Pentagon Approval of iOS and Samsung KNOX Is Bad News for BlackBerry

rjupstate writes "The Pentagon is quickly moving to approve the latest devices and platforms from BlackBerry, Samsung, and Apple. That's good news for two of those companies. It's not-so-good news for BlackBerry. 'The Pentagon currently has about 600,000 smartphone users – almost all using BlackBerrys – but ultimately aims to have as many as 8m smartphones and tablets, under the terms of a scheme made public last November.' 'In its effort to expand into the high security government niche, one that BlackBerry has enjoyed near singular control of for years, Samsung recently created a government advisory board made up of Samsung executives and security experts from various U.S. and foreign government security agencies. ... In the end, the program will likely elevate that status of both Apple and Samsung within military and civilian government agencies in the U.S. and other western countries.'"

Comments

BlackBerry approved same as Knox

[JLavezzo]

I don't understand how the takeaway from this is bad news for Blackberry. The same announcement that Samsung's Knox was approved said that Blackberry 10 is approved.
http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=119929
“We are pleased to add Blackberry 10 and the Samsung Knox version of Android to our family of mobile devices supporting the Department of Defense,” the spokesman said. “We look forward to additional vendors also participating in this process, further enabling a diversity of mobile devices for use within the department.”

Re:BlackBerry approved same as Knox

[__aaqiui4953]

Blackberry previously had almost exclusive control over the government market. Now they don't - there are now other equally acceptable options such as Samsung and Apple. Blackberry has to compete, rather than simply exist.

Re:BlackBerry approved same as Knox

[Chris Mattern]

I don't understand how the takeaway from this is bad news for Blackberry. The same announcement that Samsung's Knox was approved said that Blackberry 10 is approved.

Okay, we'll take it slow. Blackberry phones have been approved in the DoD for years. Android phones were never approved until this decision. Where Blackberry had a monopoly, they now have competition. This is not good news for them.

Re:Apple TOS

[DougOtto]

The clause you're referring to is with regard to export control and is actually US law, not something they just threw in for the hell of it:

You also agree that you will not use the iOS Software for any purposes prohibited by United States law, including, without limitation, the development, design, manufacture or production of missiles, nuclear, chemical or biological weapons.