As part of the Android 13 rollout(Opens in a new tab), Google has released more details(Opens in a new tab) about new quality of life and security features(opens in a new tab) that it claims are designed to make life easier for business users Better is easier.
While the features aimed at professionals may be more understated than those aimed at consumers, it’s safe to say that business smartphone users will also benefit from the new release.
Already available to owners of Google-branded phones, Android 13 makes it easier for employees to maintain a work-life balance, while IT administrators have more control than ever over restrictions on how business devices are used.
Android 13 for Enterprise
According to Google, Android 13 is more intuitive for business users than previous versions. That’s really the point; the new feature set isn’t breaking any staggering grounds, and not all of the new features are there right now, but these new details show the strides toward a smoother and more secure user experience.
Customize the employee experience
Work profiles have been a feature of Android business settings for some time to separate and protect employees’ personal data. However, one of the biggest quality-of-life changes in Android 13 is how work and personal data are managed.
Now employees can easily separate and navigate between personal and work profiles, while management policies still govern both.
“Employees can choose to open the app in their work or profile, depending on where it’s installed,” Google noted. “If they wish to keep work-related content out of their personal application – for example, a work-related training video on YouTube doesn’t affect their personal watchlist – they can choose to access that content in the browser .”
According to Google, the updated Android management API will not only provide instant ease of use and privacy protection for business phone users, but will also allow the company to continue to release “helpful new features and management capabilities” more frequently.
This should mean that neither employees nor IT admins have to wait until Android 14 to make further quality-of-life tweaks to their business phone experience.
Improve work efficiency
Another level of ChromeOS integration is also in the works, bringing Google closer to matching Apple’s seamless integration between iOS and macOS, which makes an all-Apple organization such an attractive business proposition.
These changes will allow users to view and reply to messages and data on their phones through business Chromebooks.
But that’s not all, Google’s smart dictation recommendations are now separated in profiles, so users will never send family members text messages ending in “kind regards.”
Near Field Communication (NFC) is now also available in work profiles, allowing for quicker tap-to-pay services in public spaces, which is sure to save valuable time at the coffee shop after lunch.
With Google’s new productivity features for Android 13, the company has made its Pixel devices and other Android smartphones soon benefit from the new operating system, which is a compelling proposition for business buyers.
additional security controls
Google claims privacy and security are at the heart of Android Enterprise, and Android 13 is no exception. The company’s early previews make a strong case that it wants business users to know what control they have over their personal security settings, as well as the data shared with their IT administrators, all through a central hub.
Users now have a photo library per profile, and unused photo libraries are automatically hidden, ensuring employees remain private at all times at work.
Additionally, administrators can now monitor security logs for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and password usage, control and restrict Wi-Fi connections as permitted by the National Information Assurance Partnership (NIAP)(opens in a new tab), and Release security patches more quickly than ever.
Users and administrators are treated equally here. Admins will soon be able to track and lock devices using Lost Mode, while the Keep Private on Work Wi-Fi feature will encrypt and route employee traffic in profiles while connected to corporate Wi-Fi.
Users interacting with their phone data via the new ChromeOS integration will also be protected by end-to-end encryption, in addition to existing corporate governance policies.
With Android 13, Google is increasingly confident that the operating system will have a powerful presence in the world of work. With these new planned enhancements to Android in the business environment, Google will soon offer professionals a better value proposition than ever before.
