Android has struggled to make inroads in the enterprise market so far, but Google isn’t about to throw in the towel just yet. Rumors emerged yesterday that the search giant is teaming up with Hewlett-Packard Co. to develop a business-oriented version of Google Now to help workers access company data quickly and easily via their smartphones.

The report comes from The Information, which says Google has been exploring the idea of using Google Now as a corporate tool for some time. Google Now for business would work in the same fashion as the standard Google Now, but instead of searching the phone or the web, it would sift through company data to pull up answers. Employees would be able to quickly access corporate things like financial reports just by asking their phone.

An interesting tidbit from the report mentions HP’s ongoing struggles to get any kind of foothold in the mobile market. Apparently, HP floated the idea of an Android Nexus tablet aimed at business users, with it providing enterprise-specific software and security features. Those talks hit a brick wall, but at least now it has a foot in the Android door. The project isn’t set in stone just yet, and it’s not entirely clear what HP’s role would be, but the company’s strong foothold in the enterprise market would presumably help Google Now for business make some inroads.

HP and Google have been discussing Android for business ideas several times over the last 12 months. Indeed, their talks are said to predate Apple Computer, Inc.’s blockbuster enterprise deal with IBM that’s aimed at “transforming enterprise mobility”. The Information says that HP also held discussions with Apple about a “Siri for enterprise”, but was turned down in favor of its partnership with Big Blue.

With Apple threatening to lock-in enterprise mobile users, it’s clear that Google has to do something to make Android more attractive to large businesses. Google Now is one of the few features that Apple currently can’t match.

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