SharePoint 2013 BI on mobile devices
We can build our mobile BI solutions based on SQL Server as a data source in the following (different) ways:
- IIS (Internet Information Services; as a very low cost solution): SSRS (SQL Server Reporting Services; note: limited use for the Apple platform, details are described below)
- SharePoint Server: Excel Services (easier solutions), SSRS integrated mode, PerformancePoint Services (much more complex solutions)
- OWA Server (Office Web Apps): Excel
- 3rd party developer tools/platforms or ready-to-use solutions
In a few bullets below, there are described the results of my investigation about some possibilities for mobile BI solutions based on the SQL Server platform.
Mobile BI (iPad/iPhone, Android, Windows 8/Phone devices) platform:
1. IIS:
- SSRS:
- iPad: Safari/Chrome/Opera – NO, FF/IE – not supported
- either to use a native application from app store, e.g.:
- Mobi Reports Pro by Mobi Weave, Inc. (note: very good solution )
- SSRS Report Viewer Pro by By Ororo a.s. (note: iPad only)
- or to use Remote Desktop Services/Terminal Services (Windows Server) instead of native application (note: in addition one CAL per user)
- Android: FF – OK, Chrome/Opera – NO, Safari/IE – not supported
- Windows 8: IE – OK, alternative – FF, Chrome/Opera – NO, Safari – not supported on tablet?
2. SharePoint 2013:
- Excel Services:
- iPad: Safari – OK (note: slicers – OK), alternatives – Chrome/Mercury (Chrome and Firefox alternative), Opera – NO, FF/IE – not supported
- Android: FF – OK (note: slicers – NO), Chrome/Opera/(Built-in Browser/Dolphin) – NO, Safari/IE – not supported
- Windows 8: IE – OK, alternatives – FF/Chrome/Opera, Safari – not supported
- PerformancePoint Services (Dashboards):
- OLAP/Excel Services:
- iPad: Safari – OK (note: slicers – OK), alternatives – Chrome/Mercury (Chrome and Firefox alternative), Opera – NO, FF/IE – not supported
- Android: FF – OK (note: slicers – NO), Chrome/Opera/(Built-in Browser/Dolphin) – NO, Safari/IE – not supported
- Windows 8: IE – OK, alternative – FF, Chrome/Opera – OK (note: zoom – NO), Safari – not supported
- SSRS:
- iPad: Safari/Chrome/Opera – NO, Mercury (Chrome and Firefox alternative) – NO, FF/IE – not supported
- Android: FF – OK, Chrome/Opera/(Built-in Browser/Dolphin) – NO, Safari/IE – not supported
- Windows 8: IE – OK, alternative – FF, Chrome/Opera – NO, Safari – not supported on tablet?
- PowerPivot/PowerView: the output is rendered in Silverlight
- iPad: SL – not supported on iOS (note: SL is available only for Windows and Mackintosh)
- Android: SL – not supported
- Windows 8: IE – OK, alternatives – FF/Chrome/Opera (note: scroll – NO), Safari – not supported