apple's marketplace.

Professional services automation tool vendor Autotask Corp. this week also updated its iPad app, Autotask LiveMobile. The free app requires a current Autotask Pro or Autotask Go! user license.

Service desk functions include capturing time entries, scheduling service calls and appointments and editing tickets and projects.

Earlier in April, N-able Technologies Inc. updated its free RMM app, N-central Mobile, which is also iPhone-targeted but iPad-compatible. The N-central Mobile app provides access to N-central Server, with the option to view screens for All Devices, Active Issues and Job Status and to acknowledge notifications, view details of failed services, add notices to devices and view asset information of a device, according to the company's app description.

LabTech and N-Able join Kaseya, which last updated its Kaseya Mobile app in the iTunes AppStore in August 2010. The service ticket-focused tool allows for viewing and updating of all tickets assigned to a team, driving directions to a ticket location and the ability to call a user right from the application. The free app was originally designed for iPhone and iPod Touch, and is iPad-compatible. It works with an on-premise installation of Kaseya 2 Master IT Services Edition or Enterprise Edition.

For more iPad apps, see "47 Intriguing iPad Apps for Microsoft Partners."

Posted by Scott Bekker on April 14, 2011