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Tagged: government

Samsung GALAXY S 4 approved for government and military use

By Robert Nelson
on 3 May, 2013

Reports from earlier in the week suggested that select Samsung devices were nearing approval for use by the US government. Those reports mentioned the GALAXY S 4, however the overall approval seemed hinged on the Samsung Knox security software. Coming this morning, we have received word from Samsung in regards to the approval and moving forward, the US government and military will be able to use Samsung smartphones and tablets provided they are running the Knox security software.

EFF report slams Verizon and AT&T over user data protection

By Cory Gunther
on 2 May, 2013

A popular Digital Rights Advocacy group called the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) is back this year and have released their annual report card. It's called "Who has your back" regarding companies who protect their users - and their data - from the prying eyes of the government. Surprisingly, Verizon scores dead last and didn't receive a single star, while AT&T only had 1 out of 5 themselves. It's not looking good for wireless carriers.

Samsung Galaxy lineup may soon get Department of Defense approval

By Robert Nelson
on 1 May, 2013

This isn't the first time we have heard about Android handsets coming available for use by employees in the Pentagon, however it looks like the Department of Defense is just about ready to issue an approval. The catch here comes in with which devices will receive the approval. Right now, it is looking like those will include Samsung Galaxy smartphones. Or more specifically, Samsung Galaxy smartphones that are running the Knox security software.

WhatsApp hit with allegations of privacy law violations

By Eric Abent
on 29 Jan, 2013

It isn't a good day for the makers of the highly popular WhatsApp, as the Canadian and Dutch governments have accused the app of violating privacy laws. WhatsApp allows users to send text messages to others for free over the Internet, and with that kind of functionality on offer, it's become of the most popular apps in the world. Therefore, these alleged violations may just put a lot of users on alert.

Department of Energy program to make batteries more powerful, less expensive

By Eric Abent
on 4 Dec, 2012

When you're shopping around for a new phone or tablet, battery life is one of the most important bullet points you can look at. After all, you can have the best equipment running beneath a beautiful screen, but if the battery life is poor, those top-of-the-line components aren't going to do you much good. The Department of Energy has decided it's time to come up with new batteries that are not only more powerful, but less expensive as well.

ZTE sticks up for itself after national security allegations

By Eric Abent
on 9 Oct, 2012

Yesterday, we told you that ZTE and Huawei were facing accusations of being a potential threat to US national security by the House Intelligence Committee. In a nutshell, the Committee said that both companies could potentially help the Chinese government spy on the US in a report that followed a year-long investigation. Naturally, ZTE and Huawei (along with China for that matter) didn't take too kindly to the allegations leveled in the report, and today ZTE is hitting back with a full statement in an attempt to clear its name.

ZTE and Huawei could pose a threat to US national security, lawmakers claim

By Eric Abent
on 8 Oct, 2012

ZTE and Huawei are getting some unwanted and rather negative attention from US lawmakers today in a new report from the House Intelligence Committee. The report, which is the product of an 11 month investigation, is claiming that the two companies could potentially allow the Chinese government to spy on the US. As if that accusation weren't bad enough, these lawmakers are also urging US businesses to avoiding using hardware sold by either company, and recommends that mergers or acquisitions involving ZTE or Huawei be blocked by the US.

Boeing prepares Android phones for G-Men

By Michael Crider
on 12 Apr, 2012

Boeing is a company usually associated with gigantic flying people-movers and/or awesome weaponry. But they're also a people company - which is why they're creating phones with a robot theme. The US government has contracted Boeing to create custom Android smartphones for government and military use. National Defense Magazine reports that "The Boeing Phone" will be based off of open-source Android code and is apparently near the end of its development cycle, with a planned release later this year.

US Government claims that secure Android phones can be updated in just 2 weeks

By Michael Crider
on 3 Feb, 2012

Anybody who's bought an expensive Android phone in the last couple of years can probably commiserate with all those waiting months and months for an official update. Many times users root and install custom ROMs not out of any particular desire to mod, but just to get the features in the current version of Android. US Government officials made a bold claim on CNN this morning, saying that they can send out major software updates to their secure Android-based phones in just two weeks, side-stepping both manufacturers and carriers to deliver updated code based on Android's open-source releases.

Department of Defense approves Dell Streak 5 for high-security networks

By Michael Crider
on 31 Oct, 2011

Better late than never, I suppose. The United States Department of Defense had added its first Android device to its list of officially supported handsets and tablets: the 5-inch Dell Streak. The phone/tablet made it through an extensive gauntlet of testing for security and comparability, performed by the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA). This means that DOD employee and contractors will be able to use the Dell Streak, now almost 18 months out from its initial release, to conduct their business around the world.