Army rolls out proprietary app marketplace

Posted:
in General Discussion edited January 2014


The U.S. Army on Friday launched a custom mobile app marketplace to deliver handset and tablet applications through the web to military personnel who have access to iOS devices.



The Army Software Marketplace prototype currently features 12 mobile training applications, available (iOS devices required) for download on iOS devices only, that are the direct result of the Connecting Soldiers to Digital Apps (CSDA) initiative.



Army CSDA Director Brig. Gen. Wayne Grigsby Jr. said that the marketplace is an information delivery tool designed to distribute training material to soldiers at "the point of learning."



When the marketplace leaves the prototype phase and becomes a fully-functioning product, it will be able to deliver web-based downloadable apps that can be used in the Army's Common Operating Environment on the Army network.



"This prototype is a first step in establishing and exercising new submission and approval processes that will eventually enable Army members, organizations and third-party developers to release applications for Army-wide distribution," said Lt. Gen. Susan Lawrence, Army Chief Information Officer/G-6.





Screenshot of the Army Software Marketplace. | Source: Army.mil







At present, the marketplace only offers web-based iOS apps, though Android support is expected in the near future. No mention was made as to the development of apps native to iOS or any other mobile platform.



Examples of apps available now include the Soldiers Blue Book, Army Values and the Army Social Media Handbook.



[ View article on AppleInsider ]

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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 48
    It sounds like the army is using the iOS device like a Kindle reader. WTF?
  • Reply 2 of 48
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Macky the Macky View Post


    It sounds like the army is using the iOS device like a Kindle reader. WTF?



    Don't underestimate the US Army... In the mid 1980s they installed the most advanced 68000-based LAN workstations available -- for Officer Training...



    In the US military, the Army leads the way...



  • Reply 3 of 48
    libdemlibdem Posts: 36member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Macky the Macky View Post


    It sounds like the army is using the iOS device like a Kindle reader. WTF?



    And you know this why?
  • Reply 4 of 48
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by libdem View Post


    And you know this why?



    I read the frickin' story.
  • Reply 5 of 48
    2oh12oh1 Posts: 503member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Dick Applebaum View Post


    Don't underestimate the US Army... In the mid 1980s they installed the most advanced 68000-based LAN workstations available -- for Officer Training...



    I'm not an army guy by any means... but two things the U.S. army doesn't lack: money and talent. And that's as it should be. If the army is finding uses for iOS, I think that's awesome. If only the space program were as well funded.
  • Reply 6 of 48
    Apple is letting the army have it's own app store. However, any country the U.S. invades will have a government put in place where only Apple products are to be used and 30% of the GDP will be sent to Apple.
  • Reply 7 of 48
    A connected Army via it's own app store is a win-win situation. More jobs for American developers, a better trained military, enhanced recruiting for the cyberwar, validation of the superiority of Apple's products and ecosystem and expansion of Apple's capital investment stateside.



    Without the military we'd all be speaking German and their likely would be no Apple. A good deal for Apple and the military is a win-win situation for America.
  • Reply 8 of 48
    bigpicsbigpics Posts: 1,397member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by GadgetCanada View Post


    Apple is letting the army have it's own app store. However, any country the U.S. invades will have a government put in place where only Apple products are to be used and 30% of the GDP will be sent to Apple.



    That's wicked, but funny....

    +5
  • Reply 9 of 48
    MarvinMarvin Posts: 15,309moderator
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by GadgetCanada View Post


    Apple is letting the army have it's own app store.



    If these are web-based downloadable apps as in web apps, Apple doesn't restrict where they are hosted as they are effectively just web pages that can be used offline (HTML + Javascript).
  • Reply 10 of 48
    asdasdasdasd Posts: 5,686member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Marvin View Post


    If these are web-based downloadable apps as in web apps, Apple doesn't restrict where they are hosted as they are effectively just web pages that can be used offline (HTML + Javascript).



    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Macky the Macky View Post


    It sounds like the army is using the iOS device like a Kindle reader. WTF?



    The enterprise distribution model allows an enterprise to distribute native iOS apps. That is what you see here.
  • Reply 11 of 48
    wurm5150wurm5150 Posts: 763member
    Are these NATIVE APPS? Or HTML5?
  • Reply 12 of 48
    markbyrnmarkbyrn Posts: 661member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by asdasd View Post


    The enterprise distribution model allows an enterprise to distribute native iOS apps. That is what you see here.



    Exactly and for more information, Apple has a very easy to follow instruction guide - see:



    http://www.apple.com/business/accele...tribution.html



    I guess because the US Army followed the guide that Apple provided for business app development, the pundits are going to bloviate that Apple must have done something special for them.
  • Reply 13 of 48
    mdriftmeyermdriftmeyer Posts: 7,503member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Macky the Macky View Post


    I read the frickin' story.



    That's the problem. Perhaps you should contact someone in the Enterprise Group working on the iOS deployments in the US Military before make an informed comment.
  • Reply 14 of 48
    stelligentstelligent Posts: 2,680member
    Marketplace? That's not quite an appropriate term in this instance?
  • Reply 15 of 48
    jragostajragosta Posts: 10,473member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by stelligent View Post


    Marketplace? That's not quite an appropriate term in this instance?



    Marketplace-gate.....
  • Reply 16 of 48
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Mightymike View Post




    Without the military we'd all be speaking German and their likely would be no Apple. A good deal for Apple and the military is a win-win situation for America.



    Without Stalin, we would have lost. By your logic, without Stalin, there would be no Apple. Of course, without Red China, there would be no Apple as we know it either. I guess Apple owes a huge debt of gratitude to the commies.



    Just saying.
  • Reply 17 of 48
    asdasdasdasd Posts: 5,686member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by I am a Zither Zather Zuzz View Post


    Without Stalin, we would have lost. By your logic, without Stalin, there would be no Apple. Of course, without Red China, there would be no Apple as we know it either. I guess Apple owes a huge debt of gratitude to the commies.



    Just saying.



    Yeah, my reading of the WWII is that without the US military we would all be speaking Russian, not German, at least here in Europe.





    It's legal to make employees pay for enterprise apps, it breaks no apple rules, although very few do so I would imagine. Market place is a valid terminology.
  • Reply 18 of 48
    lkrupplkrupp Posts: 10,557member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by GadgetCanada View Post


    Apple is letting the army have it's own app store. However, any country the U.S. invades will have a government put in place where only Apple products are to be used and 30% of the GDP will be sent to Apple.



    You just had to make a political statement and turn this thread into a pile of crap, didn't you. And then Slither Slather starts in with his "I'm smarter and more sophisticated than you" putdowns. Sheesh.
  • Reply 19 of 48
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Dick Applebaum View Post


    Don't underestimate the US Army... In the mid 1980s they installed the most advanced 68000-based LAN workstations available -- for Officer Training...



    In the US military, the Army leads the way...




    That would be the Marines that lead the way. The army gets the new toys but the Marines go in first and get things done.
  • Reply 20 of 48
    haarhaar Posts: 563member
    are these app's for "your eyes only"... do they contain sensitive information?... why dont they sell them on the app store?...



    so these apps are running on custom phones?... hence the not-for-public-consumption...



    if they sold them they might be able to pay off the debt that the army/navy/air force/marines incurs /SARCASM
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