Google officially launches Android for Work to make enterprise push

Google has announced today the official launch of an initiative called Android for Work. Through the program, Google has teamed up with several partners to integrate enterprise-level security into the Android platform.

Google originally announced and previewed Android for Work back in 2014 at Google I/O. The main idea behind the program is to allow workers to use their personal phones for work tasks, but keep work and personal content and data separate. Google gave the following breakdown of what users can expect from the initiative:

• Work profiles – We've built on the default encryption, enhanced SELinux security enforcement and multi-user support in Android 5.0, Lollipop to create a dedicated work profile that isolates and protects work data. IT can deploy approved work apps right alongside their users' personal apps knowing their sensitive data remains secured. People can use their personal apps knowing their employer only manages work data and won't erase or view their personal content.
• Android for Work app – For devices running Ice Cream Sandwich through Kitkat, or that don't run work profiles natively, we've created the Android for Work app. The app, which delivers secure mail, calendar, contacts, documents, browsing and access to approved work apps, can be completely managed by IT.
• Google Play for Work – Google Play for Work allows businesses to securely deploy and manage apps across all users running Android for Work, simplifying the process of distributing apps to employees and ensuring that IT approves every deployed app.
• Built-in productivity tools – For everyday business tasks, we've created a suite of business apps for email, contacts and calendar, which supports both Exchange and Notes and provides document editing capabilities for documents, spreadsheets and presentations.

To make all of this work, Google has teamed up with a large number of industry partners such as Citrix, Adobe, Samsung, BlackBerry, Cisco, and many, many more. Google says these partnerships have allowed it to create a set of APIs to bring easier management of Android devices to IT departments, as well as create secure business apps and more secure devices.

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Could Google Announce the Nexus 6 at the Google I/O Event?

Wednesday, Google Android Chief Sundar Pichai sent out an informative tweet about this year’s Google I/O event. Pichai says we only have 126 days left until Google I/O 2014 and it will be held in San Francisco on the 25th and 26th of June.Pichai continued in another tweet, telling everyone that we will get more details next month and that includesregistration information. He then went on to his Google+ page to tell everyone about the new registration system. Telling us that no one needs to rush as soon as registration is open. Instead, attendees will simply need to submit their names ahead of time and that developers will be picked at random.It is rumored that Google is planning on showing off a new Android device at this event. Some speculate it will be the Nexus 6 while others are assuming it could be the new Nexus 8 tablet that has been recently discussed. A random Nexus 6 blog is claiming the successor of the Nexus 5 could be released earlier in the year than normal. They feel the device could be launched as early as August instead of the usual October release window. If this rumor is true, it could shift some attention from the iPhone 6 to Android.It has been rumored that the Google Nexus 6 will be manufactured by Motorola (aka Lenovo) but some people also feel that LG will continue to make Nexus devices for Google. It will be very interesting to find out exactly who Google contracts to make the next flagship smartphone for them. Google could get a higher Chinese adoption rate if they go with Lenovo. It is anyone’s guess though, Google could surprise us all and announce Samsung or even HTC as the Nexus 6 manufacturer.Who would you like to see bring us the nexus Nexus smartphone? Are there any specific features that you feel the Nexus 6 has to have?

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