Microsoft Tells China Staff to Swap Androids for iPhones

Microsoft Corp. has told its employees in China that they will only be able to use iPhones for work from September, effectively cutting off Android devices. Minmin Low reports on Bloomberg Television.
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[@Peizxcv]

You are Microsoft, you can literally send apk to employees to install the authenticator

[@irokpe6977]

@Peizxcv If they do that the CCP would be offended as the app didn't pass through their own checks via the regulated app store. It's the same reason Google play store was banned.

[@AdrielSjahfiedin]

Yea but not having a whole staff to troubleshoot/teach people on installing the packet is quite a time saver XD

[@apollosungod2819]

Microsoft is threatened by the Google Android O.S. because they fear the eventual rise of a rival O.S. maker.

[@ziwer1]

@@AdrielSjahfiedin Yeah if you are employed by a tech company, that should be a walk in the park.

[@cyclost]

This is somewhat unsafe because it is not as quick nor convenient to update the app. It's also a concern that the apk can be tampered with, or bad actor who physically gained access to the device can replace an already existed installation of the authenticator with a fake one. A fake app also cannot automatically update through Google Play, which is a good source to alert the user their app has been tampered with.

[@deltrinos]

microsoft can just offer these employees a company iphone, can't they? ask them to change their android for iphone, these microsoft managers are just bums!

[@ThongHo-hy6hc]

@@deltrinos they give staff ip15

[@TS-cs2pe]

they will give them iphone

[@leehyunsong7001]

Dude why you worry about this?

[@Iamthedude-is5ov]

I guess I am a bum if I don’t give my employees a certain phone😢 number

[@johnc3525]

@@Iamthedude-is5ov If you require them to have a specific phone to work, then yes.

[@RovinTan]

Dear Microsoft, stop building in backdoors for the American government so your OS is more secure.

[@CoolTebza-eh7ig]

Simple no back do give the activities to check not access to the system that's a big issue about this things. Give government data not system to do as they please also they remember to change everything when there new OS like everything if someone want add features from the past they just add plugins, they must let any app to have to much power over everything. Some people don't buy product to use they buy it to see what's made of to see if well built to test so most them look at everything if there's back door 🚪 or entry somewhere so most of companies hire people who remove unwanted stuff on it replace them with their own upgraded OS. So that's how security works but remember that not every company employees specially if the work for tech company like Microsoft they will be link somewhere because of corruption people won't be safe on their device also if they can take data also someone else can do the same they replace their channel add their own channel link 🔗🖇️ to gain access. Remember same developers can hack the system

[@reystudio4317]

給ccp後門嗎？

[@RovinTan]

@@reystudio4317, so sorry, CCP not using Microsoft. That's why the 'global' outage 2 days ago, Russia and China not affected.

[@fanlonghao]

But every Android devices support side load, couldn't Microsoft just offer their employees an apk to install? There is no necessary for choosing a particular phone brand.

[@aswinhanagal4293]

I think Bloomberg isnt giving all information. This is a guess/speculation: I think the real issue is the lack of Android Enterprise certified devices in China (for obvious reasons). In the US most companies require that android devices are android Enterprise certified to get access to company resources

[@miles2378]

Does Microsoft still own a small chunk of Apple?

[@loumos]

"iphone isnt safe!" "no! android isnt safe" Yall really act like it matters which brand you use in todays age... 🤣 If the Govt or Hacker wants to enter your phone, they enter your phone...

[@batatvafrica]

They don't want to know. The people love to live in delusion of grandeur

[@winzyl9546]

Some even want to ban cctvs because "surveillance state", while commenting on youtube using a phone.

[@Makes_me_wonder]

So you know more than microsoft?

[@loumos]

@@Makes_me_wonder your comment doesn’t makes sense. Why? Let me tell you. 1. I never said anything about Microsoft 2. I never claimed to be smarter than Microsoft 3. I’m Addressing the commenters who are beefing over wich phone is less safe against Hacker or Govt unauthorized access . So next time when you try to act smart. I beg you, pleaaaase: Read my comment first otherwise you are missing important context 🙏🏾🥰🤦🏾‍♂️

[@ziwer1]

@@Makes_me_wonder Apparently, Microsoft doesn't know anything. Have u seen the news?

