Apple has geared up and made the iPhone enterprise ready. However, the question remains as to whether the enterprise is ready for the iPhone, according to the FierceCIO/Tech Watch on Friday. The iPhone has the reputation as able to be used for extraneous fun tasks, has the stigma of being a consumer item and will have to demonstrate a compelling ROI.

"I don't think that anyone expected Apple to get so serious about enterprise users so quickly. However, the motivation is clear. The company aims to sell 10 million iPhones in 2008 and with consumer momentum slowing, they're going to have to court the biggest smartphone buyers: businesses," wrote Mehan Jayasuriya.

Of course, Apple has done its homework. Just about everything a business could want is going to be in the iPhone for the enterprise. That checks the CIO's boxes, but there are still political concerns that may have to be addressed. "The iPhone is expensive, has the potential to be used for non-work-related tasks (YouTube! iPod!) and worst of all, has the attached stigma of being a consumer device," the editor noted. [Apple may develop a way to lock down certain "undesireable" functions in enterprise iPhone.]

Mr. Jayasuriya also took note of the last refuge of the people who still want to argue against the iPhone. Apple and AT&T will have to make a strong business case to their customers that makes for a quantitative return on investment (ROI). That's because businesses don't buy mobile phones based on the enthusiasm for the technology and Apple, they buy based on colder, harsher business metrics, an area where Apple often doesn't like to go.

Killer apps will also make the case. "Maybe the device's Salesforce.com app will increase the sales team's productivity," the author concluded. "Maybe a native AIM app will allow execs to stay in touch while traveling. Or maybe the device's support for Office file formats will mean that you're never stuck without a critical Powerpoint presentation again."

In any case, the crusade has just begun. Apple has the business essential technology brewing. Now the challenge will be dealing with businesses in a way that they never have with the Macintosh.