Business ready smartphones
Cat® phones reliably enable and facilitate business productivity
Android Enterprise Support
Each of the rugged smartphones in the current and previous generations of the Cat phones range support Google’s Android Enterprise (AE) feature set. Using these tools in conjunction with an enterprise mobility management(EMM) solution, businesses can manage the devices used for work by their employees.
Businesses can secure their valuable or sensitive data, ensure devices are set up correctly to maximise utility, and enforce policies to encourage and support employee productivity.
Our devices undergo a suite of Android Enterprise functionality tests, as well as a series of device enrolment and basic policy provisioning testing with leading EMM solutions. These include:
Easy Android Enterprise enrolment
Cat smartphones include support for various Android Enterprise enrolment methods, including EMM tokens, QR codes, and NFC.
Every Cat smartphone, launched from 2018 onwards, also support Google zero-touch device enrolment.
Zero-touch compatible smartphones allow devices to be registered to customer’s organisation by participating channel partners and preconfigured remotely. That means that when they are powered on they are set up automatically, hugely reducing the time and resource needed from businesses’ device admins that no longer need to manually set up each device before it can be used.
Ongoing support
Cat phones support our customer’s devices in several important ways. These include:
- Software updates and security patches
- Customer support and aftersales care
- Warranty-cover
Software updates and security patches
Cat phones issues software updates and maintenance releases for its devices to add new features, fix bugs, improve performance or stability of various features, or to update Android.
The security patch schedule is as follows:
Model | Cover | Cadence | Start of Coverage | SMR Cover Until | ESMR Cover Until |
Cat S62 Pro |
3 years | Quarterly (~90 days) SMRs for 2 years, then ad-hoc ESMR cover for 1 further year | September 2020 | August 2022 | August 2023 |
Cat S52 |
2 years | Quarterly (~90 days) SMRs for 2 years | November 2019 | October 2021 | October 2021* |
Cat S42 |
3 years | Quarterly (~90 days) SMRs for 2 years, then ad-hoc ESMR cover for 1 further year | August 2020 | July 2022 | July 2023 |
Coverage dates represent current plan of record. Subject to change, based on engineering or commercial factors. *may be extended
Android OS updates
Android version updates are planned for each of the following devices:
- Cat S62 Pro, from Android 10 to Android 11
- Cat S52, from Android 9 to Android 10 (underway)
- Cat S42, from Android 10 to Android 11
These updates will be delivered as an over-the-air download. Their timing is dependent on a large number of factors, including engineering challenges around component compatibility and feature performance.
Aftersales and warranty-cover
Cat phones are rigorously tested to meet exacting rugged credentials, and those credentials are backed by an extensive warranty. Devices that incur physical damage or water ingress, for example, in normal use – without being misused or abused – can be repaired or replaced under the Cat phones extensive warranty. Cat phones operates an extensive repair centre network, with local support in over 20 countries.
Warranties are typically multi-year, but vary by geography. Please check the device warranty card included in the box with your Cat phone to establish coverage and eligibility.
A huge apps and solutions ecosystem
Cat smartphones run the Android operating system, with Google mobile services. This ensures Cat smartphones can be used with millions of different apps and software solutions built to work with the world’s leading mobile OS.
That includes any custom-developed apps used within your organisation – as Cat phones present a standard Google Android experience, apps developed using the standard Google development tools should work without issue.
Preloaded apps
Cat phones Android devices come with a limited number of preloaded apps. These include the Google mobile services app suite, that includes valuable apps such as Google Maps with free global turn-by-turn navigation, Gmail with in-built Microsoft Exchange and Office 365 support, Duo for video calling, and Keep for note taking.
Cat phones also come preloaded with OfficeSuite from MobiSystems, so out of the box you can create, open, edit and share Microsoft Office-compatible document and files.
The Cat S42 and Cat S62 Pro come with OnGuard Solo auto-installed. This sophisticated lone worker safety solution offers free use of tools to help notify colleagues or other emergency contacts if you are in danger or fail to respond to a check-in prompt. Premium features include automated ‘man-down’ fall detection, and access to supervisory dashboards for managing the safety of teams of workers.
Relevant app discovery
Each Cat smartphone includes the Google Play store that contains a safe and ever-growing catalogue of applications to make your device work for you.
To aid better app discovery, Cat phones also offer a unique Toolbox app catalog that acts as an alternative storefront for Google Play, presenting a curated selection of high-quality apps and content that are relevant to our users in an alternative, easy-to-navigate categorised listing.
Programmable key and PTT
Several Cat phones devices include a yellow programmable physical button on the side of the device. This can be set to perform a simple action such as waking the device or turning on the flashlight on a long press or double tap. Or, it can be used to open a regularly used application on the device – perfect for providing quick access to business apps.
Alternatively, it can be set to push-to-talk (PTT) mode, and through various PTT solutions, configured to function as a walkie-talkie button. During initial set up, Cat phones users are offered Zello as an optional install. Zello offers a high-quality, free and easy-to-use, push-to-talk service, with enterprise features also available. Other PTT solutions are available from Google Play and from solution providers directly.