Android and Rugged Tablets: A Winning Combination
Over the past few years, the adoption of Android™ operating systems has increased exponentially in many organizations, especially for users working in harsh environments. According to a recent report, Android is the dominant mobile platform for mobile solutions worldwide today, and is expected to be the leading rugged device OS in the enterprise through 2022.
There are many reasons why Android has become the preferred operating system for rugged device use. Following Microsoft’s discontinued support for Windows CE and Windows mobile, Android has become an obvious choice for businesses seeking to replace outdated systems to avoid operational interruptions and data vulnerabilities. Android devices now offer the security, flexibility, and affordability that these enterprises require. Specifically, security functions run in a trusted execution environment (TEE), along with built-in malware protection and sandboxing to keep data clean and apps separated.
Technology vendors like Panasonic offer a suite of deployment tools to simplify setup, configuration, and enrollment, that allow devices to be automatically provisioned. With these deployment tools Android OS can offer lower implementation and support costs and offer IT departments the ability to save significant time and money on deployment and automating updates
But selecting an operating system for a rugged deployment is only the first step. It’s equally important to have the right devices, tools and services to enable the operating system to perform at its highest level.
Choosing the right hardware with the critical features and functions for the work to be done is also essential. For many, the fully rugged Panasonic TOUGHBOOK® tablets and handhelds fit the bill. Depending on form factor requirements, choices in this category include 4.7 or 5 inch handhelds, or 7 or 10.1 inch tablets. These devices are ideal for emergency services personnel, utilities and field service agents, police and first responders, or transportation and logistics operators, who often deal with wet, dusty, unstable conditions. TOUGHBOOK rugged devices also provide market-leading durability and longevity, suffering less failures than consumer-grade technology, to further minimize support and repair costs.
To get the most value out of a rugged device and Android OS, it’s important to hit the ground running. That’s why so many organizations choose to get help planning an application deployment strategy that includes transitioning legacy apps, installing off-the-shelf apps, and even developing Android mobile apps from scratch. The Panasonic productivity+ solution is designed for just this, offering app development, rapid device deployment, device management and more.
The flexibility and functionality of Android devices remain attractive to organizations looking to equip their mobile workers with tools that boost their productivity. With the right combination of operating system, rugged device, applications and services, employees operating in harsh environments receive market-leading mobile solutions that exceed ruggedness standards for ingress (dust and water) protection and drop test integrity, and uninterrupted frontline communication. Explore the infographic below to learn how Android-based TOUGHBOOK® mobile solutions help businesses move forward.
Learn more about how you can easily move to Panasonic TOUGHBOOK® Handhelds and Tablets with Android.
