Dive Brief:

• Google is launching a new enterprise service for businesses that will make it easier for them to adopt Chrome OS devices, according to Tech Crunch. The new Chrome Enterprise subscription will cost $50 per device per year.
• Chrome Enterprise can be helpful for companies because it is compatible with preexisting Microsoft Active Directory infrastructure and works with other enterprise systems. The subscription includes 24/7 enterprise support from Google. 
• The service will allow enterprise users to use existing credentials to log into Chrome OS devices and access Google Cloud services as well as enable IT administrators to manage employee access to those devices and services.

Dive Insight:

Google's Chromebook has dominated digital curricula in education; expectations have further hardware spending reaching $16.2 billion this year. Chromebooks are also popular in retail, and to some respect with SMBs or startups that lack the resources to invest in large IT infrastructure. But they haven’t made much headway in large enterprises yet.

Like Apple, Microsoft and other tech companies, Google wants to make bigger inroads into the enterprise as part of its long-term growth strategy. Chrome has not always work with different systems, so the Chrome Enterprise is designed to fix that problem.  

Google may also be looking to capitalize on the subscription model to help sell its hardware. Earlier this month, Microsoft launched a Hardware as a Service program with its Surface devices, enabling device upgrades every 18 months.