Android OS Updates: Don't Hold Your Breath - InformationWeek

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Comments
Android OS Updates: Don't Hold Your Breath
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Susan_Nunziata
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Susan_Nunziata,
 User Rank: Strategist
11/18/2013 | 8:06:49 PM
Re: Android OS updates make me hungry
@Michael: Thanks, I've heard the same about Android in the enterprise although I have a feeling BYOD policies are going to be forced to stretch eventually to accommodate user demand given the consumer popularity of Android devices, just as they did the iPhone before it. The most common BYOD scenario will allow greater access to corporate apps for those devices that are deemed more corporate-friendly ( it seems the iPhone now falls into that category after years of being derided by IT.)

Mobile Device Management alone isn't enough--I think we're looking at a future of where Mobile Data Management is the priority, and the management of devices are just part of a broader solution for enterprise BYOD.

I look forward to hearing more from the community on this topic.

 
Michael Endler
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Michael Endler,
 User Rank: Author
11/18/2013 | 5:03:52 PM
Re: Android OS updates make me hungry
@snunyc, it affects enterprise deployments to some extent. I've spoken to several sources, both IT professionals and industry analysts, who say Android fragmentation is a legitimate reason to ban a lot of devices from corporate BYOD policies.

That said, I've seen more and more companies offer at least the high-end Android devices (e.g. Samsung Galaxy) as a choice for corporate deployment, often alongside iPhones and other options. I wouldn't say it's anything close to the norm, but I've heard more and more about companies giving employees a range of approved options from which to choose. It's a kind of middle ground between the IT hegemony of the past and the potential chaos of an all-out BYOD program. As someone who's only used iOS and Windows Phone smartphones, I can't say how satisfying Android is in an enterprise scenario, especially if corporate MDM clients are involved. But I'm sure others have experience with Android in the workplace though-- anyone want to chime in?
Susan_Nunziata
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50%
Susan_Nunziata,
 User Rank: Strategist
11/18/2013 | 4:50:10 PM
Re: Android OS updates make me hungry
@eric: yep, the inconvenience of waiting. So, it's worth it in your view to wait versus using a different smartphone OS?

why--what do you like best about Android over others?
Susan_Nunziata
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50%
Susan_Nunziata,
 User Rank: Strategist
11/18/2013 | 12:45:09 PM
Android OS updates make me hungry
Why do they always have to name their upgrades after my favorite snacks?

:)

OK, in all seriousness, this is one of the reasons I haven't yet tried an Android phone.

@Eric: Do the benefits outweigh this level of inconvenience? And what kind of havoc does this create for enterprieses re. their BYOD policies?

 
Tom Murphy
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50%
Tom Murphy,
 User Rank: Author
11/18/2013 | 12:03:19 PM
Why is this so?
Please excuse a naive question, but why does this happen with Adroid and not other OS systems?  Microsoft, for example, makes updates available for all devices that are "update-ready" -- does Google lack a standards program like that?


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