In December last year, Apple announced a new partnership with IBM to supplement the iPhone and iPad’s role in Enterprise. Now, in February 2015, Google has released its own reply in the form of Android for Work.
The move, not only in response to Apple’s interest in enterprise, will pit Google against titans of industry such as Microsoft and BlackBerry.
Android for Work allows users to make full use of their mobile device for personal uses, while keeping work-related information or content separate through the creation of a Work profile on the device. Google has also made an effort to address Android’s fragmentation issues; Android users running KitKat, as opposed to the latest version – Lollipop – will be able to access corporate tools through an app, as opposed to a work profile.
While users enjoy full control over their phones, network admins retain oversight of business policies and profiles on the device. Admins also will receive a tailored version of Google Play, where pre-approved apps can be managed.
Android for Work was first previewed at Google’s I/O developer conference in 2014 – yet Google have taken time necessary, according to product director Rajan Sheth, to develop an entirely new platform which has a use conducive to enterprise partners. Describing the project’s goal, Sheth described the introduction of Android for Work with the view of “a future where every employee is equipped to get work done with mobile devices “” today‘s personal and corporate smartphones and tomorrow‘s advanced business devices.”
Google has also developed an entirely new work-oriented suite of apps for Android for Work, including email, contacts, calendaring and contacts clients for enterprise users. In developing Android for Work, Google has worked with several firms prevalent in enterprise – Motorola, HP, Samsung, Lenovo, and HTC, among others, and has also ensured that new Android for Work apps will be integrated with prevalent platforms such as Microsoft Exchange and IBM Notes.
Only time will be able to tell if Android’s broad ecosystem will be able to attract enterprises away from Apple’s iOS, which has enjoyed a longer period of enterprise availability.
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