Microsoft says it's the iPhone or nothing for employees in China as it blocks Android phones over security concerns

iPhone 15 Pro review back handheld angled camera
(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)

The iPhone is already pretty popular all around the world, including in China. But it's about to get a boost in a way that few might have seen coming following the news that Microsoft has told employees in China that they must ditch their Android phones in favor of iPhones.

Starting in September Microsoft will stop allowing Android devices to access its corporate resources in China over security concerns, leaving the iPhone 15 and similar handsets as the only option for Apple employees in the country.

The news comes as Microsoft seeks to harden the security of its corporate services in the country and the lack of Google Play Store access on Chinese Android phones means that the App Store is the only source for employees in the country to download Microsoft's security apps.

Banned Androids

Bloomberg reports that Microsoft "has been ramping up security worldwide after incurring repeat attacks from state-sponsored hackers, with a Russia-linked breach disclosed in January affecting dozens of US government agencies, including the State Department." 

The report goes on to say that any workers who currently use Android phones will be provided with an iPhone 15. "The company will make iPhones available for collection at various hubs across China, including Hong Kong, where Google’s services are accessible," Bloomberg explains, adding that employees will still be able to use Android phones for personal use despite the corporate ban.

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Oliver Haslam
Contributor

Oliver Haslam has written about Apple and the wider technology business for more than a decade with bylines on How-To Geek, PC Mag, iDownloadBlog, and many more. He has also been published in print for Macworld, including cover stories. At iMore, Oliver is involved in daily news coverage and, not being short of opinions, has been known to 'explain' those thoughts in more detail, too. Having grown up using PCs and spending far too much money on graphics card and flashy RAM, Oliver switched to the Mac with a G5 iMac and hasn't looked back. Since then he's seen the growth of the smartphone world, backed by iPhone, and new product categories come and go. Current expertise includes iOS, macOS, streaming services, and pretty much anything that has a battery or plugs into a wall. Oliver also covers mobile gaming for iMore, with Apple Arcade a particular focus. He's been gaming since the Atari 2600 days and still struggles to comprehend the fact he can play console quality titles on his pocket computer.

  • FFR
    Thats embarrassing for an android partner.
    Reply
  • naddy69
    Next step: All employees must use Macs instead of Windows PCs. For the same reasons.
    Reply
  • EdwinG
    naddy69 said:
    Next step: All employees must use Macs instead of Windows PCs. For the same reasons.
    Macs running Windows 12! 😅
    Reply
  • FFR
    naddy69 said:
    Next step: All employees must use Macs instead of Windows PCs. For the same reasons.

    That’s what happened at Google and Facebook.
    Reply