The Pentagon is expected to clear mobile devices manufactured by Apple, Samsung and BlackBerry for its staff within a few weeks after finalising all the security-related matters and reviewing performance of these devices. The move comes in line with the Defense Department’s aim of giving its staff an easy access to all the smartphone devices and tablets.
It takes some time for the Pentagon to approve any device for the use of staff because it has to take care of a number of security measures and ensure that the device would not compromise or risk any security issue. Reuters quoted Lieutenant Colonel Damien Pickart, a Pentagon spokesman, as saying:
“We are working towards establishing a multi-vendor environment that supports a variety of devices and operating systems, to include Samsung, Apple and BlackBerry. A key objective of the plan is to establish a department-wide mobile enterprise solution that permits the use of the latest commercial technology such, as smartphones and tablets.”
According to Reuters, there are about 600,000 users of smartphones, tablets and other such devices at the Pentagon. The Defense Department currently has around 470,000 BlackBerry users, 41,000 Apple users and 8,700 Android users.
At present, some devices are under review and the department is expected to come up with a nod within a couple of weeks.
Meanwhile, Maj. Gen. Robert E. Wheeler, the department’s deputy chief information officer for command, control, communications and computers and information infrastructure, has said that the department has taken some measures to ensure its staff are able to access data any time anywhere.
The department is conducting many pilot projects in this regard. One of them is aimed at providing ease to the pilots who generally have to carry paper manuals and maps when they fly. As per the new measures, these pilots will be able to access all the data on a device that will reduce the weigh on the aircraft as well as provide support to the pilot. Wheeler said:
“You carry all that on a tablet, … you think of the fuel savings. You think of the ability to update on a commercial site. … It was a big money savings for us.”
Photo: TravelOrders
Google Now Available for iOS Devices
Renowned Technologist and Blogger Robert Scoble says he “Will Never Live a Day of” His Life Without Google Glass
Lunches So Good Kids Can’t Ignore Them
Invigorating Ginger Smoothie
The U.K.’s Youngest Parents Ever
The new hair Jennifer Lawrence