While I was hunting for Chrome OS notebooks and tablets in the Chromium Code base, something interesting and fairly new caught my attention. There is a new label called “Enterprise” and fresh bug reports and feature requests.
It’s no secret that Google has strong enterprise plans for Chrome OS. But, here we will look at what is in the making for enterprise admins to deploy and manage Chrome OS devices on their network.
Control Panel – CPanel and Admin Control
Enterprise network admins will have a control panel for managing Chrome OS devices deployed on their networks.I believe that this will have strong integration with Google Apps, their popular offering for enterprises and small businesses.
The New Tab Page
“CPanel for Chrome Service provides a section for the Admin to specify the default Apps, and their order, that will appear on the NTP when the user first signs in. Â The Admin will also specify whether these default Apps are not removable, and whether the user can add other Apps. This policy will be applied to all notebooks equally.”
I can already see some admins smiling at me. Â NTP means “New Tab Page’. Admins will have full control of what shows up here and what can be removed.
Server/Client: Screen Locking Policy.
This is something our network admins have control over, on the microsoft based networks enterprise use now.
“his feature allows an Enterprise Admin to specify the policy for the “Require password to wake from sleep” setting: allow user to configure, lock on idle, never lock on idle.” says a bug.
Mass 3G Activation By Domain
Yes, activating 3G services on company netbooks remotely, in large numbers. Here is what the code base says,
The feature is to provide a way for Enterprise Admin to activate the Network Provider data plans for a set of remote devices, given the MEIDs of the modems installed (or to be installed) in the notebooks.
Note that after the data plan service has been activated, the modem will be automatically activated the next time the user attempts to connect to the Broadband Mobile Network.
Will It Sell ?
Now that it’s clear that Google is busy molding Chrome OS in to an enterprise friendly baby, What is it’s expected rate of success  ?
I say, A LOT !
Yes, iPads are everywhere, but tablets are yet to prove themselves as productivity devices. They are still considered to be more of content consumption and entertainment hubs, well, most of it.
A device with keyboard, and enterprise friendly operating system can mean something cool for companies which are yet doubtful in absorbing tablets in to work spaces.
What do you think ?
I have a friend who works at a large corporation, and he told me that whenever people go to him, asking for the corporation to buy iPads, he basically laughs at them and tells them it would be pointless, since the iPad fails to add any additional functionality, and the organization already has cheaper devices that do more.
(Arguably, some might say the iPad’s touch capability is “an additional functionality.” Yet, how much does it add?)
With a desire for tons of employees to just get their work done, I can see cros devices, equipped with serious admin control panel settings, having some serious appeal. With that said, I still anticipate a lot of enterprise hesitance up front: cros = risk (it’s new/unproven) and change.
Keyboard is vital for most office employees. I just cannot finish my daily works with a touch screen. (That’s why Blackberry is still hot selling despite the popularity of touch devices) I think when compared with tablets, netbooks look more attractive in the eyes of corporate users.
BUT, if we compare cloud-based netbooks with conventional netbooks, I can feel the resistance of accepting the former. Weeks ago Doughbury left a comment in my blog to share his experience of using the Cr-48 in office. The conclusion was “it didn’t work well” due to VPN and security flaw concerns.
I’m positive about Chrome OS but I think the current form of Chrome OS is not yet ready for massive use in enterprises. It needs to be polished, and more web apps with more powerful functions are definitely in need (and I think we’ll finally get to that point). In its current form Chrome OS is the best for home users who usually surf the web.
Hi,
I’m a responsable for the IT in a Business School in Brazil. We’re implemating Google Apps for the Students(Email, Docs, Agenda, Contacts) and Employees(CRM and al the others Apps).
I’m very interest in test this new Admin Panel for Chrome OS. There is a way to do this?
I had other doubts. Some of ours Computers can find any WiFi network with the vanilla Chrome OS. There is a chance that they work some day? Or it will work only with Google selected hardware?
Thanks!
(Sry for the bad english)
The Vanilla builds only work with particular wireless hardware. Many computers come with Broadcom wireless chipsets, and those drivers are proprietary and cannot be built into Vanilla without licensing deals.
Check Hexxeh’s wiki – he has a pretty thorough HCL.
thanks for explaining ! Wrong decision to take Dell netbook for testing purposes, just because it looked better than Samsung netbooks ..
As far as I know, there is no way to test that control panel now. We will have to wait for them to release it ..
the wifi question, Bob has given you the correct answer !
and glad to know that you are fast in adopting to new OS on your school ! and your English isn’t bad at all !!
Thanks for the help, guys!
I will keep following this excelent blog!
bye
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