Android In The Rugged Enterprise

By Thomas F. Heitman, Manager Solutions Consulting at Peak-Ryzex, Inc.

Mobility platforms in the enterprise space are currently undergoing a major transition for a number of reasons. For example, Microsoft has announced end of support dates within only a couple of years for mobile computer operating systems such as Windows CE, WM, Embedded Hand Held and Windows 10 IoT. Once these dates are reached, existing devices with these operating systems will not receive patches/security updates from Microsoft and extended support for existing devices will be left to the manufacturers. As a result, manufacturers are forced to release product with operating systems that will be supported long term.

This transition is having a wide impact in the enterprise space. Areas of the business such as distribution and transportation require robust devices that can survive harsh environments. To date this space has predominantly leveraged mobile Windows based handheld computers with physical keypads, running traditional green screen telnet emulation. Many host systems in place are legacy systems that still utilize telnet emulation interfaces to users that are handling material. Businesses are now looking for devices that will support the physical demands of the enterprise and interface requirements of legacy systems and allow for an easy migration to newer host systems in the future. They are also looking for mobile computers that are capable of providing long-term support from an operating system and network security perspective.