RIM has enjoyed success with their Blackberry smartphones in the past due to its secure nature. Encrypted emails plus the ability for organizations to control the contents of employees’ devices through BES made Blackberry smartphones the choice of enterprises and governments. While some companies and governments still believe in RIM, a recent security revamp for Android and iOS devices could mean that the US Federal government will start making the switch over to non-Blackberry devices.
Back in April, a call put out by DARPA resulted in two security companies, Good Technology and ActivIdentity, to collaborate and work on a joint piece of software for both iOS and Android devices. The software has yet to be complete and both companies expect to launch their products come July of 2012.
However what they have in mind is a piece of software that offers full disc encryption on the device, robust encryption of emails and documents, use of public key infrastructure authentication tools with custom applications, cryptographic signing of emails and forms, and compatibility with CAC/PIV-standard smart cards and and secure ID chips, which are the same cards used to identify military personnel by the US military.
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