Microsoft to Obama: Say no to Canadian gadgets

Never one to be silent when its dominance is threatened, Microsoft is now suggesting that new U.S. President Barack Obama should use a Windows Mobile device to avoid letting those unscrupulous Canadians get hold of his supersecret e-mails.

I'm all for bashing the competition (and Canadians), but this borders on the absurd. Besides the fact that the data stream can easily stay within the United States, Microsoft should have been able to come up with a better potential threat from those sneaky Canucks.

From The Wall Street Journal:

Microsoft, however, has questioned the wisdom of the president relying on a device whose maker is based in Canada. "You would be sending your data outside the country," says Randy Siegel, a Microsoft enterprise mobile strategist who works on federal-government projects. "We wouldn't want the casual musings or official communications of the most important person in the world being intercepted by others."

Even if RIM routed information through a U.S. data center, the devices aren't built to NSA's security specs, he says. RIM declined to comment.

Mr. Siegel argues that a better alternative would be a National Security Agency-approved device, such as the Sectera Edge. Made by defense contractor General Dynamics and powered by Microsoft's Windows CE software, the Edge is a smartphone that secures voice as well as data use. It was certified by the NSA in December 2007 but didn't become available until this month, and the 12-ounce device costs about $3,350.

It's pretty amazing how Microsoft will go to such great lengths to stop competition. Or maybe Microsoft considers Canada a true threat.

More CNET coverage: Video: Obama's new 'BlackBerry'

[Penguinisto]

ROTFLMAO!

It reeks of increasing desperation on MSFT's part... Windows Mobile is swirling around the hole at the bottom of the crapper, and there's nothing they want to do about it but compain.

Of course they could just improve their product and make it open... but nah, that'd be too much work, and unless it involves a stranglehold on the entire industry, MSFT usually doesn't do very well at it without dumping a ton of money into the thing.

[vinhluu]

Well... if it pleases MSFT, President Obama could always switch to an iPhone.

[cowatson]

It makes actually makes sense. Use a device approved by the NSA. That way there is accountability. Not saying it has to be a Windows Mobile powered device, just NSA approved (if Apple makes one?). It isn't that the Canadians are devilish (of course MS realizes that), it is about data security, and do we really want to rely on anyone other than our own people for data security of our leader? I seriously doubt anything would happen using RIM, but better error on the side of caution I think.

[Kev_Orng]

Well, we DID burn the White House to the ground in 1812. But then we felt bad and gave Detroit back. You're welcome!

Just kidding. Don't worry, we're good at keeping secrets.

[davidsmi]

speaking as a Canadian :-)

[Joetwopointoh]

Or is it that Microsoft is worried the Canadian manufacturer of the device has as much knowledge of it's end user's activities as do they of theirs?

[CDubber]

Yes, Obama should represent American interests by using a device made by a CONVICTED ABUSIVE MONOPOLIST??? Yes, that would send a great message to the rest of the world.

Not to mention Windows Mobile is garbage.

If Obama wants to "Buy American" for his smart phone, he should use an iPhone.

[ppgreat]

Being a Mac user, I would assume the President would put an iPhone toward the top of his list over a Windows powered device.

[man290663]

Xenophobia is a wonderful thing. Tell the president to use an very overprices NSA designed device based on an OS so full of holes any hacker can get in..

All this from a corporation that took CP/M from digital reverse engineered to to create MS-DOS then sued Digital for point this out. amazingly Microsoft Won - then they did the same thing with The Mac OS v6 and released Windows then sued apple for pointing that out.. Allegedly!!

bearing in mind Canada is supposed to be an ally this is tantamount to saying only US made goods are worthy - OK for the US president that could be right but please suggest something useful, well designed, secure and that does work without crashing every 2 hours! - (has the iphone been NSA souped up yet as that would meet the criteria).


We're getting bored with the Windows is best message - auk Windows is the most widely used form of OS but then Malaria is the most widely caught disease (would we recommend everyone catches it on that basis)

[Mam00th]

Actually MS bought QDOS and then modified it to make MS-DOS. And it's Apple that sued Microsoft for patent infringement for Windows. This ended with a settlement between the 2 corp.

From a sneaky one

[brian.lee]

This totally explains the Windows Vista fiasco... and the logic that spawned the "Vista Ready!" program.

American I know you're better than this, the year is young and we are off to a good start lets not stop here.

[brian.lee]

This totally explains the Windows Vista fiasco... and the logic that spawned the "Vista Ready!" program.

America I know you're better than this, the year is young and we are off to a good start lets not stop here.

[subslug]

Because what says bullet proof louder than something Microsoft makes?

lmao

[kdborg]

Using Microsoft's logic, as a Canadian I can't trust Windows. Windows is made in the United States, sure it's a close friend and ally of Canada, but you can't trust those Americans. Odd logic indeed.

Wake up Microsoft! If you made a good product and perhaps President Obama would have used it.

I choose Linux because I prefer it over Windows.

at least RIM's stuff works.

[TheSmellyMoa]

Oh, Ballmer, that wacky diplomat. Again he proves how little he knows about networking and security in theory and in practice. All networks are untrusted and even hostile ones can be tunneled through with off-the-shelf solutions. Doubtless whatever RIM client Obama ends up using, it will be heavily customized and have some kind of customized VPN to tunnel through to the White House server that lands the presidents mail. Is Ballmer really that clueless about this stuff? I mean, maybe he should be back at Duncan Hines sneezing in the brownie mix.

[ERROR32]

So ... MS thing that all the stuff inside the GD Sectera Edge is made in the US too? I can fairly safely say that all the internals are made and designed elsewhere!

[eudefender]

Good idea, let's kick Microsoft and their lobbyists out of the EU and produce domestic software...