Network Computingwww.networkcomputing.com

Last year, research firm Gartner heralded the bring-your-own-device, or BYOD, phenomenon as the "most radical shift in enterprise client computing since the introduction of the PC." Such headlines often smack of hyperbole but so far, BYOD has lived up to expectations.

From executives who wanted corporate email access on their iPads to employees who lobbied IT to allow Android smartphones in place of BlackBerrys, consumers have driven the trend. But BYOD isn't just about getting what employees getting what they want. It's also about the army of tablets that have entered the enterprise and how those tablets have changed the way employees work.

Marketing teams have begun turning virtually any place that allows phones into impromptu points of sale. Doctors have used faster and more convenient access to medical records via tablets to reduce patient turnaround times. Retailers have found new ways to draw in customers with touchscreen displays. The list could go on.

BYOD also has realigned the tech industry's hierarchy, facilitating Apple's entrance into the workplace, encouraging Intel's ultrabook road map and heavily influencing Microsoft's Windows 8 strategy. What should IT admins look for as BYOD continues to evolve? That and other BYOD issues will be explored as part of the mobility track at the upcoming Interop Las Vegas conference.

Here are four trends to keep in mind.

1. BYOD Is No Passing Fad.

"The consumerization trend is alive and well and kicking, and it's not gonna die soon," said Gartner analyst Michael Disabato in an interview. "I don't think it's gonna die at all." Indeed, over half of employees were already using their own devices at work in 2012, and there are a variety of reasons the phenomenon will continue. Employee satisfaction and retention are obvious motivators. Recruiting is a factor, too. Some businesses also will embrace BYOD's ability to uncover innovative uses for mobile devices, a factor Forrester analyst David Johnson singled out during an interview.