Over the past decade, Microsoft has been phasing out many of its Windows mobile operating systems, and its newer offerings haven’t supported many of the mobile devices and form factors used in today’s enterprise.
As a result, many companies have kept running Windows Embedded Handheld 6.5 on their devices since it can run on virtually any screen size or form factor. But with the end of Microsoft’s support for Windows Embedded Handheld 6.5, this is no longer a viable option.
Extended support for this popular OS has run out, leaving thousands of companies with no security patches and no OS updates. Also, for companies running legacy Windows mobile operating systems, migrating to a new Windows platform is a costly and time-consuming undertaking.
Unless you’re currently running Windows Embedded Handheld version 8, there’s no option to migrate directly to Windows 10 IoT. There’s no direct upgrade path, so migration requires rewriting apps, upgrading databases, and re-configuring networks.
This is the primary reason why most companies and all major enterprise mobile device manufacturers have switched from Windows to Android as their mobile OS of choice. But here are four more reasons why they’re making this important move and why our mobile technology experts at TPI recommend that you do the same.
- Android is easier to use. Android isn’t just a solution to the end of support for legacy Windows mobile operating systems. It’s also superior to Windows in terms of usability because it was designed from the ground up for intuitive mobile simplicity.
Android’s touch screen interactions are a major improvement over button-driven Windows mobile interactions, and it streamlines workflows by making apps as easy to use as tapping on a screen. Android also enables customized home screens, single-button app launches, and virtual keyboards for error-proofed data entry.
Additionally, Android is easier for enterprise workers to use since many workers already use it on their personal smartphones and tablets.
- Android is highly secure. Thanks to Mobile Extensions (MX) developed by Zebra Technologies and available on all of Zebra’s latest mobile devices, Android is a highly secure enterprise OS on par with Windows. You can completely control each device and application as well as network, user, and data access. Over-the-air updates also make it easy to apply the latest security patches and keep your devices secure.
- You can get lifetime security updates and OS support. Microsoft has eliminated extended support options as of Windows 8, but you can get full OS updates and security support for the lifetime of your Android devices. Zebra’s LifeGuard™ for Android™ provides up to 10 years of guaranteed OS and security updates, including five years beyond Google’s standard support period.
- Android development is faster and easier. Android has a vast array of development resources available, and these make it much faster and easier to rewrite or create new apps for specific business needs. There are also many app store apps already available and geared for enterprise needs, including mobile versions of popular ERP, WMS, and inventory management software.
Additionally, Zebra’s All-Touch Terminal Emulation allows companies to migrate and convert their legacy green screen apps into beautiful all-touch apps without any coding required. You can literally convert an app in as little as minutes.
To learn more about Android for enterprise mobile and find out if it’s the right fit for your business, contact our mobile technology experts at TPI. We’ll help you choose the right OS strategy, develop a migration plan, and recommend the best hardware solutions for your needs.