[@incrediblestevrhymz2260]

The excuse that they need staff to use iPhone because of Microsoft authenticator app is bullshit and I don't think these news people underestand what they are talking about.... I can put the authentication key in any authenticator app and it will work.... I don't need Google authenticator or Microsoft authenticator on my phone for multi-auth.... I use Authy for all my multifactor authentication, including Microsoft. This is some bullshit excuse

[@henrywid]

Msft too cheap to buy their employees iphones

[@vincesiy1403]

Agree. Or create a dongle device for their employees to carry as a key fob like even gyms have nowadays. I think this move is more likely about supporting Apple's Iphone which has been getting hammered globally especially in China.

[@KamBar2019]

Bill Gates : hold ma WINDOWs 🪟

[@kutter_ttl6786]

Do your research. It's not that hard to do a simple Google search. "Employees in China who don’t have an iPhone will be given one by Microsoft, according to Bloomberg."

[@vincesiy1403]

@@kutter_ttl6786 If microsoft will be following their past behaviour it will be deducted from your salary. For sure the iphone will have an "employee discount" on its price but it will be deducted from their salary thru various plans.

[@leehyunsong7001]

People just read the subject and think they know the whole story.

[@user-dt8tp8op4p]

Lets be honest, this is to stick another prick into Google, their AI competition.

[@gweejiahan9336]

Why don't Microsoft take the opportunity to launch Windows phone again with Microsoft authenticator built in but start in China.

[@duran9664]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 with Ai

[@JCSY1]

Will fail miserably 😂😂

[@windycitybeats6724]

​​@@JCSY1Microsoft manufacturers cellular device again 📈📈😂

[@kenyup7936]

no disrespects, none really needs a M$ phone since its eco-system sucks here in China

[@YSKWatch]

even windows 11 file manager is buggy, I don't want to imagine about other important part of the OS (security, specially). but I use windows because too lazy to learn to use other OS.

[@_a_x_s_]

Lol iPhone as a security update and the authenticator app on this phone as the multi-factor authentication. 😂 Nice combination.

[@DanBurgaud]

the other option is to drop Microsoft services and go for opensource apps.

[@windycitybeats6724]

Too consumer friendly

[@Hardy2608]

Won't be able to spy on people and sell info

[@pragueexpat5106]

Seems like you didn't understand the story at all. Microsoft wants it's employees to use Microsoft authenticator to login into internal resources such as Outlook, Teams etc. for more security, but the employees with Android phones are unable to download it because Google Playstore is not available and the Microsoft Authenticator is not available in other 3rd party app stores..

[@badbadbadcat]

​@@pragueexpat5106then they should make it available. it's their own app. it's their problem

[@atamanch]

@@pragueexpat5106 props to you for actually explaining the story to the good brigade in the comments. I wouldn’t bother, many bots, many idiots, it’s a scary sight out there

[@renegade7565]

The people enforcing this rule should provide company phones for the employees, since it's their rules they're enforcing on the workers. It's the same as how laptops are provided.

[@alternateaccount4868]

New phones would cost a lot of money

[@ytn00b3]

MS can't side load their authenticator app onto Android? lmao

[@Rivs5117]

Microsoft is only saying this because OpenAI is on iPhone and Microsoft owns a huge position of OpenAI.

[@PlanePreacher]

It’s probably more due to the Apple/Microsoft/OpenAI collaboration! Android not allowed!

[@aswinhanagal4293]

What this really seems to be is that since most phones in china are not android enterprise certified so its difficult to get Androids with a well known enterprise security suite in china

[@eve_sy3180]

Hello, I am using Honor brand phone bought from Malaysia, a subsidiary from Huawei, but I can still access Google and Microsoft Authenticator. They just need to purchase the global edition instead of buying from China.

[@njdriving]

They should give them Windows phone...

[@niceguy76]

Which one? lol

[@i2vader]

Went over like a Lead Zeppelin

[@scottchu8065]

In other words, the iphone is controlled by US govt and is not save to use.

[@ahmedalsadi0010]

True because they can install it as apk without the need for play store

[@JCSY1]

Everything or almost everything from the US can also be abuse by the US govt. That is a true fact.

[@romcapprotti1976]

You do know that’s a stupid statement right you remember the battle between Apple and the FBI because Apple wouldn’t give them the software to open an iPhone of somebody they had under arrest because Apple knew if they did that then they would get into everybody’s phone so your statement is not valid

[@vueport99]

Not if you're in China. Apple and Tesla data are required to reside in China only. What's interesting is China now calls Tesla a domestic car citing how it's made in China with 95% materials sourced in China. And yet, iPhone is considered a foreign product?

