Available today, XenMobile client 10.6.20 supports the latest release of the Android operating system. Android users are free to upgrade whenever they would like with no impact to the XenMobile apps running on the device and no required re-enrollment.

XenMobile 10.6.20 includes both public app store and enterprise versions of Secure Hub, Secure Mail, and Secure Web for Android in addition to an updated MDX Toolkit. This release also includes public app store updates only for XenMobile iOS apps, including Secure Hub, Secure Mail, and Secure Hub.

If you’re a business user, you may be asking, “What can Android O do for me?” Like most operating system releases, feature functionality is not always available on Day 1; it can take time for app developers to start taking advantage of features, functionality and APIs delivered with a new release.

On the other hand, there will be items that you can benefit from right out of the gate. Below, I’ve listed some Android O highlights that will be of most interest to the business user.

Advanced Notification controls

Easily create and manage channels through which specific notifications or groups of notifications can travel. In other words, notifications are no longer an ALL ON or ALL OFF proposition. Users can pick and choose which notifications get through at which time.

For example, maybe during work hours, you shut off social media and news app notifications. Conversely, when you’re done with work for the day, you might turn off message notifications from co-workers.

Android O takes this one step further with the ability to snooze specific notifications, so you don’t miss them completely. Remember those message notifications from co-workers that you turned off? With the snooze feature, those notifications can be delivered at a specific time in the future. How about tomorrow morning at 9AM?!

Wi-Fi-less Wi-Fi

Say what? With Android O, the onboard Wi-Fi radios can communicate with other devices in close proximity directly, no actual Wi-Fi required.

A business use case for this type of feature might include a busy tradeshow floor where Wi-Fi is spotty and cellular service is non-existent. With Android O Wi-Fi Aware technology, business users would still be able to message or swap files through direct communication. App developers still need to support the technology, but the ability for direct device communication is now baked into the OS.

Security improvements

If we’re talking about Android O for the enterprise, security needs to be in the discussion. Here are a couple of my favorites:

  • WebView allows users to see web pages without leaving a mobile application. The security benefit of this is that the isolated web instance is containerized and more secure than launching into a full blown browser.
  • Autofill app API – The autofill app allows users to enter and securely store important information, such as passwords, credit card numbers, address birthdate, etc. Using the API developers can build paths to retrieve the pre-entered information. This time-saving feature will make business users more productive from their mobile device.

Battery life improvements

Battery life is always top of mind for the business user. Being mobile is about being on the move; frequently having to tether yourself to a power source can slow you down. Like many of you, I’m guilty of leaving too many apps opening the background and wasting battery life like it’s going out of style.

Android O helps to combat this by limiting what an app can do in the background. One good example of this is limiting location data checks from apps that aren’t currently being used.

Are there other features in XenMobile 10.6.20 geared towards the management and experience of Android users?

Yes, we have two new features specific to Android.

  • Secure Web (Android) – New policy gives IT the ability to turn on/off the ability to save pages offline. For this data security feature, a common use case is the prevention of storing intranet pages offline in the event a device gets lost or stolen.
  • MDX Toolkit (Android) – New Disable Required Update policy can be used to enforce (or not) upgrades to mobile apps coming from the pubic app store (Google Play). MDX no longer enforces app upgrades on Android by default.

For more information on XenMobile 10.6.20 client release, including  features, fixes and known issues, please visit our documentation pages under “What’s new in XenMobile Apps”.

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