Microsoft bans Android phones in China offices, mandates iPhones

Microsoft has urged its employees in China offices to stop using Android phones later this year. In a major policy change, the Windows maker has mandated iPhones for employees starting in September, delivering a huge blow to Android OEMs in China. The decision to discontinue using Android phones in Microsoft offices in China stems from the country’s closed ecosystem that bars Google Mobile Services (GMS), essential for running crucial security apps.

According to Bloomberg News, Microsoft’s security applications such as Authenticator and Identity Pass require GMS to run properly. However, the lack of Google’s services, including the Play Store, in mainland China has made it almost impossible for the company to implement security protocols for employees. Microsoft is, thus, switching to iPhones, which allow official apps such as Authenticator through the App Store.

Microsoft will make it easy for employees to switch from Android to iPhone by providing them with a new iPhone 15 device. Employees can pick up a new iPhone from designated collection points across China. Microsoft’s new policy for employees mandates iPhones only for official purposes. That means they can continue using Android devices for personal use.

The report highlighted that Microsoft has ramped up security in its offices in China in response to the recent cyberattack, which is believed to have links with Russia. Considering previous incidents where Russia-operated cyberattacks impacted US government agencies, Microsoft is taking a preemptive measure as part of its Secure Future Initiative, the company’s comprehensive programme for security enhancement.

While Microsoft hopes to thwart potential hacking attempts by ditching the Android ecosystem in China offices, it may escalate the geopolitical rift between Beijing and Washington. It may also be seen as a response to the Chinese government’s recent mandate that urged employees to avoid using foreign devices at work, citing security reasons. The US government has also imposed several restrictions on employees to discourage using Chinese products and technologies.