[@Alieth]

@@scottchu8065 not true

[@jaddyrose9318]

Crazy using the competition because your own devices can’t compete

[@datboib3432]

Apple users never gonna let android users live this one down lol

[@louistan7560]

How many staff does Microsift have in China? Whatever happened to "American Democracy"? If the concern is security, then no iPhones should be bought by Chinese staff in other companies.

[@emaaddar5017]

Hardware 2FA will also work.

[@brucewayne2955]

Why doesn't Microsoft release an APK?

[@KenjiEspresso]

MSFT is clowns 😂

[@Hyejin.park23]

This happen in the midst of iPhone sales dropping in China 😂😂

[@aigriffin42604]

Yes please so sick of debating with Android users get an iPhone for crying out loud!

[@muzammilm.nurdin3349]

I guess AAPL Q1 revenue went really bad...

[@nilnil8072]

Microsoft can just put authenticator in Huawei store.. it isn’t difficult since you already have the app on play store. Btw , play store isn’t ban by China , it is ban by the US..

[@davadh]

It's Android, they could create an APK?

[@Doggiedogedog]

What if they get huawei

[@bullpup1337]

huawei is ccp spyware

[@trancemutator5393]

Can you even get an android phone in mainland China?

[@lingth]

Well why not make the Microsoft Authenticator app for the Huawei App Store? Surely it's not so difficult to port it over

[@Sjalabais]

You wouldn't want a *shambolic* security system, no. This escalation of espionage and security issues, geopolitical tensions sound like the beginning of the end.

[@creative_mindsrus1541]

Chine stopped using the iPhone didn't they?

[@sinocare]

Google was never banned in China. Google refused to follow China’s legal requirements and subsequently withdrew from Chinese market around 2010.

[@joeyjojojrshabadoo7462]

Microsoft should make phones again.

[@debojitmandal8670]

No the thing is in china thers no playetore abd thast the reason y they want to ban Android so this news us bot telling the complete picture

[@loyalbeaver9402]

LOL Huawei had ditched Android for its own system HarmonyOS. Given in China most people are using Huawei phones, Microsoft' order is bound to have no impact the majority of their employees.

[@tino6117]

Google doesn't sell out like Apple

[@user-yy9hk9od9u]

China's govt can access iphones in China also. So this is pointless.

[@308_Negra_Arroyo_Lane]

There are plenty of app stores in china, so what if google play is not available.

[@xiphoid2011]

China censors most things. I sigh as a chinese.

[@SIR_RR]

politicking and tech never go hand and hand.

[@dp8jl]

It’s not the android vs IOS. Since most people in China buy android modified by Chinese OEM. They can’t say only use Samsung lol, so they are playing safe

[@kenyup7936]

it's unnecessary to exaggerate this M$ policy, even Google play store isn't available in China, we could install a M$ authenticate app via our own way. like 3rd party apps stores or VPN (some phones actually here secretly build-in a google play framework )

[@stephenwlodarczyk175]

I see a glitch in the matrix. Microsoft using Apple phones. So when will my PC work more seamlessly with my Apple phone

[@dazzz887]

Just have the staff use MS phones…….Oh wait……😂

[@ajaykumarsingh702]

They should swap with Huawei.

[@mikestewart4752]

Xi’s face is as red as his flag right now. 😡

[@macky2green]

*_Get the Light Phone 3._*

[@Jim-nt7xy]

Thanks Pichai

[@hlwonka8783]

You can easily buy iphone in China but you hardly able to buy China made phone in US.Freedom of trade ??????

[@usamaizm]

Why no Microsoft Android 🤖 spin-off?

[@seedney]

Can’t they use VPN and US accounts? 😂😂

[@dotagedrain7051]

Thats ok.. but you need to pay for it... this is forcing people to pay for iphone

[@dougmorato]

So what you're saying is that China bans apps in Google Play AND Apple Store but cries like a baby when other countries ban their beloved TikTok app???

[@araara4746]

If that is your position, then never feel superior to communist countries, because basically what you do is the same. You denigrate communist countries, but use their actions as justification for your actions.

[@Mearex_]

If you had an ounce of reading comprehension you’ll easily realize that that is not what they are saying at all

[@josephguo3429]

@@Mearex_ he got pay for saying something.

