Such software for separating the two classes of data, commonly called containerization, is offered by a number of mobile device management vendors as a tool to help control security as more consumer devices are used in workplaces as part of the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) trend.

Research In Motion is also providing containerization within its upcoming BlackBerry 10 operating system, although RIM's technology is separate from SAP's initiative. RIM calls its approach , with the intent to prevent a user's apps from accessing work information, and so work information can't be copied or pasted into personal apps or email messages.

An IT manager can use a container approach to guard sensitive corporate data on a or , so that if the device is purchased by a worker, the IT manager can delete all corporate data without affecting the personal data in the event the worker leaves the company.

is building software similar to Balance that will also work on other platforms, including , iOS and Windows 8, said Sanjay Poonen, president of global solutions and head of mobility for SAP in an interview with Computerworld at the CTIA MobileCon trade show here.

SAP's software will be called Mobile Application Management and will likely be provided as an addition to SAP's Afaria mobile management software, Poonen said. While SAP's approach is being designed internally to work on all three non-BlackBerry platforms, it might also rely on software from third-party vendors offering containerization, Poonen said.