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U.S. Army to field test iPhone and Android smartphones

U.S. Army to field test iPhone and Android smartphones

War! What it is good for? Absolutely nothi… Actually, being a modern soldier does have its tech-related perks. When not using videogame controllers to pilot all manner of remote-control hardware, U.S. troops could soon be carrying Apple’s iPhone smartphone in the battlefield.

According to an ArmyTimes report, the U.S. Army plans to field test a variety of consumer electronic gadgets—including the iPhone and Android handsets—from February of next year, with up to 5,000 soldiers expected to put a selection of platforms through their paces.

“We’re looking at everything from iPads to Kindles to Nook readers to mini-projectors,” said Mike McCarthy, director of the mission command complex of Future Force Integration Directorate, in the report.

Put forth as part of the ‘Connecting Soldiers to Digital Applications’ program, a successful field test could even culminate in U.S. troops being issued with smartphones devices as part of their standard equipment.

If the ArmyTimes report is accurate, the U.S. military would also be willing to shoulder all associated service charges and even provide a stipend for talk minutes and use of software applications.

In terms of battlefield usage where smartphones and tablet computers are concerned, equipped soldiers could benefit by receiving real-time intelligence, troop maps, images and video feeds channelled from the likes of unmanned drones.

Given the security risks associated with so many digital devices being spread throughout the ranks of its forces, it’s likely troop smartphones will be encased in special ‘ruggedized’ sleeves that connect to a protected military network.

[Thanks: http://www.thetechherald.com/]

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