[@seansingh4421]

@@Mearex_He does have reading comprehension but you seem to be a CCP bot who’s probably a CCP prisoner yourself. I hope you don’t get in trouble at work bro. Stay safe

[@loyalbeaver9402]

Except China didn't ban Google or Apple Store - it only bans apps on the ground of law-violation. China demands Google's operation in China comply with China's censorship laws. Google complied until 2010. During this time Google countered no ban in China. In 2010 Google decided to cease compliance with the Chinese censorship laws. Google's products henceforth were withdrawn from the Chinese markets. The Chinese state has made it quite clear many times over that so long as Google switches back to law-compliance, it can return to the Chinese market at any time. So the ban is never against Google itself but its products' non-compliance with China's laws. Tik Tok 's case is a completely different story: Tik Tok complies with all the US laws within the US. Tik Tok was never accused by the US regulatory agencies of NOT complying with any of the US laws. It even moves its data center that serves its US customers to the inside of the US - something no other foreign data company offers to do. The only problem with Tik Tok is that its parental company is a private Chinese company DanceByte. The US orders DanceByte to sell Tik Tok to an US company within a year. Refusal to follow the order would result in Tik-tok's ban. In other words, China never finds Google's ownership as an US company problematic, but finds issues with its products' non-compliance with Chinese laws. In contrast, US never finds Tik-Tok's products problematic, as they comply with all the US laws most satisfactorily. However, it finds issue with its ownership being Chinese. So Google can lift the ban instantly if it starts to comply with laws within China. Tik tok can also fend off the promised ban instantly, if it hands its ownership to an US entity. Some people find the threatened ban against Tik-tok more in contravention of the standard of justice and fairness than China's ban against Google's apps. The logic is that China's ban doesn't constitute a form of discrimination as it's merely against a corporation's conducts - the same Google company faced no restriction in China before 2010 because its conducts were in compliance with the Chinese laws; in contrast, the US' ban is a textbook definition of "discrimination" as it's not about conducts but the existential identity - if you are Chinese you are screwed, doesn't matter your conducts are 100% legal as your identity is itself a violation. In 1885 the US promulgated the Chinese Exclusion Act - the current threatened ban against Tik-tok follows exactly the same exclusion-on-the-basis-of-identity logic. Some people find it ethically alarming as it's a slippery slope down somewhere much darker. Of course there are also counterarguments in support of the ban, as corporations are not the same as individual human beings. Excluding a Chinese corporation for being Chinese is not the same as excluding a natural person for being Chinese.

[@gaspernikl4323]

somebody got a nice paycheck🙌🙌🙌

[@GuillermoSoro]

That no going to do nothing.

[@holycow343]

MS wants them to use iphones so that the CIA can spy on them. :D

[@broza82]

Next they're gonna tell them to subscribe to Game Pass.

[@ty-cf6zi]

I am a Linux supporter. Microsoft add too much ads into Windows and still want to introduce their 'recall' feature.

[@SigFigNewton]

Apple phones aren’t more secure

[@SFLucid]

Because Apple will more likely do what they are told.

[@bladerunner53]

But they are restrictive and authoritative with what can you do with their phones.

[@connorlaurey4647]

Apparently it’s not about the phone , it’s about the availability of the Microsoft Authentication app because the Play Store was banned in China

[@DC-qn4wz]

@@SFLucid Wrong!

[@JCSY1]

@@SigFigNewton No thanks. Don't like their too rigid eco system and inflexibility.

[@TariqSajid]

better to offer google pixel phones

[@AlanSmith88888]

LOL

[@JTSunriseMusic]

Sell your soul to the company store

[@vincesiy1403]

Lol. Iphone is not more secure than Android. Ever since Steve Jobs passed away Iphone hardware and software has steadily declined. They are really no longer good value for money.

[@YSKWatch]

microsoft can't provide security system for their own and depend on apple to do it. not a good thing. side note: android have their own integrity protection to ensure that the app is the original one. no reason for microsoft to ban android.

[@CO8848_2]

China banned Google playstore. Not Microsoft. You didn't understand the story.

[@todorkolev7565]

you can NOT get the app because google play is not available in China, idiot :)

[@miles2378]

Does Microsoft stil, own a small chunk of Apple?

[@marechuber]

Microsoft is too big for its britches.

[@nicolenims3850]

We will still use Android

[@user-or4ct5ow6b]

lol so they made a "tool" to break into e-mails back ware door mal

[@ciphermkiii]

get Proton.

[@HelenHelgason]

The stocks marketplaces will be closed on earth soonest.

