Business technology giant IBM announced seven business-focused social networking and collaboration mobile apps, targetting customers using other existing IBM technology.

The apps are available from the major app stores and include real-time collaboration and online meeting tools, which can run on employee tablets behind company firewalls. The apps also allow staff to share data and images in a secure way.

The apps include social networking for iPad, which allows shared document editing and is free from Apple’s App Store for IBM Connections users; Attend Online Meetings, which allows LotusLive Meetings users to conduct online meetings on mobile devices running Android, BlackBerry or iOS; and other apps for instant messaging, shared access to business documents on Android devices, unified telephony on tablets and IBM Lotus Notes Traveler for email and calendar.

IBM is also providing new developer tools to build mobile apps more effectively with its Mobile Technology Preview for Android on the developerWorks website. IBM WebSphere Portal Mobile Experience can also help improve the web experience for users.

With the use of tablets in business on the rise, enterprise connectivity for personal smartphones and tablets is becoming more in demand. Recent IBM research found that 73 percent of business leaders surveyed already allow devices or tablets to connect to their corporate networks.