US immigration agency buying $2.1M worth of iPhones in switch from BlackBerry
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency will leave Research in Motion's BlackBerry and buy $2.1 million worth of iPhones.
ICE revealed in a solicitation document last week that it will buy iPhones for more than 17,600 employees, according to Reuters. The memo said that RIM's BlackBerry platform could "no longer meet the mobile technology needs of the agency."
The agency looked into both the iPhone and devices running Google's Android platform. Officials at ICE determined that Apple's ecosystem best suited their needs because of tight controls over the hardware platform and its operating system.
While the switch is yet another feather in the cap for Apple's iOS platform, it's also a major blow for RIM, which was once the de facto choice for government employees. That's changed as RIM has seen its share of the smartphone market slip away to Apple and Android.
RIM's losses in government have continued for some time, as one report last year dubbed the trend of switching from BlackBerry to iPhone as "federal government 2.0." One study published by the Government Business Council earlier this year revealed that managers using BlackBerry devices had dropped from 77 percent in August of 2009 to less than 50 percent in September of 2011.
For now, RIM is attempting to hold on until the release of its new BlackBerry 10 platform, currently scheduled to launch in early 2013. The company has seen a shakeup at its executive level, and announced in May that it would cut 40 percent of its workforce.
ICE revealed in a solicitation document last week that it will buy iPhones for more than 17,600 employees, according to Reuters. The memo said that RIM's BlackBerry platform could "no longer meet the mobile technology needs of the agency."
The agency looked into both the iPhone and devices running Google's Android platform. Officials at ICE determined that Apple's ecosystem best suited their needs because of tight controls over the hardware platform and its operating system.
While the switch is yet another feather in the cap for Apple's iOS platform, it's also a major blow for RIM, which was once the de facto choice for government employees. That's changed as RIM has seen its share of the smartphone market slip away to Apple and Android.
RIM's losses in government have continued for some time, as one report last year dubbed the trend of switching from BlackBerry to iPhone as "federal government 2.0." One study published by the Government Business Council earlier this year revealed that managers using BlackBerry devices had dropped from 77 percent in August of 2009 to less than 50 percent in September of 2011.
For now, RIM is attempting to hold on until the release of its new BlackBerry 10 platform, currently scheduled to launch in early 2013. The company has seen a shakeup at its executive level, and announced in May that it would cut 40 percent of its workforce.
Comments
"But iPhones can never be used in business! Businessmen would never buy anything but BlackBerry!"
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tallest Skil
"But iPhones can never be used in business! Businessmen would never buy anything but BlackBerry!"
But Android phones are WAY more secure than iPhones and blackberries.. oh wait... RIM has more secure phones than Android?? Damn... re-check!!
I would have thought that Android would have been more compatible with their protocols. You know where they let anyone slip across the unprotected border and install themselves in our country, working under the table and paying no taxes.
What does everyone expect. It's US Immigration and they have lost the war on illegal Mexican immigrants so they are now turning their attention towards Canadian phones.
About time.. RIM is dead and Android is about as secure as Microsoft.. soooo...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jivanile
What does everyone expect. It's US Immigration and they have lost the war on illegal Mexican immigrants so they are now turning their attention towards Canadian phones.
LOL, It isn't just because iPhone is undoubtedlty more advance?
But but Android is more advance and it's OPEN. Yes you're right, it's open even on malwares.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tallest Skil
"But iPhones can never be used in business! Businessmen would never buy anything but BlackBerry!"
Remember when the original iPhone was introduced and the other manufacturers said that touchscreen phones would never succeed?
Knock another RIM strong hold down, I knew RIM would die, and figures it would be slow since it takes companies and government years to make up their mind to make a switch, but I did not figure it would happen this fast. The Government will not trust in Android since they will have to deal with multiply companies if hey buy into Android. The Government like one neck to grab if problems come up. RIM did it all so that worked for the government. In this case Apple does it all so that work for the Government.
Quote:
For now, RIM is attempting to hold on until the release of its new BlackBerry 10 platform, currently scheduled to launch in early 2013.
The words "RIM death spiral" come to mind here. Would be surprised if RIM survives 2013.
It's a worry.
Aow that's a good one! Hurts even!
"...and it doesn't have a physical keyboard which means its not good for email"
- SB, 2007
iPhone 6 development just shifted into very high gear.
Originally Posted by djacopille
The government wanted iPhones but is out of money. Fortunately they had all this extra cocaine laying around. The photo shows the actual iPhone transaction: 17,600 iPhones for 70 kilos of cocaine.
What's Apple supposed to do with cocaine (here come the jokes)?
iPhone 6 development just shifted into very high gear.
You mean "iPhone 5S", meaning 7. ????
Rim shot... bah-dum-bah...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tallest Skil
"But iPhones can never be used in business! Businessmen would never buy anything but BlackBerry!"
You do know that quote started around the first iphone. That was an entirely different product.
Originally Posted by hmm
You do know that quote started around the first iphone. That was an entirely different product.
How's it "entirely different"? And when did it stop being "entirely different"?
I was over on the crackberry forum recently, just lurking and reading for a few minutes, because I take great joy in the misery of other people, and I have to say that some of those people are truly sad, bordering on mentally insane. It was truly comical to see how a group of people could be so blind to reality.