Android L could bring multi-user support to phones

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Published 7 Aug 2014

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Android L could bring multi-user support to phones

Support for multiple user accounts has been one of the few features that has given Android tablets the upper hand over Apple’s category-defining iPad ever since Android 4.2 was launched last year, and it looks like multi-user support could arrive on Android phones as well, if a recent entry in the Android issue tracker is any indication.

In response to a request to enable multi-user support on phones, a Google developer stated that “the development team has implemented this feature and it will be available as a part of the next public build.” Now, that’s a vague statement and not at all an official confirmation, but it’s a strong hint towards the possibility of Android L breaking the tablet exclusivity for multiple user accounts and making it available to a much larger part of the OS’ user base.

For those who have long been waiting to be able to make separate accounts on their phones, whether as a means to limit what their kids or friends can do when they borrow their smartphone or to separate their work and personal space, this is certainly good news, though it remains to be seen if the feature will be part of the first release of Android L, given it’s not present on the developer preview that Google released for the Nexus 5 and Nexus 7.