Blackberry loses government agency business to iPhone ICE terminates $2.1 million contract with Blackberry manufacturer Research in Motion (RIM) due to “Inferior” technology. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE) announced it will end its eight-year-long affiliation with Blackberry due to the agency’s assessment that the device no longer satisfies the agency’s future technological needs. The loss of the government contract deals a severe setback to the RIM’s future prospects as a serious player in the burgeoning smartphone market. The loss of the Government contract is occurring only months prior to RIM’s anticipated release of a new device that was expected re-vitalize the ailing mobile phone manufacturer.
ICE conducted an exhaustive review of Apple’s iPhones, Google’s Android Operating System and the Blackberry. ICE concluded that, for its foreseeable needs, Apple’s iPhone best serves the Agency’s technological requirements for its personnel. ICE cited Apple’s rigid quality controls and its superior operating system for its final decision. Under the contract, Apple will provide mobile devices to more than 17,000 federal employees. Agencies under ICE’s auspices include Homeland Security Investigations, Enforcement and Removal Operations and Office of the Principal Legal Advisor staff.
ICE further commented that the iPhone will optimize the agency’s requirement for the most secure and stable platform available.
ICE is not the only major account to recently abandon Blackberry’s uncertain future. The major accounting firm Booz Allen announced last week its intentions to drop RIM’s device in favor of the iPhone. Previously, the troubled company provided the consulting firm with about 25,000 devices. Industry prognosticators are predicting more account losses for RIM, which was betting the farm on its new product release of the BB10. The anticipated product rollout is touting a revamped O/S system and is geared to establish the company as a major player in the smartphone arena. RIM still serves the mobile device needs of more than 1 million federal workers. Unfortunately, market momentum is not favoring RIM.
