Google is scaling up two of its core productivity tools this week. First, the tech behemoth is bringing end-to-end encryption to mobile Gmail for both Android and iOS smartphones. Simultaneously, the firm is quietly ushering Google Meet onto Android Auto. Though attentive expert eyes note that both rollouts carry notable strings attached that could leave their most eager adopters underwhelmed.
On Friday, Google confirmed that end-to-end encryption is coming to Gmail on Android and iOS for enterprise users. Now, Workspace emails that need more security precautions can be handled right inside the Gmail app without extra exposure while bouncing to and fro between third-party tools or mail portals. The underlying mechanism is client-side encryption, meaning the raw data never touches Google’s servers.
The experience is designed to feel invisible. Users can enable encryption while composing a message by selecting the lock icon and choosing additional encryption, then write messages and add attachments as usual. If the recipient uses the Gmail app, the encrypted message will be delivered as a typical email thread to their inbox. If the recipient doesn’t have the Gmail app, they can read and reply in their own native browser.
The catch is there and it’s a steep one. The feature requires a Google Workspace Enterprise Plus plan with an Assured Controls or Assured Controls Plus add-on. Personal Gmail accounts do not qualify. Admins will also need to manually enable the Android and iOS clients in the CSE admin interface before users can see the new lock icon in their apps.
On the Android Auto front, Google Meet is now beginning to reach drivers’ dashboards so you can join meetings while commuting or traveling between appointments, but it too arrives with a notable gap. Not long after Apple CarPlay, Google Meet is now making its way to Android Auto, though it doesn’t support work accounts yet, which seems like a big oversight.
Google’s pop-up for the feature describes that users can “check your schedule” and “join calls” from their car’s display, joining instantly to help stay focused on the road. For safety, video is turned off during calls, and features such as Hand Raise, Q&A, and Polls are disabled. Only call info and controls are visible, not presentations or other participants.
The work account restriction is the most glaring issue. Google explicitly confirms that work profile accounts aren’t supported in Meet on Android Auto. Active calls will still appear on the display, but upcoming meetings and call history will not show. This is a puzzling limitation given that most people who would find value in a Google Meet app on their car’s display would be those using work accounts in the first place.
Taken together, both updates reflect Google’s push to make its Workspace tools more mobile and road-ready, but in each case, the enterprise users they’re primarily designed for will find themselves bumping up against real-world restrictions, at least for now.
