[Man@Arms]

Thoughts on this?

"White House tests Samsung, LG phones, dealing blow to BlackBerry $BBRY"
The White House is testing smartphones from Samsung and LG for internal use, threatening one of the last and most high-profile strongholds of BlackBerry.


BlackBerry Suffers Blow as White House Tests Samsung, LG Phones - WSJ.com

Inevitable. I came across a couple of very misleading headlines referring to this late last night/very early this morning. Due to the tardiness of BlackBerry's evolution, this was and has been happening. Majority of it all is testing. To an extant we have seen for many reasons the adaption to Android and iOS in the military and government.

[whatsever]

They allready testing samsung for at least 16 months now so what is the big deal, they also tested ipad and Iphone's. I still don't know why the keep testing android OS because it's the worst OS for malware apps, I don't like apple but at least they have lesses malware/virus and it's a more clossed ecosystem that open android.

So why they still testing google android is a riddle for life but blackberry allready is the best secure platform since 10 years and why throw that all away and touchscreen is touchscreen and all phone's are doing the same.
Email, browsing and socail media and that is enought and Blackberry has a high data secure use also
without BES. Blackberry is als the best phone for sociale media thanks to the hub and the great virtual keyboard.

[amjass12]

Just sharing the article guys, don't shoot the messenger with "Don't care", "Why post such articles".

But it wouldn't be a crackberry thread without it

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[co4nd]

This is the first splash to chum the water, testing devices to make sure the can back up a threat. I imagine sometime later this year blackberry CEO gets a secret call, want to continue to sell to the US Gov, then give the NSA a back door and be very hush hush about it. Otherwise we'll abandon you completely.

[ALToronto]

Will the WSJ write an article when the NSA determines that Samsung and LG phones are not sufficiently secure for the White House? Somehow I doubt it...

In any event, I don't think such testing will ever stop. New phones are coming out, even the Android OS is improving, and BB needs to be on its toes all the time. Maybe eventually there will be a sufficiently secure version of Android, and then BB will have to offer something on top of security. Remaining on top in any category is far tougher than getting there.

[Tre Lawrence]

They allready testing samsung for at least 16 months now so what is the big deal, they also tested ipad and Iphone's. I still don't know why the keep testing android OS because it's the worst OS for malware apps, I don't like apple but at least they have lesses malware/virus and it's a more clossed ecosystem that open android.

So why they still testing google android is a riddle for life but blackberry allready is the best secure platform since 10 years and why throw that all away and touchscreen is touchscreen and all phone's are doing the same.
Email, browsing and socail media and that is enought and Blackberry has a high data secure use also
without BES. Blackberry is als the best phone for sociale media thanks to the hub and the great virtual keyboard.

Android OS comes in different flavors. In other words, the version they are testing may not be the ones consumers have access to.

Did you know select Android devices have FIPS certs? The additional flexibility of the OS makes it attractive to entities with the money to tweak it.

[AnimalPak200]

Look at it this way, if they never tested and considered alternatives, then everyone just chalks up BlackBerry's stronghold to "a slowly adapting big government, that is out of touch with the world."

However, if they test and they still decide to stay with BlackBerry... then that says quite a bit about all parties involved, solidifying BlackBerry's claim to fame.

Now... if they test and ditch BlackBerry (which is what this whole thing is framed as), then that's pretty bad for BlackBerry.

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[VR6]

http://www.siliconbeat.com/2014/03/2...a-white-house/

Jumped the gun WSJ...it's all for the shorts

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[cdw5510]

It's a article for now. Every company tries new products for cost cutting thing. We all know people on govt have a droid or iphone. Duh.

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[anon(832122)]

Android OS comes in different flavors. In other words, the version they are testing may not be the ones consumers have access to.

Did you know select Android devices have FIPS certs? The additional flexibility of the OS makes it attractive to entities with the money to tweak it.

I am actually surprised that they haven't already created a more secure custom ROM with whatever level of security they wish. Since it's open source they are free to customize their own version of it (assuming that they would not be allowing GOOGLE apps anyway).

[VR6]

I am actually surprised that they haven't already created a more secure custom ROM with whatever level of security they wish. Since it's open source they are free to customize their own version of it (assuming that they would not be allowing GOOGLE apps anyway).

Well in the same vein why do ppl want iPhone for? Apps? Just write custom BlackBerry government apps instead of IOS apps.

Unless of course ppl want to play the latest version of Angry Birds on their government device. Because that's probably it. Ppl are using it for other non-secured purposes.

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[raino]

Yes, product placement in a fictional show is indicative of real live all the time. Well spotted.

You must have a short attention span, for you clearly missed the

Android OS comes in different flavors. In other words, the version they are testing may not be the ones consumers have access to.

Did you know select Android devices have FIPS certs? The additional flexibility of the OS makes it attractive to entities with the money to tweak it.

They're testing Samsung devices, right? Most likely Galaxy?

Replicant developers find and close Samsung Galaxy backdoor — Free Software Foundation — working together for free software

[amjass12]

Well in the same vein why do ppl want iPhone for? Apps? Just write custom BlackBerry government apps instead of IOS apps.

Unless of course ppl want to play the latest version of Angry Birds on their government device. Because that's probably it. Ppl are using it for other non-secured purposes.

Posted via CB10

Angry birds has been pretty good to blackberry. Completely of topic, but just saying. We need more developers like the peeps at rovio

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[allengeorge]

It's bad for BlackBerry.

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[Superfly_FR]

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama isn't giving up his BlackBerry � at least not for now.


The White House is shooting down the notion that Obama's device is caught up in a pilot program designed to transition away from BlackBerry smartphones.

The pilot program is being carried out by the White House Communications Agency. It's part of the Defense Department and is responsible for making sure Obama has communications capabilities wherever he goes.
But White House spokesman Jay Carney says the Executive Office of the President isn't participating in any pilot programs affecting their hand-held devices.

Let's talk about it again in a few Quarters, undoubtfully. Yet, let's stay calm for now.
Thank you, good nite

[vrud]

I am actually surprised that they haven't already created a more secure custom ROM with whatever level of security they wish. Since it's open source they are free to customize their own version of it (assuming that they would not be allowing GOOGLE apps anyway).

Then it will not be an android device.
The beauty of android OS is that it is highly configurable/customizeable, similar to Linux.
If you strip out all those nice things then what's the purpose of switching devices if they can't run many apps.

[vrud]

IMO, they must do smartphone comparison on some regular basis (yearly?).
You don't think that they rejected iPhone for the president by reading forums like this (even though many specialists here claim that BB is not more secure than competitors)? The department must perform their own testing in order to make a constructive decision.

So, this is just a routine check - what if android got security from the last testing?

[melb_me]

Most likely being pushed by John McCain. Probably a Party Poker App he can not get on Blackberry.

[propeller10]

It's bad for BlackBerry.

Posted via CB10

It's bad for BlackBerry if and only if they find Android to be more secure.

[VR6]

Angry birds has been pretty good to blackberry. Completely of topic, but just saying. We need more developers like the peeps at rovio

Posted via CB10

Very true, thx Rovio

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