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Google and Dell have partnered to create enterprise-oriented laptops and 2-in-1 devices running the search giant's Chrome OS, according to The Verge. This is Google's first push to get its Chromebooks into use at large enterprises.
Its operating system (OS) will challenge Windows in these deployments and offer companies a suite of tools to make Chrome OS simpler to roll out and manage. Getting its foot in the door with its cloud-heavy OS could also create an opportunity for telecoms to work with both Google and hardware partners to enable device-level connectivity.
Here's what it means: Dell will be selling a set of new Chromebooks that incorporate key enterprise support and management tools, which Google hopes will prompt corporate customers to begin or deepen their engagement with Google's cloud-based services.
Google and Dell are adding more advanced administration tools to the OS to make it enterprise-friendly. This will enable the Dell Chromebooks to be managed by tools such as VMware's Workspace One, which a company's IT team can use to manage what applications and programs are deployed to the company's hardware.
Companies can specify which apps - either publicly available or privately developed - are included on a laptop by default, as well as automatically distribute OS updates. They can also add tools to enable connection to cloud-based virtual Windows systems, so that computing power can be allocated more efficiently.
This isn't an exclusive partnership, though. Google, per The Verge, is looking to work with other large technology original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) beyond Dell to scale up the deployment of Chromebooks at enterprises.
Because the Chromebooks are designed to integrate with and rely heavily upon Google's services, growing adoption of the devices could boost the company's bottom line as it signs new or expanded deals for cloud-based services with Chromebook customers.
The bigger picture: The potential growth of Google's connectivity-reliant Chromebooks as a legitimate choice for enterprise-scale deployment could present an opportunity for telecoms to work with Google and OEMs to ensure that these devices are always in touch with the cloud service they rely upon.
Google and Dell will offer the option to configure the initial batch of enterprise Chromebooks with LTE. These built-in LTE connections - and, in a few years time, 5G connections - will be more important for Chromebooks, which do most of their business online, than for Windows PCs, which are generally more capable offline since they have more powerful internal applications.
Companies like AT&T or Verizon could look to pursue new or expanded deals to provide connectivity to devices from the likes of Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), Lenovo, Dell, or other OEMs. This would allow telecoms to add a large number of data connections and, consequently, revenue
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