In a bid to let its employers get access to the most advanced and latest communication technology, Pentagon is expected to allow the use of Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (LON:BC94) (KRX:005930) and Research In Motion Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY) (TSE:BB) mobile devices in the defense department networks from next week, reports Reuters.
There will be staggering competition among the smartphone users of Research In Motion Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY) (TSE:BB), Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s iPhones or iPads and those using the Google’s Android operating system supporting smartphones like Samsung. At present, there are around 600,000 users in the Pentagon using the smartphones, computer tablets and various other mobile devices.
Currently the Pentagon has a total of 470,000 devices in use from Research In Motion Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY) (TSE:BB), 41000 users rely on Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) devices for their communication needs and 8,700 employees use Android powered devices. Mostly Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) and Android systems are used by the pilot or test programs.
“We are working towards establishing a multi-vendor environment that supports a variety of devices and operating systems, to include Samsung, Apple and BlackBerry,” said Lieutenant Colonel Damien Pickart, a Pentagon spokesman.
The Pentagon is trying to establish a mobile enterprise solution across all departments that will allow users to use the latest commercial technology like smartphones and tablets, according to Damien Pickart.
Pickart further gave information that various mobile devices, as well as operating systems, are undergoing security reviews and tests, in order to secure approval with the Defense Information Systems Agency.
The devices will be ordered by the Pentagon Organization after the Pentagon completes the process of creating a STIG, or Security Technical Implementation Guide. The devices are required to have the specific security configurations needed for use in the Defense Department’s internal networks. Pickart also said that the Knox version of Android is undergoing a security review at present, and the results will come out in the next two weeks.
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s iO6 will also be reviewed fully starting of May. Smartphone player Blackberry has submitted its security plans for the Blackberry 10, BlackBerry PlayBook and BlackBerry Device Service and a decision over those is expected to come in two weeks.
Major General Robert Wheeler, deputy chief information officer, stated that the process of reviewing the Pentagon’s mobile devices, wireless infrastructure and mobile applications are “reliable, secure and flexible enough to keep up with the fast-changing technologies of today.”
