Android Gaining Ground in the Enterprise Mobile Market

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Google’s Android mobile operating system is making steady gains in the enterprise, according to a new study from mobile device management (MDM) specialist, Good Technology.

The Good Technology Mobility Index Report for the second quarter of 2014 reveals that Android device activations (smartphones and tablets) rose 5 percent over the first quarter to claim 32 percent of total activations. The gain came at the expense of Apple’s iOS ecosystem.

During the second quarter, iOS activations dropped by 5 percent compared to the previous quarter. However, Apple remains the enterprise mobile champ with 67 percent of total device activations, mainly due to the popularity of the company’s iPhone. Windows Phone from Microsoft claimed the remaining 1 percent.

In terms of apps, Android saw a 4 percent gain in enterprise app activations during the second quarter — again leading to a commensurate loss for iOS — for a 12 percent share of all activations. Despite the dip for Apple, the Cupertino, Calif.-based device maker dominated the market with 88 percent of app activations.

Apple also leads the market for enterprise tablets. Nine of out ten tablet activations during the second quarter can be attributed the company’s best-selling iPad.

On tablets, document editing, document access and custom apps made were the top three app categories, maintaining a six-quarter streak, said the report. Secure instant messaging, document access and custom apps made up the top three on smartphones.

Customer relationship management (CRM) and business intelligence (BI) apps are gaining fast, according to the company. CRM app activations increased “by a factor of seven,” quarter over quarter, while BI app activations jumped 200 percent.

All told, demand for enterprise mobile applications remains brisk. Activations increased 20 percent quarter over quarter among Good Technology’s customer base. Custom app activations rose 25 percent over the first quarter.

Christy Wyatt, the company’s Chairman and CEO, noted that increased demand for business-oriented mobile software is a sign that iPhones, iPads and Android devices are cementing their place in the workplace.

“It’s more apparent than ever that enterprise mobility is disrupting legacy desktop environments,” she said in prepared remarks. “They’ve recognized that mobile access to other key apps beyond email is critical in driving higher productivity, intelligence and even closing deals.”

Pedro Hernandez is a contributing editor at Datamation. Follow him on Twitter @ecoINSITE.

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.