Facilities Smartphone Program

Facilities Services issues smartphones to staff for the primary purposes of supporting asset and work order management and enabling departmental communications.  Devices are issued to  Facilities staff based on role and job requirements.

Use of these devices is governed by by the PPCS Code of Conduct and applicable University and Campus policies including but not limited to the following UC Berkeley Policies:

Limited personal use is allowed per campus policy.

Devices:

Facilities Services currently issues Apple iPhones to staff. FS iPhones are issued with a wall charger and an Otterbox case. The OtterBox has been chosen for its protective qualities against drops and other damage. Please do not substitute any other case - damage to your iPhone not housed in the FS issued Otterbox will be your responsibility and you may be asked to pay for a replacement if your iPhone is damaged.

Device Management

Facilities Services actively manages our iPhones using an application called SimpleMDM. This app allows FS IT to push new apps to your iPhone, push updates to your iPhone, and delete apps that are no longer used in the course of Facilities Services operations. FS IT can use SimpleMDM to locate a lost or stolen FS iPhone and erase its contents. Do not delete the SimpleMDM app from your iPhone; deletion of the SimpleMDM app will result in your iPhone being quarantined and its functionality limited.

SimpleMDM limits the changes you can make to your iPhone. You are allowed to:

  • Rearrange your apps on the home screen

  • Enable Face ID or Touch ID depending on which model of iPhone you have

  • Change your screen lock image and home screen wallpaper

  • Sign into iTunes using your personal AppleID

You cannot:

  • Install apps on your own

  • Change certain settings

It is your responsibility to accept app updates when SimpleMDM attempts to install them

App Update Example

You are also expected to keep your iPhone’s iOS up to date by accepting the updates when offered by Apple’s automatic updates, a push from SimpleMDM, or checking on your own (Settings > General > Software Update > accept the update if offered).

iCloud

You should NOT use your personal iCloud account to sign into your Facilities Services iPhone - If you do, this will mix your personal data with your work data causing confusion for you and a potential violation of UC Berkeley IT policy regarding data privacy. You are allowed to create a separate iCloud account for your work iPhone using your Berkeley email address.

  • FS does not purchase additional iCloud storage for users - it is your responsibility to manage your iCloud/iPhone storage use

  • You do not need to back up your contacts via iCloud, this is done through your bMail account

  • You may back up your photos; be mindful that they use significant storage in your iCloud

  • FS IT may ask you to back up your text messages when migrating to a new iPhone

You are responsible to sign your iPhone out of iCloud when you leave Facilities Services

You are allowed to sign into iTunes with your personal Apple ID. FS does not put apps like Spotify, Pandora, etc. on FS iPhones

iPhone Apps

FS IT manages all apps on your iPhone. There is a baseline group of apps that all FS staff have installed on their iPhones. Depending upon your role, there may be additional apps added to your iPhone.

If there is a specialty app that you need for your work or your workgroup, you can request that app by using the link below. Your request will be reviewed by FS IT and the FS Leadership team and approval will be based on the justification of operational needs, compatibility, licensing, storage and cost requirements

App Authorization Request Form