No Android for Obama yet, sticking with BlackBerry

[steve2470]

http://www.zdnet.com/no-android-for-obama-yet-sticking-with-blackberry-7000027597/

?hash=A2L4MzLjMw&upscale=1

It's no secret that BlackBerry is one sick company. Once the very definition of the corporate smartphone, now even BlackBerry's CEO is calling the company's survival a coin-toss. But BlackBerry will continue to have one famous, loyal customer: President Obama.

When the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) recently reported that the White House was testing Samsung and LG Android smartphones for internal use, it looked like Blackberry was going to lose its star customer. Specifically, the WSJ reported that a source had said that the White House Communications Agency, a military unit in charge of President Barack Obama's communications, was in the early stages of testing Android phones.

Some Android lovers took this to mean that Obama was ready to "ditch" the BlackBerry in favor of their favorite mobile operating system.

BlackBerry, in a statement, kept a stiff upper lip: "We value the long-term relationship we’ve had with the White House and have been securing their mobile communications for more than a decade. The U.S. government requires the highest levels of security. Governments test new technologies frequently, but nevertheless the U.S. government continues to choose BlackBerry for its unmatched security and cost effectiveness. Other vendors such as Samsung and LG still have a long way to go to catch up to meet the government’s stringent requirements and certifications."

[yeoman6987]

1. I wonder if he has two phones

On for business (blackberry) and his personal phone which is probably the better choice.

[Recursion]

2. Secret Service hates the Blackberry; there's no way they'd let a Droid in without years of testing

They'd rather he not carry any signaling devices at all.

[onehandle]

3. The rumor that there were considering Android seemed like bullshit.

Apple has been dominating government and military sales because of its far superior security.

BlackBerry is the defacto, because it's limited capability makes it harder to 'infect' etc. iOS and Android are easier to hack for this very reason, iOS less so though.

[astral]

4. In what way do you think BlackBerry has limited capabilities?

I was just searching DU to see what previous BlackBerry discussions there have been. Came upon this one a year old as the most recent. I beg to differ that BlackBerries are less capable, or less fun to have. Aside from the fact the President probably has a specialized version of a BlackBerry, when did he ever say he would rather not "have" to use a BlackBerry?

Sure the companys had troubles, but they do make a great bunch of phones, both the old and new versions.

I am trying to start open discussion here because what BlackBerry needs, in my opinion, is some public knowledge that (a) they are still in business and (b) their phones are kick@$$!

People who check them out for themselves will see what i am talking about.