Google Intros New Apps Management Tools for Mobile Users

Mobility is good for small business. New devices such as smartphones and tablets allow the workforce to take their work out in the field. Yet it's a growing headache for some companies to manage how those devices use company apps.

Google addresses these issues in new enhancements to its mobile device management tools for Google Apps administrators. The new features allow admins to manage corporate Apps users' Android, iOS, and Windows Phone devices with more detail. Google's VP of product management, Dave Girouard discussed some of these new changes earlier this week at Atmosphere 2011, an annual event for CIOs at the search company's Mountain View headquarters.

Google Apps include business Gmail, Calendar, Docs, and Sites. The tools are part of Google's cloud services, and allow businesses to build services for employees and provide a company presence.

According to an article in InformationWeek, the enhancements to Google Apps for Business include the ability to allow mobile policies such as password requirements and roaming sync preferences to be defined by user group. This means an admin can set parameters for access by departments. Improvements to the platform also include mobile analytics. Administrators will now be able to evaluate mobile device usage and hot it affects worker productivity.

Along with analytics and more company control, Google updated its Google Apps Device Policy app for Android so users will be aware of what usage information is available to administrators.