Device Compatibility
What EMI Guard needs from the phone, honestly stated.
Operating system
EMI Guard runs on Android phones. Device Lock (the force-lock policy) works on Android devices set up as an EMI Guard managed device. Factory Reset Protection specifically needs Android 11 or newer - on older Android versions, device lock still works, but Factory Reset Protection is not available on that phone.
One-time setup
Each device needs a one-time setup at the time of sale: the EMI Guard app is installed and set up as the phone's Device Owner via a QR code scan, right after a factory reset (this is the standard Android Enterprise "managed device" setup, not anything unusual to EMI Guard). This step can't be done later once the phone is already in everyday use with a personal account on it - it has to happen during setup, before the customer starts using the phone.
Internet connection
The device checks in with the server every few minutes while connected to the internet (Wi-Fi or mobile data). It keeps working for a configurable grace period while briefly offline, and is designed to fail open rather than lock a phone due to a connectivity gap.
What EMI Guard does not need
No special hardware or SIM card is required, and the shop does not need to root or modify the phone in any way.