Even Barack Obama May Get Rid of His BlackBerry
Then-Democratic presidential candidate, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., checks his BlackBerry in 2008. Jae C. Hong/AP File Photo
The leader of the free world could be a future owner of a Samsung Galaxy or comparable Android smartphone.
The White House is testing alternatives to the long-time favorite smartphone of President Barack Obama, reports the Wall Street Journal . If Obama does switch to an Android-based phone, from BlackBerry, it would be a major blow for the ailing Waterloo, Ontario-based company.
Two models reportedly being tested by the White House are from Samsung and LG. Samsung has been working to make its phones uniquely attractive to business and government customers with its SAFE devices , which it claims are secure from intrusion.
One reason a presidential switch to a new phone could be particularly devastating for BlackBerry—and a boon to whichever handset maker follows—is the fact that Obama appears to be no less addicted to his smartphone than the majority of his constituents.
Here’s a brief tour down memory lane—thanks for the memories, iconic presidential BlackBerry.
Reprinted with permission from Quartz . The original story can be found here .