Centrally managed launcher application for Android-based MDM solution with re-branding capabilities

Abstract

Mobile Device Management (MDM) is gaining popularity among businesses and large organizations as it allows for improved integration of that organization’s IT environment, while preserving user’s or employee’s ability to personalize the device within the organization’s guidelines. However, despite there being demand for it, there is no solution available that provides mobile devices to end users with a customized User Interface (UI), branded after the organization owning it. That is the problem this solution aims to solve - to provide a fully cloud-managed service with a customized user interface on the Android platform. Customization of the UI is achieved through a Launcher Application, while mobile management itself is utilizing Samsung KNOX technology, available on most Samsung smart devices.

This thesis focuses on designing and implementing a set of components to enable robust remote configuration of the launcher’s UI. Configuration is transported in JSON format, and a cloud-based platform can be used to generate this configuration file, which is then delivered to the MDM platform. Organization IT admins are, therefore, given full control to enforce not only security policies, preventing unauthorized usage of devices, but they can also customize the end user experience and to ensure that organization’s visual identity is appropriately represented during usage. This platform has shown to be of interest to hotel chains, restaurants, schools, libraries and other organizations that wish to rent mobile devices for a limited time to the public, allowing short term use in public places, but preserving user’s privacy, while promoting company’s identity at the same time.