Microsoft in China has banned Android and, as a consequence, the company staff will soon be required to shift to iPhones soon.
Microsoft employees in China have been notified to make the shift from Android smartphones to iPhones by September 2024, according to a report by Bloomberg.
This was reportedly announced in an internal memo sent out to the employees by Microsoft China.
The company is reportedly creating dedicated points in its facility in China where staff members can go to collect their iPhones.
Since Apple's iOS App Store is available in China, the plan is for all employees to transition to iPhones.
Microsoft in China has banned Android and, as a consequence, the company staff will soon be required to shift to iPhones soon. Microsoft employees in China have been notified to make the shift from Android smartphones to iPhones by September 2024, according to a report by Bloomberg. This was reportedly announced in an internal memo sent out to the employees by Microsoft China. The same diktat is reportedly also been issued at the Microsoft Hong Kong office.
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As per the report, the employees have been told that anybody who is using an Android smartphone, including Chinese brands like Huawei or Xiaomi, will be provided an iPhone 15 by the company. The company is reportedly creating dedicated points in its facility in China where staff members can go to collect their iPhones.
One of the reasons for the switch is the absence of the Google Play Store in mainland China, though it remains accessible in Hong Kong. On the mainland, Android users have relied on app stores operated by Huawei or Xiaomi. However, Microsoft has now restricted access to these platforms. “The US company will soon require Chinese-based employees to use only Apple Inc devices to verify their identities when logging in to work computers or phones,” reads the report.
Since Apple's iOS App Store is available in China, the plan is for all employees to transition to iPhones. This move will allow them to use the Microsoft Authenticator password manager and the Identity Pass app seamlessly. Microsoft introduced support for passkeys in May 2024. Instead of relying on traditional passwords and standard authentication methods, passkeys enable apps to utilise the iPhone's Face ID for biometric authentication.
The directive also comes at a time amid increasing cybersecurity concerns for Microsoft. Earlier this year, the company disclosed it was targeted by the Russian-state-sponsored hacking group, Midnight Blizzard. This attack, described as a targeted reconnaissance mission, impacted several US government agencies. Microsoft had started informing specific customers that their emails may have been accessed due to the breach.
