Photo: tato86

The recent BlackBerry outages may drive more smartphone users to the iPhone and Android platforms, but the BlackBerry is still preferred in government offices.

According to National Journal, the main reason is simple: BlackBerry devices are more secure than the others.

The devices have embedded encryption technology, making it difficult for hackers to get into e-mails and messages.

Attitudes have changed on Capitol Hill lately. Staffers have been allowed to do work on iPhones and Android devices after pleading with lawmakers to allow use of the devices.

The House began to support iPhones and iPads for staff members in April 2010. The Senate supports BlackBerrys and iPhones, but no Android phones so far

The Pentagon has recently begun allowing Apple devices capable of handling classified information. Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, receives his daily intelligence and military briefing on a secured iPad.

The Fall 2011 issue of GovConExec Magazine, published by ExecutiveGov’s owner Executive Mosaic, covers mobility as a peak market in government contracting and the growth of smartphone use.