Google boosts Android's enterprise credentials

Google introduces new features to make Android easier to manage and secure

Google has updated its Android platform to make it easier for enterprises to manage and secure tablets based on the operating system (OS).

The firm explained that it has made updates to how Android works with its business software suite, Google Apps, to improve the way in which IT administrators manage Android straight from the browser.

Google has launched a new version of the Google Apps Device Policy app, which allows employees to immediately secure their Android device by locating it on a map, ringing the device and resetting the password remotely via Google’s new My Devices web site.

The feature works for devices running on Android 2.2 or newer updates to the OS.

IT administrators using Google Apps can already encrypt data on devices via the software suite’s control panel and this has been updated and will now include the ability to encrypt storage on tablet devices running on Android 3.0.

And the firm has also added a new corporate contacts app called Google Apps Lookup, to make it easier for employees to find and contact people in their organisation.

The firm has already introduced features from its desktop offering to Android devices, such as Priority Inbox view in Gmail for Android and the ability to edit Google Docs on the go.