Android makes its way to the Pentagon, with oodles of restrictions of Course

Sometimes we run across a story that is almost so laughable we aren’t sure what to do with it. I find this to be rather entertaining and sad at the same time. The Department of Defense has okayed the use of Android 2.2 for use on the Defense Department computer network. Great news for our DOD Android lovers, or so it would seem. The approval comes with so many restrictions that it is almost pointless to have approved it in the first place.

First, not all Android 2.2 devices are approved for use, only the Dell Venue. The Streak would have made it into the list had it not been tossed by Dell. Second, classified information cannot be transmitted to or from the device. Third, any and all web browsing must be done through the DOD proxy server, and finally, access to the Android Market has been restricted.

Talk about cutting Android off at the knee’s. If you are a DOD employee that was looking forward to using your Venue to play some games in the bathroom or during a boring brief you are out of luck. I suppose you could always side load a few applications, but I am sure you would get in heaps of trouble. Nothing like a work issued device that you actually have to use for work and not for fun. What a bunch of stiffs.

Before I get flamed, I know all of those precautions are for security risks and keeping our most prized secrets safe. There are reasons that the market and proxy servers are used. It would still be nice if they could approve a few games to be installed by a tech or something. I am sure they have the man power to modify and install things that wouldn’t pose a security risk.

Source: AllthingsD