Android for Work welcomes new friends

Posted by Rajen Sheth, Senior Director, Android and Chrome for Work Product Management

Editors note: To gain access to the latest Android for Work news and updates, join our mailing list. 

Android for Work launched earlier this year to help companies put the world’s most popular mobile OS to work for them. The response has been overwhelmingly positive: today, more than 10,000 businesses, including the World Bank, the U.S. Army and Guardian Life Insurance Company are testing, deploying or using Android for Work.

The Android for Work program took off with the help of our partners across the Android ecosystem, and today we’re expanding the family to 40 companies to continue the momentum, including new device manufacturers, application makers and management providers.

And for the first time, mobile carriers are joining the Android for Work program. AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, Sprint, Rogers, Bell Canada, Telus Mobility and KT are now offering broad support for Android for Work, so people can soon turn to their mobile operators to take advantage of Android for Work’s integrated security, management and productivity solutions.

The Android for Work program is also showcasing devices built for regulated industries, like government and healthcare, which have strict security and compliance requirements. Samsung, for example, offers some of the highest levels of government certification with its KNOX devices, while Blackphone by Silent Circle has built enhanced privacy and security features on top of the Android platform. You can check out our regulated devices page here to learn more about Samsung KNOX devices and Blackphone.

All of this investment is designed to help businesses extend the power of mobility in more ways across more teams. And companies are indeed turning to Android for Work to drive that change: SAP uses Android for Work to streamline app distribution and expand support to many more Android devices, Woolworths is looking to standardize on Android for corporate devices, and Guardian Life Insurance Company deployed Android for Work to enable its employees and field agents to work from anywhere on their personal devices. "Choice is important,” says Daniel Johnson, Chief Technology Officer at Guardian Life. “With Android for Work were able to offer Android as a BYOD option in a more secure and manageable way."

With its choice, flexibility and security, we believe Android is uniquely equipped to help businesses tap the full power of mobility. Together with our partners, we’re gearing up to make this a reality.

Learn more by visiting google.com/work/android.

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Transforming the way we work with Android for Work

Posted by Andrew Toy, Product Management Director, Android for Work

Editors Note: Android for Work Live airs today at 11AM PST. Register here.

The Internet, like previous transformational technologies, emerged as a new and distinct tool before becoming business as usual.

Mobile at work is going through a similar transition, with organizations now interweaving the next generation of mobile productivity into the lives of every employee and through every workflow.

Android for Work: a shared vision for business mobility

We launched Android for Work earlier this year to help businesses put Android’s choice and flexibility to work for them. More than a “packaged” product, Android for Work is a dynamic, expanding ecosystem of more than 80 partners with a shared vision for transforming business.

Android for Work expands on the platform’s multi-layered security, capabilities and APIs, and provides powerful ways for manufacturers, developers, mobility managers and carriers to create the next generation of solutions for work, beyond basic email and productivity.

Marshmallow: BYOD and single use

After enabling “bring your own device” (BYOD) use cases and streamlining application deployment in Lollipop, we’ve taken the next step to improve enterprise mobility in Marshmallow. Workers now enjoy an enhanced BYOD experience with work status notifications and contacts integration. Administrators can simplify certificates, seamlessly set up new accounts, apply more granular permissions and provision new users using NFC.

New work APIs in Marshmallow also enable easy deployment and management of devices in dedicated single-use scenarios, such as defined tasks, kiosks and ATMs.

Going deep on security

Android for Work builds upon the expanded security features such as runtime permissions, verified boot, hardware-isolated security, SELinux, application sandboxing and protections within Google Play Services.

By going deep on security, it made sense that most security-conscious companies such as BlackBerry are collaborating with us to support Android for Work. Additionally, following the announcement of its first Android device, PRIV, BlackBerry announced their support for monthly scheduled updates, matching the Android patch schedule. You can find details of their announcement here.

Together along with Nexus, Samsung and Blackphone by Silent Circle, patching is predictable and responsive.

The freedom to choose

Businesses are responding to Android’s choice and flexibility, enjoying the range of price points and form factors – from the ultra stylish to the ultra rugged. They’re also deploying an array of business apps and building their own custom solutions on the open framework.

More than 19,000 organizations are already testing, deploying or using Android for Work. During Android for Work Live, we’ll showcase how new customers including Guardian Life Insurance deploys Android for BYOD; Peninsula Hotels provides guests with Android tablets for room controls, information and service; and Safelite repair technicians use Samsung devices for communication, scanning, navigation, payment and training.

Android for Work Pilot Program for select EMM partners

For up to 3000 companies, who set up Android for Work with a participating EMM in their production network, between now and December 31, 2015, we’ll be providing a Nexus 5X. Learn more.

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