Software giant Microsoft has banned its employees from using Android for security reasons in China. Instead, the company will provide iPhones for employees to use. News Reuters.
The country’s government has said at various times that it is banning the use of iPhones in China. However, Microsoft is walking the opposite way. A memo from the company was published by Bloomberg. According to the memo, by September 2024, all Chinese workers must start using iPhone instead of Android.
According to the memo, the workers are using Android phones from China-owned Huawei and Xiaomi. And the company will provide iPhone 15 to employees for use in office work. Microsoft is setting up collections across the country so that employees can collect the iPhones. Employees can go there and show their card to get iPhones.
The company will take the same steps in Hong Kong. However, Google Play Store in China cannot be used. Android users in China install apps through their own platforms on Huawei and Xiaomi phones. Microsoft has also bulked up such platforms.
Apple’s App Store is available in China. All employees using iPhones can use Microsoft’s Password Manager and Identity Pass apps.
Microsoft has never disclosed how many employees of Microsoft has in China. Since 1992, Microsoft has launched its own services in China.
The Wall Street Journal reported in May 2024 that the company is considering moving 800 of its workers to other countries.
However, Apple and Microsoft did not comment on the matter.
