Microsoft instructs employees in China to use iPhones instead of Android devices

Microsoft (NASDAQ:) NASDAQ: MSFT) has informed its employees in China that they will be required to use iPhones at work starting in September, sources said. As a result, Android devices will be phased out of the workplace.

Microsoft will require its employees in China to use only Apple (NASDAQ:) devices to verify their identities when logging into their work computers or phones, according to an internal memo reviewed by Bloomberg. The policy, part of Microsoft’s global Secure Future Initiative, is intended to ensure that all employees use the Microsoft Authenticator password manager and Identity Pass app, which affects hundreds of employees in mainland China.

The move highlights the fragmented nature of Android app stores in China and the growing divide between the Chinese and international mobile ecosystems. Unlike Apple’s iOS store, Alphabet’s (NASDAQ:) Google Play store is unavailable in China, prompting local manufacturers like Huawei and Xiaomi to operate their own platforms.

The note says Microsoft has decided to block access from these devices to its corporate resources because they do not offer Google mobile services in China.

Employees using Android phones, including Huawei or Xiaomi, will receive the iPhone 15 as a one-time replacement, the report said. Microsoft will distribute these iPhones at various drop-off locations in China, including Hong Kong, where Google services are available.

Microsoft has not commented publicly on the policy and did not respond to Bloomberg’s questions about the reasoning behind the decision.

The move could draw attention to the iPhone’s role in China, especially amid ongoing geopolitical tensions between Beijing and Washington. Since 2023, a growing number of Chinese government-backed companies and agencies have instructed employees to avoid using foreign devices at work due to security concerns.

The company is looking to improve its global security measures after a spate of state-sponsored hacking attacks. A significant security breach linked to Russia, disclosed in January, affected several U.S. government agencies, including the State Department. Microsoft has faced significant pressure and criticism from U.S. lawmakers to improve its security protocols.