At InfoComm 2025, long-time industry analysts David Danto and Dave Michels captured the mood perfectly: “This is the MDEP Show.”
That wasn’t just commentary—it was a declaration. The centerpiece of this year’s event was Microsoft’s expansion of the Microsoft Device Ecosystem Platform (MDEP) into a whole new domain: digital signage.
MDEP, the hardened Android-based platform that powers Microsoft Teams Rooms devices, is now stepping into signage—with the same promise of security, manageability, and lifecycle control that enterprises already trust. This is a game-changer for IT leaders, AV integrators, and signage solution providers alike.
🚧 The Challenge: Android’s Fragmentation in the Enterprise
Android has long been popular for digital signage due to its flexibility and low cost. But in the enterprise, it comes with serious challenges:
- A fragmented OS landscape with no consistent update path
- Limited integration with enterprise security tools
- OEMs customizing Android builds in unsupported ways
- Inconsistent device behaviors and vulnerabilities
Even Microsoft initially hesitated and was cautious about embracing Android for Teams Rooms, precisely because the Android devices lacked a secure, manageable foundation.
That concern is exactly what led to the birth of MDEP—a tightly managed, enterprise-grade Android platform that brings Microsoft’s security and lifecycle standards to Android-based devices.
📣 Now in Preview: MDEP for Digital Signage
At InfoComm 2025, Microsoft formally announced that MDEP is entering its “Preview” phase for digital signage.
IAdea’s XMP-8552 media player was shown running as a preview on the floor—powering interactive and non-interactive signage experiences with:
- ✅ Secure OS foundation
- ✅ Support for Microsoft services
- ✅ Consistent patching and centralized device management
- ✅ Rapid onboarding for CMS and workplace experience apps
It’s the same platform proven in collaboration spaces, now extended to lobbies, kiosks, factory floors, and anywhere else signage belongs.
🧩 Led by IAdea, Powered by Partners
IAdea is honored to be Microsoft’s lead partner in this initiative, bringing 20 years of signage expertise to bear on this new enterprise category.
In collaboration with:
- Appspace – workplace experience software powering room scheduling and internal comms
- Planon – facilities and space management apps for the hybrid office
…we’ve created turnkey solutions that demonstrate the future of signage—secure, smart, and ready for scale.
🚀 We’re calling on interested end users, CMS providers, and workplace experience platforms to engage with us. If you want to explore how MDEP signage can fit into your ecosystem, we’d love to hear from you.
Reach out to us at IAdea to get involved in the Preview phase and help shape what comes next.
🔎 Why This Is a Game-Changer
This announcement marks a turning point for digital signage in the enterprise. With MDEP, Microsoft is finally solving the platform problem for enterprise IT and security by:
- Delivering a consistent OS for signage and collaboration devices
- Offering full integration with Microsoft’s security and management tools
- Giving IT teams a unified approach to lifecycle and compliance
- Creating a clear path for CMS vendors to build on a stable foundation
It’s not just about new screens. It’s about creating a sustainable, secure, and scalable signage platform—aligned with the same tools and policies already used to manage the enterprise’s most critical collaboration endpoints.
In the words of Yoav Barzilay, Microsoft Sr. Program Manager:
“We’re setting the stage for a future-ready solution. We’re working with partners like IAdea, Appspace, and Planon to bring this vision to life.”
💬 Final Takeaway: The MDEP Era Has Arrived
If you’re in signage, workplace tech, or device deployment, InfoComm 2025 was your wake-up call. Microsoft is extending MDEP beyond collaboration into signage, and it’s happening now.
The MDEP Preview is here. IAdea is leading. If you’re a CMS provider or enterprise end user—this is your chance to shape the future of signage with Microsoft.