[@sirleo798]

If BlackBerry still made smartphones this wouldn't even have been an issue.

[@global_southerner]

Easy to spy on its employees😂

[@astargmoneynevaendz999]

Pay me More

[@youme1414]

Thanks to Trump for creating tech war and now one of the consequences.

[@MrAdhiSuryana]

Haha Microsoft Didnt they provide backdoor for NSA? 😂 The very reason Whycry attack happened?

[@Greetsfuckers-GamingMain]

Whycry? If you mean WannaCry hack is actually from North Korea.

[@JamJim]

max high

[@coolrip007]

That is not true! i have Microsoft's Auth installed on my Android right now thru the app store, Must be some other Reason! iPhone safer.

[@soniyasinha3496]

🤣

[@YechenWang318]

I use huawei and samsung, apple is not good

[@randybutternub031]

How about no Chinese workers period!

[@vervetech9395]

You want Microsoft to fall? The skilled personnel are in China

[@larryc1616]

Where in China or Silicon valley? It's hard to find high IQ and well educated folks.

[@Zero11_ss]

@@larryc1616 not hard if you pay.

[@shaggydawg5419]

@@Zero11_ss 10x the salary they pay to foreign workers.

[@BruceJ999]

​@@shaggydawg5419Don't blame him,he doesn't understand business.

[@inv8570]

CIA：Our spy software can't working on Chinese smartphone,plz uses IPHONE 😂

[@joele.9110]

Another person who can't pronounce "authentication". She had it right the first time.

[@jacqueslee2592]

To be fair, there is no right way to pronounce anything in English anymore due to its bastardization from globalization. Since English deviated from its germanic roots, English has no standardized way of pronouncing words, even within English speaking countries pronunciation varies between regions. The English spoken in China or East Asia, just like SIngaporean and Indian English, will in itself be its own variation of English.

[@Brightly1122]

And Harmony OS ......Worked !!! Of course microsoft build backdoor for US govt

[@samartz]

Why i love my closed source iphone 😊

[@eastern2western]

Windows phones are so bad that ms does not even want its own employees use windows phones. Ironic?

[@christophlindinger2267]

@@eastern2western there are no windows phones anymore...

[@eastern2western]

@@christophlindinger2267 ms could put its system in any phone.

[@eastern2western]

@@christophlindinger2267 ms can upload its system to any phone.

[@cuteandfunnyearthlings2863]

fair enough and china is get even with USA

[@ArabicReja973]

The US restricts Chinese companies from using cloud service providers like Amazon and Microsoft.

[@jonsupp1744]

moon is not as important as Android

[@charukakavinda2392]

That's why I always buy apple products. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@johnw2799]

capitain cook is lmaoing.

[@antoniorocha9438]

Self claimed freedom country imposing worker not using their own country self manufactured phone in work, what a irony😂😂😂

[@darkalligator]

🤦🏻‍♂️

[@obi-wankenobi5332]

Is she speaking English 😂

[@1esk192]

@@obi-wankenobi5332 why do you ask?

[@AllenSA_Lymangirl]

Microsoft 🥰

[@wongcy713]

And then the Government warn that iPhone not allow near Government offices because of security issues. Henceforth all Microsoft staff will be carrying two phones. Hee hee

[@Q_QQ_Q]

It's about microsoft, not chinese government

[@rwjh3698]

Since when Microsoft work for the ccp

[@tuomaman2888]

And we Europeans need to start using something that is not connected to CIA or Chinese Commubist Party.

[@JonySmith-bb4gx]

I ll trust ccp over CIA

[@tuomaman2888]

@@JonySmith-bb4gx Of course you do!

[@JonySmith-bb4gx]

@@tuomaman2888 yeah that are not CIA . That's why

[@tuomaman2888]

@@JonySmith-bb4gx Yes! Of course!

[@shanghaidiscovery2664]

microsoft authenticator is available on all android phones in China..... If you have a Xiaomi via their app store, samsung the same etc. Even on Huawei app store. so what are they on about?? in fact there are a lot more restriction on using Apple in China as you can only use one app store on iphones

[@user-or4ct5ow6b]

if this true, then it aint about google authenticator at all but there attempt at trying to use devices that can spy. also weird how the story changed from "microsoft developed malware to break into em mals" into "china environment is not safe, we have stuff stolen" This is what journalism has become.

[@prisiliayoung205]

Back to dumb phone