AdminAs part of his Android 13 implementation (opens in a new tab)Google has posted more details (opens in a new tab) to a host of new quality-of-life features and security features designed to make life easier for business users.
While features aimed at professionals may be less important than those aimed at consumer audiences, it is safe to say that business smartphone users will also benefit from the new version.
Now available to Google phone owners, Android 13 has made it much easier for employees to maintain a work-life balance, while IT administrators have more control than ever over restrictions on the use of business devices.
Android 13 for Business
According to Google, Android 13 is more intuitive for business users than previous versions. This is what we focus on; the new feature set does not break any spectacular possibilities and not all new features are already present, but these new details show the progress towards smoother and safer operation.
Customizing the employee experience
Work profiles have been a feature of Android’s business settings for quite some time, separating and protecting employees’ personal data. One of the biggest changes to the quality of life in Android 13, however, is how work and personal profiles are managed.
Employees can now easily separate personal and work profiles, and also navigate between them, while administrative policies can still oversee both sides.
“Employees can choose to open the app in their work or personal profile, depending on where it’s installed,” noted Google. “If they prefer to keep their work-related content from appearing in their personal apps – so that a YouTube job training video, for example, doesn’t affect their personal watchlist – they can choose to access that content in a browser instead. “
According to Google, the updated Android management API will not only provide immediate ease of use and privacy to business phone users, but will allow the company to release “useful new features and manageability” more frequently.
This should mean that both employees and IT administrators will not wait until Android 14 for further quality of life changes in using a business phone.
Increasing work efficiency
An additional level of ChromeOS integration is also in the pipeline, bringing Google one step closer to matching seamless integration between Apple’s iOS and macOS systems, which makes an Apple-only organization such an attractive business proposition.
The changes will allow users to view and reply to messages and data on their phone from a business Chromebook.
But that’s not all, Google Smart Dictation recommendations are now split across profiles, so users will never again send a text message ending in “Greetings” to a family member.
Near Field Communication (NFC) is now also available in work profiles, further accelerating the use of tap-to-pay services in public places, which will surely save you valuable time on a lunch trip to a coffee shop.
With Google’s new productivity features for Android 13, the company has made its Pixel devices – and other Android smartphones that will soon be using the new operating system – an attractive proposition for business buyers.
Additional security checks
Google claims that Privacy and security are the backbone of Android Enterprise, and Android 13 is no different. The company’s early preview makes a strong case for wanting business users to know what control they have over their individual security settings and the data they share with IT administrators, all through a central hub.
Users now have one photo gallery per profile, and the one that is not in use is automatically hidden, which ensures employees’ privacy at all times.
Additionally, administrators can now monitor security logs for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and password usage as permitted National Information Assurance Partnership (NIAP) (opens in a new tab)control and limit Wi-Fi connectivity and publish security patches faster than before.
Users and administrators are treated equally here. Administrators will soon be able to track and lock devices in Lost Mode, while the Keep Wi-Fi Privacy at Work feature will encrypt and redirect employee traffic on the personal profile while connected to the corporate Wi-Fi network.
In addition to existing company management policies, users accessing data on their phone via the new ChromeOS integration features will also be protected by end-to-end encryption.
With Android 13, Google is gaining more and more confidence that the operating system will have a strong presence in the world of work. With new planned Android enhancements in the business environment, Google will soon offer professionals a better-than-ever value proposition.
