CNN earlier reported that Google’s Android OS may soon be receiving a seal of security approval issued by the U.S. government. This bit of news was released by CNN’s source close to the project, who also said that there are developers working on a government program that are focused on a number of smartphones running a customized OS version. As the source also said, the security of this OS has been improved.
However, the first batch on the test devices has only been authorized to store confidential documents. In the following months, more smartphones and tablets will be available to transmit these documents over wireless networks.
Michael McCarthy, a director for the Army’s Brigade Modernization Command, spoke with CNN. According to him, the US Army has already been testing touch screen smartphones for the past two years. A report back in December 2010 made by CBS News, confirms this fact.
Up to date, the Army has already issued 40 of these modified smartphones and will be planning to bring in an additional number of 50 smartphones and 75 tablets to service members by March. It is believed that soldiers on deployments will be among the first group to receive these devices before they will be available to government contractors and federal agencies.
CNET tried to get in touch with Google spokesman Randall Sarafa through email, but did not manage to get a reply.
