Not Your Average Android Phone (JBC-P Handheld)

Another advance in Android technology this week: the Joint Battle Command-Platform Handheld (known as the shorter JBC-P Handheld for obvious reasons) is now in the testing phase. It doesn't sound like the name of an ordinary Android smartphone; does it? That's because this model has been developed by the U.S Army around Android software. It is the first Android mobile device to be developed by the U.S Army.

A key feature announced is the support for GPS and mapping which will allow soldiers to navigate unfamiliar territory. It may also allow soldiers' location to be viewed from a main unit for tactical operations. One use for this feature will be the avoidance of friendly-fire incidents, of which many soldiers are casualties each year. Improvised Explosive Devices' locations could also be plotted to avoid casualties.

Paratroopers, along with other Army personnel, are currently testing the device to ensure it can be used easily in demanding, high-pressure situations. 

There will be a document viewing application, mapping application, contacts application and messaging programs on the device. J. Tyler Barton, an engineer with the Research, Development and Engineering Command's Command and Control Directorate, explains this in very simple terms; "It's like when you get an iPhone and you have the Apple-made apps: the contacts, the email... then other applications are free to use those apps, or to go above and beyond that." This could be interpreted to say that the stock Android applications- that would be the 'Google-made' ones-  are preferred by the Army to Apple's. I suspect the fact that Android is an open source platform would also attract the Army.

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