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The Pentagon is looking to allow its staff to use any device they fancy with plans to open its network to Apple iPhones and Android devices. As part of this, the Defense Department will hire a contractor to build a system that will manage and secure at least 162,500 Android and iOS smartphones and tablets, and the system may be further expanded to handle 8 million devices.
According to a document posted online October 22, this would present a “significant step towards delivering a secure mobile communications capability,” taking advantage of the “increasing wireless capabilities that exist and that are developing in the marketplace.”
In other words, Pentagon staff will be able to use a smartphone they like, not just BlackBerrys, which are already used on the Pentagon’s network. And yes, it’s another blow to the Canadian company, which has clung to government business as an area of strength.
The Pentagon’s Defense Information Systems Agency plans to award the mobile device management contract to a single company by April. Bids are due November 27.
[Via: WashingtonPost]
About The Author
Dusan Belic
Dusan has been using smartphones since their introduction and is now following the latest trends in the industry. The "convergence" is what he's most excited about, and writing about it is the next logical thing to do. He thinks that using a smartphone is what everyone who cares about their time should do. In addition to his interests in mobile phones, Dusan also loves to experiment with the latest web and mobile 2.0 services. The idea of accessing and managing your information from any device no matter where you are simply amazes him. Whether it's an online to-do list, note taking service or a video sharing social network, he's there to try it out. He admits though, he's still searching for the ultimate web-based organizational tool, which "sings" perfectly with the mobile PIM application. Dusan used to run SymbianWatch.com which later became part of IntoMobile. He lives in Serbia, South-East Europe, from where he edits the site on a daily basis.
