We already knew that the US government was looking to adopt Android phones for use in the military, and now we know one of the potential providers — Boeing. The aerospace giant has announced that it is making an Android device designed for the defense and intelligence markets, which will have the same functionality as a consumer smartphone while being much more secure.

The company says it went with Android instead of a proprietary operating system so that it could offer offer a combination of secure communication and a wide range of apps for users. And while no price point was revealed, the device is expected to be significantly cheaper than competitive phones (which can cost up to $20,000) though not cheap enough that it would be considered a "mass market" product. No details on the hardware have been announced yet, and we're not even sure if it will carry the Boeing branding — but the company says the phone should launch by the end of 2012.