Irish government swapping BlackBerry for Apple iPhone and Android models

3. Droid_X_Doug posted on 14 Dec 2012, 15:27 0 1

One driver for government users would probably be the security of the iPhone. The iP5 has arguably the strongest (AES256) security that doesn't require any user interaction (manual encryption/decryption). It happens in the background by the OS. I don't know what BB10 phones will offer as regards security, but if the security features are not the current state of the art, that is probably adding to the pressure to move off BB.

4. cripton805 posted on 14 Dec 2012, 15:39 0 1

I'm sure they can somehow secure their phones regardless of the make. This still doesn't change my opinion on the hardware =P

5. JC557 posted on 14 Dec 2012, 15:47 0 1

I thought Motorola had secured their phones with government level encryption.

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11. Lwazi_N posted on 14 Dec 2012, 18:16 1 0

Well, BB10 has just received FIPS certifications recently...

6. Ninetysix posted on 14 Dec 2012, 15:55 1 3

You seem to think that the iPhone 5 breaks easily when dropped. This is not android phone covered with plastic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6M5q5TRuAsY

How hard is it to crack the iPhone5?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMvE0lkunBg&feature=player_embedded

10. darkkjedii posted on 14 Dec 2012, 17:47 1 1

Exactly

13. cripton805 posted on 14 Dec 2012, 19:19 1 0

You do not get the point. A phone CAN break regardless of what it is. It's just going to be A LOT more to replace an iPhone 5 compared to any other piece of hardware.

15. blazee posted on 14 Dec 2012, 20:50 0 0

you act like every android phone is the same, made out of the same materials

9. darkkjedii posted on 14 Dec 2012, 17:46 1 2

Actually the iPhone would b ideal for govt. it's UI is intuitive, and straight forward. U can bash it all u want, but your opinion is just that...your opinion. I have an ip5, and its a great device, and yes the UI is a little boring, but the government isn't looking for specs and widgets... They look for straight forward performance. U don't like the iPhone...oh well. Lots of people do.

12. Nikolas.Oliver (limited) 7 hours ago posted on 14 Dec 2012, 19:04 0 1

iPhone ui, albeit it's simple, is still very functional
Look at bb ui, Way more boring than ios, you only got all favorites media downloads frequent and that's it

Government officials can't work efficiently using bb, it's outdated and not capable of doing heavy task, can't even open phonearena site without any checkerboard or hourglass even with the flagship bold 9900

16. Droid_X_Doug posted on 14 Dec 2012, 22:08 1 1

"...can't even open phonearena site without any checkerboard or hourglass even with the flagship bold 9900"

If the Bold 9900 is the metric for comparison, it is over before it has even started. The BB10 phones have to do waaaay better than the Bold 9900.

20. Nikolas.Oliver (limited) 7 hours ago posted on 15 Dec 2012, 01:32 0 1

But the bb 10 devices haven't been released yet

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21. Droid_X_Doug posted on 15 Dec 2012, 01:55 1 0

Quite true about the BB10 phones not having been released. I was responding to Nikolas' comment about the Bold 9900: "The BB10 phones have to do waaaay better than the Bold 9900."

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14. cripton805 posted on 14 Dec 2012, 19:19 0 0

^^^^ This

17. Droid_X_Doug posted on 14 Dec 2012, 22:12 0 1

Most likely the timing of the switch is a function of budget cycles for the respective entity. Also, they tend to buy in bulk to maximize quantity discounting. A bulk purchase generally requires a separate budget request, and, and, and. Sales cycles for government procurements are on the order of 18+ months (more like 24 to 30 months for U.S. government agencies). The cycle can be shortened a little bit if year-end money is available, but everyone in the agency is fighting for the year-end funds.

19. Droid_X_Doug posted on 14 Dec 2012, 22:31 0 1

"hmmmm really.....whats "cost saving" about buying an apple product?"

Having to pay full freight to replace the Bold 9900 that a frustrated user bounced off the nearest cement block wall in frustration when the phone decided to do a full reboot in the middle of an emergency response call? I saw a similar situation. A friend was out of the office on a conference call discussing a $10 million contract add-on and their Bold 9930 went into a full reboot (~5 minutes where the phone is not usable at all). After they calmed down, I loaned them my GS III to complete the call. When the call was done, we went directly to the VZW store and they paid full freight for a GS III. If I had loaned them an iP5, they would have purchased the iP5. The Bold 9930 was that bad of an experience.