DoD to Approve Government Use of Samsung and Apple Devices, Bad News for BB

BlackBerry has long been the reigning business smartphone due to its high level of security. But now, just when BlackBerry can't afford to fall any farther in the smartphone market, reports are indicating that Samsung and Apple are expected to be granted security approval by the United States Department of Defense.

According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, The Defense Information Systems Agency, which sanctions commercial technology for use in the Pentagon, is expected to approve the Samsung Galaxy line of smartphones with the company's Knox security software, which is in compliance with the agency's Security Technology Implementation Guide. Additionally, Apple devices running iOS 6 are expected to be sanctioned to be used by military agencies for "nonclassified communications."

The approval of Samsung and Apple devices will come as a huge blow for BlackBerry, which has been the only device approved by the Department of Defense and thus, the lone smartphone used by government employees. However, with new security approvals, government employees could opt to update their devices to an Apple iPhone or a Samsung Galaxy device, leaving BlackBerry out in the cold.

Source: WSJ