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Obama To Get Secure BlackBerry 8830

Posted by timothy on from the what-about-back-worn-radio-controller-devices dept.

CWmike writes "President Barack Obama is set to receive a high-security BlackBerry 8830 soon, The Washington Times reported today. The device is said to be in the final stages of development at the National Security Agency, which will check that its encryption software meets federal standards. It might not be ready for months. It was reported that Obama will be able to send text and e-mail messages and make phone calls on the device, but only to those with the secure software loaded on their own devices. The list includes First Lady Michelle Obama and top aides. The security software is made by Genesis Key, whose CEO, Steven Garrett, is quoted as saying: 'We're going to put his BlackBerry back in his hand.' The Sectera Edge was pegged in January by analysts as the top device choice because of its reputation for secure data communications when used by other federal workers. And there are many reasons why Obama might have been told 'no' on his BlackBerry. But Obama may wish he had chosen a Sectera if BlackBerry has more outage problems like its latest last week, which meant no mobile e-mail for hours across the US."

6 of 191 comments (clear)

  1. 6821 years? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    From the title I thought it would take 6821 years to develop a secure BlackBerry.

  2. Outage by AmigaAvenger · · Score: 3, Funny

    Outage last week? Wow, what happened to ever checking the dates, yes, April 17th, of 2007!!! REALLY old news... I've got a crackberry, had one for forever, now have a non-presidential edition 8830. I would never give it up, in fact, I probably would give up a firstborn for it.

  3. Re:Will all those that he texts with by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    I know reading the article is hard, but not even the summary?

  4. Re:Will all those that he texts with by oodaloop · · Score: 4, Funny

    Summary? I don't even read the titles.

    --
    Tic-Tac-Toe, Global Thermonuclear War, and relationships all have the same winning move.
  5. Why does it need to be secure? by bugeaterr · · Score: 5, Funny

    Every communication will be something like this:

    Advisor: Mr. President, there's a prob with X, WTF shuld we do?
    President Obama: LOL! Throw money at it.
    Advisor: Good call, Mr. President. Culd u b more specific?
    President Obama: *sighs* Create a new "Czar of X" over the new "Bureau of X", silly.
    Advisor: OMFG, BHO ROCKS!

  6. Re:CrackBerry: Just say no ;) by lee1 · · Score: 4, Funny

    His wife gave him an ultimatum: "Either you take THAT or ME on our next vacation.

    Well don't leave us in suspense. What did he decide?