Android Enterprise Recommended: What Does It Mean for Me?

You may have seen a badge that reads “Android Enterprise Recommended” (AER) on product pages for rugged mobile computers.

But what does it mean and how should it affect your buying process? Read on to find out.

What is AER?
AER is a respected certification given direct from Google. It guarantees that the corporate service provider or specific device meets Google’s quality standards for enterprise requirements. This makes the process of selecting, deploying and managing mobile devices for enterprise simpler and more reliable for businesses.

There are different criteria for Enterprise Mobility Management Software, Managed Service Providers, knowledge worker devices and rugged devices. For the purpose of this article, we’ll focus on the requirements for rugged devices.

What are the criteria for AER?
1. OS Updates
An AER rugged device must come with Android 7.0 or above. They must support the current shipping release plus one Android letter upgrade. They also must make future OS updates available within 18 months.

2. Security Updates
The manufacturer must make security updates available within 90 days for five years after the device’s launch date.

3. Bulk deployment options
The device must enable QR code enrollment. For devices running Android 8.0 devices and above, zero-touch enrollment is a requirement.

4. Ruggedness requirements
AER rugged devices need to be IP54 sealed, providing protection against moisture and dust ingress. They also need to meet the MIL-STD-810G or IEC 62-2-31 testing specifications and be tested to withstand multiple 1.2-meter drops to concrete.

5. Hardware requirements
The hardware requirements for an AER device include 2 GB RAM, 16 GB flash storage, a 1.1 GHz processor and 32-bit architecture.

6. System Apps
The device must include the following system apps: camera, contacts, downloads, google, messaging, dialer, play store.

What AER devices does Syntec sell?
Not all great devices ae AER certified but it does provide a guarantee and peace of mind when purchasing AER devices.