Once a technician begins a service call, he can supplement information in the app by opening a FaceTime video chat session over Wi-Fi to consult with a senior technician or an expert, Taylor said. Siemens has considered adding a quick link to create a video chat from inside the Teamcenter Mobility app.

Siemens also plans to build an app for tablets, and a similar app for , Taylor said.

For the most part, customers haven't been concerned that the iPads are not rugged enough for carrying in the field, Taylor said. However, customers are concerned about keeping corporate data secure on the iPads.

"We don't hear a lot of dialog on ruggedness of the iPads," Taylor said, "Instead, customers wonder what happens it a user loses an iPad or it is stolen, since there's company stuff cached on them," he said.

Basic protections include encryption on the Teamcenter data, with a Teamcenter password required on the iPad to reach that data, he said. Also, the iPad's data can be wiped off if the device is lost or stolen, he said.