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U.S. Immigration Dumps 17,600 BlackBerrys for iPhones

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Follows consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton's decision to drop RIM smartphone in favor of Google and Apple devices.

The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE) has confirmed it will end its contract with BlackBerry owner Research In Motion, with the move resulting in 17,600 employees having their BlackBerry devices switched out in favor of the iPhone. The agency said it plans to purchase iPhone units for more than 17,600 employees, equaling a total purchase price of $2.1 million. It stressed that the firm has relied on RIM for eight years, but the financially struggling company "can no longer meet the mobile technology needs of the agency."

ICE analyzed Apple's iOS devices and Google's Android operating system and found that the iPhone offers the best platform because it's not as open as the latter.

Apple's iPhone will be utilized by a "variety of agency personnel, including, but not limited to, Homeland Security Investigations, Enforcement and Removal Operations and Office of the Principal Legal Advisor employees." The agency says iPhone services will allow these individuals to leverage "reliable, mobile technology on a secure and manageable platform" in furtherance of the agency's mission.

Consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton recently confirmed plans to drop BlackBerry and make a transition to iPhone and Android smartphones for around 25,000 employees.

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33 Comments Comment from the forums
  • scannall
    RIM died a long time ago. It just didn't have the good manners to lay down.
    Reply
  • southernshark
    Zack Islam writing an Apple Story.

    Man this guy is amazingly creative.
    Reply
  • j2j663
    "secure and manageable" if you are ok with Apple knowing everything you are doing.
    Reply
  • assasin32
    scannallRIM died a long time ago. It just didn't have the good manners to lay down.
    Hate to say it but it seems that way. There is very little point to go with blackberry's now days as there seems to ways to make iphones/androids just as secure to my knowledge. And more people understand how to use one so it's less hassle for most employees/people I've seen.
    Reply
  • Why the heck am I paying for these P.O.S.'s to have a smart phones. All the companies in the private sector make their employee's pay for everything but a single PC and maybe for cell phone SERVICE... IF you have a business justification for even needing a cell phone. Nothing unexpected, when you itsn't your money you just waste it away. Also, what do we need with 17,600 employees to infectively patrol the boarders. Just fine the employers who hire illegals and FIRE ALL OF THE IMMIGRATION!!
    Reply
  • frombehind
    AHA! that explains the US budget deficit... they payed for thousands of incredibly overpriced iPhones! it all makes sense now xD
    Reply
  • invlem
    How long until they get hacked?

    Seriously if there's one thing RIM still has on eveyone else, its security, especially for a branch of law enforcement I kind of figured that would be on the top of their list for features... Guess not...

    Just wait until they have to tie the phone in with their business applications such as email. Their IT group is going to have a heart attack trying to manage 25,000 iPhones. With RIM securing (wiping) a lost device is quite literally a couple clicks away. Even better transferring the user's contacts & data is just as easy when you get the new device.... Last time i tried to transfer stuff from one apple device to another I had a nightmare of a time...
    Reply
  • deftonian
    Way to go US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency... $2.1 million could have hired a lot of people to help enforce immigration law vs phones so they can play angry birds on the job.
    Reply
  • shqtth
    Yes give them all an iPhone so we can hack them ;)

    And they wont know they have been hacked as they will be bust playing angry birds !
    Reply
  • mcd023
    should've been WP8 ;)
    Reply