Business App: Boeing Developing Smartphones for Military and Governmental Uses
- The American multinational aerospace and defense corporation Boeing is planning to launch its own Android-based Smartphone by end 2012.
- Especially strict security measures (encryption, biometrics, etc.) are being implemented and these tools are first designed for military or governmental needs, thus excluding mass market deployments.
- Each device will cost 15,000 to 20,000 dollars, in line with the prices of other manufacturers in this sector. The final name of the product has not been disclosed; neither have the names of Boeing’s partners.
- According to Boeing, Android has been selected because of its compatibility with a large number of popular general public apps. Users would accordingly benefit for the advantages of an open source system and enhanced security through dedicated deployment efforts.
Source: National Defense Magazine
- Many tools made available to the general public have been adding in security features, including biometric sensors for instance –as is the case with the joint developments at NXP, AuthenTec and DeviceFidelity on a biometric authentication for an m-payment solution (see August 2011Insight). Mobile devices are meeting the needs of niche segments (military, intelligence, governments, etc.) which may contrast with this adoption of Android.
- Google’s widespread system has to take up this challenge, and show conclusive results despite the security issues noted over the months (see previous Insights).
- These initiatives also illustrate further opportunities for players in the mobile ecosystem: future developments of payment features towards which several manufacturers now work, regardless of the vulnerabilities inherent to the OSs.