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US Department of Defense approves BlackBerry 7 devices for agency usage

US Department of Defense approves BlackBerry 7 devices for agency usage

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While RIM will likely be on shaky ground in the consumer space during the company's transition to BlackBerry 10, it just got a vote of confidence from one of its biggest clients. The US Army and the Defense Information Systems Agency have tested BlackBerry 7 and given it approval to be used by all Department of Defense customers.

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BlackBerry Bold 9900, Torch 9860, and Curve 9360
BlackBerry Bold 9900, Torch 9860, and Curve 9360

While RIM will likely continue to be on shaky ground in the consumer space during the company's transition to BlackBerry 10, it just got a vote of confidence from one of its biggest clients. The US Army and the Defense Information Systems Agency have tested BlackBerry 7 and given it approval to be used by all Department of Defense customers. There's a specific set of handsets covered by this approval — the Bold 9900 and 9930, the Torch 9810 (with its full keyboard), the Torch 9850 and 9860 (full touchscreen), and the Curve 9360. This support comes at a time when several US government agencies have moved on to more modern smartphone platforms, but it's not a huge surprise to see the Department of Defense continue its relationship with RIM. Despite some agencies moving in a different direction, RIM said last month that its share of the US government mobile market was "probably increasing" — this new deal should help it keep moving in a positive direction.