When combining the iPhone with Microsoft Exchange, you can control password policies using the Exchange System Manager. With Exchange 2007, there are additional policy settings including camera disablement.

A major concern with mobile devices is how the information on them could be misused if they are lost or stolen. A feature called Remote Wipe addresses this by restoring the iPhone to its factory default state. A remote wipe can be initiated with the Exchange Server Active Sync Web Administration tool, or if used with an Exchange 2007 server, remote wipe can also be initiated by the user using Outlook Web Access or by the administrator using the Exchange System Manager.

While Apple's deployment and management tools might not be as mature as the competition's, it's clear that it takes the role of the iPhone in the enterprise seriously, and has taken pains to make sure that they integrate seamlessly and easily.

Michael Scalisi is an IT manager based in Alameda, California.