CIOs and technology managers already racking up overtime these days dealing with the BYOD and mobility boom are in for a roller-coaster fourth quarter:  The debut of Apple’s iPhone 5 is sure to bring hundreds of thousands of the new devices — taller, better, faster, lighter — into the wireless workplace. Question is, are they also bringing in new features and capabilities that truly matter for the enterprise? Will iPhone 5 prove to be a true workhorse, on par with stronger competition this time around? A roundup of opinions from analysts and other experts suggests the answer is yes — with a few caveats. Here are five feature improvements that matter most:

Productivity-Boosting Features

The iPhone 5 will ship with with an updated OS — iOS 6 — with new features geared for productivity geeks and business travelers, not just consumers. As TechRepublic‘s Eric Eckel and others have noted, the new iOS includes Siri upgrades for greater voice assistance, better maps, a simplified email interface, and improved call management — such as the ability to send calls straight to voicemail and preset messages for instant messaging. Apple’s new in-device digital wallet, PassBook, is another big iOS 6 feature. According to Fodor’s, PassBook will make a traveler’s life easier because it they can not only pay for everyday items (like a Starbucks coffee) on the run, but also use it to keep track of boarding times and other information at the airport. This will aid with expense management, too.

Faster Connectivity

Speed is always a helpful productivity booster — and on that score, Apple is playing catch-up with other smartphone manufacturers. The iPhone 5 will be Apple’s first product that’s 4G LTE-enabled, meaning users will see download speeds almost as fast as those provided by cable or DSL modems. For road warriors, the new phone is expected to connect with high-speed LTE networks around the globe. Extra speed means more efficient performance, and the ability to use high-bandwidth features, like video, on the go.

Upgraded Security

The iPhone hasn’t always had the best reputation when it comes to security in the office, but the iPhone 5 will come with significant security upgrades. According to eSecurity Planet, the smartphone is expected to offer new IT admin security tools for added control of iOS devices through remote management. Rumors are also flying that Apple’s pending acquisition of mobile security provider AuthenTec means that other security features — including biometric fingerprint scanning — are soon to follow.

Better Suited for Video

Every device in iPhone history has had a 3.5-inch screen, but the iPhone 5 is breaking tradition with a nearly 4-inch screen. Why the growth spurt? According to The Washington Post, Apple was looking to enhance its video offerings by way of a taller screen. More screen real estate means a larger, clearer picture of a colleague or customer during video conferences, along with easier one-handed browsing.

Extended Battery Life

Apple will be swapping out its SIM card with a new Nano-SIM. These tiny SIMs will take up less room within the slimmer, lighter iPhone 5, allowing more space for other internal components like a larger battery. That means greater battery life, and fewer “my phone died” excuses.

All those handy upgrades won’t yield much, of course, unless tech managers implement smart and well-communicated policies to efficiently juggle — and secure — all those phone as they get synced up to the workplace. Here are a few of our expert recommendations:

• Is a BYOD Mandate the Right Course For Your Company?
• Proactive, Not Reactive, Mobile Management Is Key
• How to Safeguard Your Mobile Devices Against Security Breaches and Outages

More: iPhone 5 Vs. the Enterprise Market: Watch Out.

Image used under Creative Commons by Flickr user Sean MacEntee.