Google today provided more information about business features baked into Android P. To start, Android P makes it easier for businesses to set up, manage, and keep separate work and personal profiles. For example, work apps now have a dedicated tab in the app launcher, allowing employees to easily access their work apps and data. Android P also makes it easy for shared devices to host multiple employee profiles. For example, a work tablet can support two or more employees’ work accounts. Users need only sign out at the end of their shift, hand the device over, and the other can sign in and instantly access all their data. The tool also makes it possible for people with a single device to easily turn off their work profile so they can focus on home life. The revised kiosk mode makes it possible to lock Android devices into running only a few dedicated apps. For example, a restaurant could create a kiosk that supports a mobile ordering app and a payment app while keeping internal device settings, such as network connectivity, safe from accidental or intentional changes. The kiosk can be customized however businesses wish. Last, Android P includes a number of new security functions. For example, IT admins can require different PINs for personal and work propfiles, and force security timeouts for either. Additional policies make it easier for businesses to ensure that work data is not shared from the work profile to the employee’s personal profile. Android P is currently in developer beta. It is expected to arrive in full later this year. Google is encouraging its business customers to take the new enterprise features for a spin.


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