Using your own (Android) phone for business/corporate -- how well does it work?

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So, I currently have an old iphone through work and an even older Oneplus One as my own phone. I've had my personal number for donkeys, don't want to change it. Also don't want my personal/work numbers getting mixed up. I currently need my iphone to manage a platform whilst on the move (it's iOS only) however in the new year that may not be necessary.

A colleague in the IT department let me know that now we've implemented Airwatch, users can elect to use their Android devices as their work phone also. So, in theory this sounds great. Get a dual-sim phone, run Outlook+calendar for work, Gmail+calendar for personal. But how well does this work in reality? Does anyone use an Android phone for corporate use? Exchange server, the works? Airwatch even? I don't like handing over control of my phone to my company (with Airwatch) but to be honest it'd be worth it to not have to carry around two phones...

I guess my question is more about how nicely they all play together. Two lots of contacts, emails, calendars. Is it just a drag or is it quite simple?

(The other benefit would be free data roaming on my work sim, worldwide )

 

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I've always been dubious of BYOD and having work MDM policies applied to my personal device and I've kept 2 devices where needed for this reason.

Yeah. I had a quick look at Airwatch reviews on the Play store and they are quite funny. But it's the sort of thing that bad admins could make terrible for the end user though. Or the sort of thing end-users would just complain about anyway. I know my company forces a fair amount of apps down your throat with Airwatch but as long as it's not a battery drain...

As for them being able to wipe my phone. Hmn I dunno. All of my main important stuff is backed up to Google anyway. Gmail, Calendar, Photos, Drive etc. If some numpty wiped my phone out of the blue I'd be ****** but it wouldn't be the end of the world -- I think!

 

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Do you get any extra battery drain from running say Outlook and Gmail (plus both calendars). Surely if Outlook and everything is on push, you shouldn't really...? How does Contacts on dual Sims work? How do I separate Exchange (and saved) work contacts from my personal ones?

 

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Thanks for the info stoofa. I don't think ours will be locked down that much -- I know they use it to enforce security paramaters on devices (pin on etc.) but I can't imagine they block any apps. If you don't mind I'd love to hear anyone's experience from your workplace on how Airwatch affects the phone.

 

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Any performance/battery issues from Airwatch?

 

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I've got a user on an iPhone 8 who says it works really well. No real performance issues, however he has noticed that the device is using a lot of data when he's away from WiFi. I must admit I've never checked to see how much data is being used as my work phone has a work SIM and thus I don't care

Ha, well one of the benefits would certainly be my global unlimited data work SIM Mind you I only pay £10/month for my Giffgaff personal SIM. Can't see me finding much cheaper than that! Does anyone even do no-data SIMs?