Department Of Defense Approves Blackberry 10

As we reported yesterday, the Department of Defense has been preparing to approve Samsung's and Apple's devices for use by agency employees. While both still await approval, Blackberry received it earlier today for Blackberry 10 smartphones and its PlayBook tablet. The thumbs-up comes after weeks of testing in Defense Department labs.

Department of Defense employees can now use both Blackberry 10 smartphones and the PlayBook in conjunction with Blackberry's Enterprise Serivce 10 on the agency's networks. This approval covers both the Blackberry Z10 and the Blackberry Q10 handsets, both of which are now listed on the DISA's Unified Communications Approved Product List.

According to a report by the Wall Street Journal yesterday, both Samsung and Apple will be seeing approval separately for their devices. Reportedly, Samsung will get approval for use with the agency's internal email, and Apple will get approval for iOS use with "nonclassified communications" methods that weren't specified. With Blackberry getting its approval today, it is reasonable to assume the other two will be seeing theirs shortly as well.

Blackberry's Senior Vice President of Blackberry Security Scott Totzke said: "BlackBerry 10 is ideal for our government customers because it offers a rich, highly responsive mobile computing experience ... This approval will enable DoD customers to connect their BlackBerry Z10 or BlackBerry Q10 smartphones to DoD networks and securely access assets from work, while enjoying the wealth of consumer-oriented functionality that BlackBerry 10 brings to market."

[via Blackberry]