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iPhone vs. Android Battle Goes To Afghanistan

Posted by Soulskill on from the no-blood-for-apps dept.

redlined writes "Cell phones are tired of waiting for the troops to come home and are going to war themselves. Tech startup Berico Tailored Systems, Lockheed Martin and apparently an army of Slashdot users are currently making tactical 3G cellular networks and smartphone applications for the military to use overseas. While DARPA has held a competition to develop iPhone and Android applications, tactically-deployable 3G networks from companies like those above should open up a slew of opportunities for Apple and Google to duke it out on an actual battlefield."

4 of 146 comments (clear)

  1. Winner: BlackBerry! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Despite the hype, BlackBerry still has a bigger market share than Android and iPhone.[1] Besides, the BlackBerry's keyboard has better tactile feedback than Android/iPhone touch screens, which is important for combat operations.

    [1] http://gigaom.com/2010/08/02/android-sales-overtake-iphone-in-the-u-s/

  2. iOS has the apps by Wyatt+Earp · · Score: 5, Interesting

    The good/great ballistics apps are on iOS, so I reckon it has the general edge.

    http://isnipe.webdiligence.ca/
    http://www.knightarmco.com/bulletflight/
    http://ballistic.zdziarski.com/

    There are a couple for Android, but they aren't as good as iOS has.

  3. an open platform matters by LodCrappo · · Score: 5, Interesting

    If the military wants a device that meets certain physical specifications (ruggedness, waterproofing, shielded from EMI, bulletproof, god knows what) then they have very different options with an iPhone vs an Android phone:

    With Apple's platform, they must ask Apple nicely and hope for the best. They would have to rely on a single source for the devices.

    or

    With Android, they can publish their specs and let any manufacturer that cares to try build a device (or contract with one or a few to specifically build something). They can have multiple sources for the hardware and switch as desired.

    Similarly, if the military wants specific features in the operating system, they can:

    Ask Apple nicely and hope for the best

    or

    Modify Android any way they'd like, or contract pretty much anyone to do this for them.

    Seems Android has some pretty clear advantages.

    --
    -Lod
  4. Hardened Android phone available by catherder_finleyd · · Score: 2, Interesting

    A big plus for Android is that there is already a "hardened" Android system available, the Raytheon Android Tactical System (RATS) :

    http://www.raytheon.com/newsroom/technology/rtn09_rats/index.html