Here’s some news that totally comes from left field.
Boeing, the world-renowned aeronautics giant, is going to enter the mobile industry. The company has announced that it will be launching its own smartphone soon.
The report about Boeing’s smartphone plans appeared in National Defense, a trade magazine. Boeing hopes to release the Android powered smartphone later this year. Development of the device is still ongoing.
According to Boeing’s Secure Infrastructure Group Vice President Brian Palma, there are already several companies that offer secure, encrypted handsets, which sell from between $15,000 to $20,000. These handsets feature proprietary software and even hardware. Palma said that Boeing plans to release a product at a more desirable price range.
But before you guys think you can parade around with a Boeing-branded smartphone and amaze your friends and family, this smartphone is still not going to be for the mass market because it is still going to be an expensive piece of kit. Expect government agencies to be the target market for this product.
According to the article that appeared in National Defense, the impetus that drove Boeing to develop an Android powered smartphone was the emerging trend of more powerful consumer devices. Before, people went to work to use “cutting-edge equipment”. But now these functions are already made available to the consumer market and in effect, people are bringing these technologies to work.
Even though Boeing plans to just enter a niche in the smartphone market with its planned device, success in the product they will make could actually make the improbable happen – for Boeing to enter the commercial sector with a mass-market smartphone.
Originally posted on April 13, 2012 @ 9:53 pm
Errandbug Restaurant Delivery Lincoln Ne says
ah, what blackberry/RIM should have done. RIM used to be the go to device for the government use. Secured communication is a highly demanded feature for these folks. If they would have tweaked their setup just a bit they could have secured this better. I almost never hear of anyone getting a blackberry phone anymore. Matter of time before the once king of government smart phones is gone for good.