DoD reportedly set to buy 650,000 iOS devices to replace legacy products
An unconfirmed report on Wednesday claims the U.S. Department of Defense is preparing to purchase some 650,000 iOS devices in an effort to upgrade its existing digital ecosystem, with the buy set to go through after the ongoing federal spending cuts have completed.
Source: AFP/Getty Images
According to Electronista, the huge pending order is a result of a mobile platform testing program, which looks to update the DoD's aging digital infrastructure.
The publication notes that the order of over 650,000 iOS devices should go through after the first phases of the project are complete, contingent on "a few other initiatives coming to fruition" and the end of the federal sequester.
A breakdown by device claims the department will put in an order for 120,000 iPads, 100,000 iPad minis, 200,000 iPod touches and some 210,000 iPhones. While the destination of the products varies, "more than half are headed to the battlefield, afloat, and to associated support commands. Most of the rest will stay [at the Pentagon]."
Earlier in March, the DoD reportedly cut funding of its BlackBerry test program, which was putting the newest BB10 operating system through its paces. At the time, the department said it was nearing completion of iOS and Android device trials.
The influx of new Apple hardware is said to replace many of the existing BlackBerry units used by the department, which is estimated to be supporting 470,000 such devices, none of which are running the company's newest OS.
Source: AFP/Getty Images
According to Electronista, the huge pending order is a result of a mobile platform testing program, which looks to update the DoD's aging digital infrastructure.
The publication notes that the order of over 650,000 iOS devices should go through after the first phases of the project are complete, contingent on "a few other initiatives coming to fruition" and the end of the federal sequester.
A breakdown by device claims the department will put in an order for 120,000 iPads, 100,000 iPad minis, 200,000 iPod touches and some 210,000 iPhones. While the destination of the products varies, "more than half are headed to the battlefield, afloat, and to associated support commands. Most of the rest will stay [at the Pentagon]."
Earlier in March, the DoD reportedly cut funding of its BlackBerry test program, which was putting the newest BB10 operating system through its paces. At the time, the department said it was nearing completion of iOS and Android device trials.
The influx of new Apple hardware is said to replace many of the existing BlackBerry units used by the department, which is estimated to be supporting 470,000 such devices, none of which are running the company's newest OS.
Comments
Those could have made RIM's year ... oh well.
This is why, when we read the "Apple is Doomed" tech media blogs, we should all throw our heads back and have a good laugh.
Obama probably still does use a BB, like his policies, dated and desperately needing an update.
I honestly did not mean to make this political but looking back on my innocently made comment it's impossible to see how my query wouldn't have sparked this sort of response by someone.
I take full responsibility for any horrible turn this thread my take. Mods, please delete my comments if the need arises.
Quote:
Originally Posted by danyak
Obama probably still does use a BB, like his policies, dated and desperately needing an update.
I bet you thought that was clever.
Quote:
Originally Posted by SolipsismX
Is Obama still using a BB phone? That has to be the icing on the cake for Apple ][.
Yes, I do believe that Obama still uses a Blackberry.
I also know that he had some trouble operating an iPhone a little while ago.
But when White House trip director Marvin Nicholson handed the president his personal iPhone, Mr. Obama couldn’t get it to work. A reporter who witnessed the scene said the president looked “befuddled.”
“It’s not clear he knows how to dial on an iPhone,” the reporter wrote in a pool report.
Finally, Mr. Obama said, “Oh, I got to dial it in. Hold on, hold on. I can do this. See, I still have a BlackBerry.”
The president then “had a little more trouble dialing,” the pool report said.
The president then has more trouble dialing. When the call didn’t go through, he blamed Mr. Nicholson for having an insufficient cell phone plan.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/blog/inside-politics/2012/sep/9/tech-challenge-obama-has-trouble-iphone/#ixzz2O7fEiqq9
People not looking to pick a fight would not see your comments as politically motivated. I interpreted them in the light of the President's own comments about his lack of tech savvy. Wasn't he quoted as saying he didn't know how to work an iPod? 12 years is an eternity in tech.
@mods - Delete mine along with Solips' if needed.
Originally Posted by SolipsismX
I take full responsibility for any horrible turn this thread my take. Mods, please delete my comments if the need arises.
This is your thread.
This is your thread when politics comes into the mix.
I wonder if the govt will release a civilian version of their WarGames®
Quote:
Originally Posted by SolipsismX
Is Obama still using a BB phone? That has to be the icing on the cake for Apple ][.
Legacy? Did RiM change their name again?
There are numerous photos of his carrying an iPad (Jobs gave him one of the first on a visit to the White House).
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheUnfetteredMind
Those could have made RIM's year ... oh well.
That's almost 1 day of production for Apple.
Wouldn't you prefer a nice game of chess?
It helps to read the article:
"with the buy set to go through after the ongoing federal spending cuts have completed."
Quote:
Originally Posted by danyak
Obama probably still does use a BB, like his policies, dated and desperately needing an update.
Dated? Really? Cause all I hear is how "radical" his policies are, and every single change he makes, no matter what it is, is opposed vehemently by the many who despise him.
Politics aside, this is only a good thing. Making inroads in education, business, and government gives iOS greater and greater legimitacy, solidifying its dominance and confirming its not going anywhere anytime soon. Android may have numbers, but its insanely fragmented and will get forked at greater levels as time goes on, its features being replaced and modified by whats best for the OEM, making the underlying Android OS pretty much irrelevant and unrecognizable.
Which won't be until next fiscal year at the soonest.
"Goddammit, I'd piss on a spark plug if I thought it'd do any good!"