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Pentagon to order 650,000 iOS devices, replace aging BlackBerries
Update: In an exchange with Wired, Lt. Col. Damien Pickart dismissed the notion that the DoD is replacing its existing BlackBerry devices, though he didn't outright deny that the department is looking to order a large quantity of iOS devices.
Speaking with "well-placed sources," Electronista says that the US Department of Defense is preparing to update its mobile gear, abandoning BlackBerry in the process.
About 470,000 BlackBerry devices are reportedly in daily use at the Pentagon, but none of them can tap into the new BlackBerry 10 operating system, leaving them obsolete.
Unfortunately for the Canadian phone maker, the sequester is said to have prevented testing of the new platform, for which funding has been cut and may not be resorted.
Instead, the DoD is supposedly going to order 650,000 iOS devices from Apple as soon as the sequester is over, allegedly saying that "some of the needs can't wait."
Of the more than half a million products ordered from Apple, Electronista's sources say that 120,000 will be iPads, 100,000 will be iPad minis, 200,000 will be iPod touches and the last 210,000 units will be various iPhones. No specific models were shared, but the DoD may not even have that information itself until after the sequester. It's said that more than half of the devices will be sent abroad to the battlefield and associated support commands, while most of the rest will remain in the US at the Pentagon.
The purchase would come as part of the DoD's initiative to improve communications between its staff by using the latest software which, again, probably isn't compatible with the aging pre-BlackBerry 10 gear. Although any major Apple order by the DoD could be considered a blow to BlackBerry, Lt. Col. Damien Pickart has previously noted that the department will be replacing its old mobile equipment with hardware and software from multiple vendors, so BlackBerry 10 could still be on the table pending funding.
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User Comments: 8
Got something to say? Post a comment-
Being the DoD you would have thought they would be smart enough to create there own phone that is military grade to keep all secret stuff secret :L
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3 people like this |
When I think of idevices, I picture hipsters playing angrybirds.
Good image for the DoD...
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1 person liked this |
Waste of money., what else is there to say??
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2 people like this |
Unfortunately your 'article' lacks journalistic integrity and substantiation.
Luckily, there is substantiation against it straight from the source:
[link]
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1 person liked this |
What could they possible need Ipods for or ipad minis for? Seriously? What a huge ******* waste of money...
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1 person liked this |
Wow, talk about poor reporting job. Ever hear of checking your resources first??? This article by Electronista is already been refuted by the DoD and they have already issued a statement to clarify their position. Do us a favor and update your article and report the truth and not someone elses made up stuff. See article [link] and use google as well maybe.
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To all those whining about article inaccuracy... stop your crying, this is not the Wall Street Journal or New York Times, errors happen. Deal with it.
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1 person liked this |Wow, talk about poor reporting job. Ever hear of checking your resources first??? This article by Electronista is already been refuted by the DoD and they have already issued a statement to clarify their position. Do us a favor and update your article and report the truth and not someone elses made up stuff. See article [link] and use google as well maybe.Part of Techspot News' charm is its inaccuracy...:p For example, this thread would have led to a massive Apple flame-in. Those are a lot more fun than run of the mill Pentagon denials....
Then there's the whole "participant humiliation factor", when you find out you've been arguing the wrong side of a false article..
I never let silly things like that bother me though, I get right back up on the TS news bucking horse and holler, "open the gate"....!!!
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