Recently, Google revealed its new Android-based initiative called Android for Work. With the vast majority of mobile devices purchased by consumers today being Android-based, this system has great potential for increasing business-related productivity on smartphones and tablets brought to the workplace, while keeping devices and data secure in the process. This system is launching with the support of our EMM partners AirWatch, MaaS360 and MobileIron along with storage partner Box. You’ll see more information regarding each of their initiatives in this space soon.

Android for Work consists primarily of four key technology components: Google Play at Work, the Android for Work app, Work profiles, and built-in productivity tools of all kinds. Our EMM partners mentioned above will leverage these components in various ways. For now, we’ve summarized these components below.

Google Play for Work

This workplace apps hub allows businesses to deploy apps to those running Android for Work on their mobile devices, and ensures that IT has control of exactly what apps are deployed to the devices.

Work Profiles

With Android 5.0 Lollipop, Google is able to allow you to have a dedicated work profile that exists inside your phone — separate from your everyday personal profile. This Work Profile can contain IT-deployed, work-approved apps that are secure and private. This allows information stored inside these apps to stay separate from the user’s personal information and app profiles.

Android for Work App

This app has been created for Android devices not capable of running Android 5.0 Lollipop. It works on Android devices running Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich through Android 4.4 KitKat. With this app, non-Lollipop devices can be managed by IT to provide secure email, calendar, contacts and documents, and access to approved work apps.

Built-in productivity tools

Google has 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. These were each designed unique to the Android for Work ecosystem.

There is no doubt the Google is serious about making Android a key player in the workplace in an attempt to match its dominance in the consumer space. As more BYOD initiatives are leveraged in the workplace, and they will be … it is a matter of time, it makes sense that the owner of the #1 selling mobile device OS, Android, intends to take on Apple and Microsoft head on.