SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., 18 Oct. 2007. The National Security Agency (NSA) has awarded a contract to General Dynamics C4 Systems enabling military and government users to order the Sectéra Edge secure, wireless phone/personal digital assistant (PDA) or "smartphone."
The Sectéra Edge smartphone will be available to U.S. Department of Defense, Homeland Security, and other government personnel with initial deliveries expected in the fourth quarter 2007. The indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (ID/IQ) contract has a potential value of $300 million over five years. General Dynamics C4 Systems is a business unit of General Dynamics
Developed under the NSA Secure Mobile Environment/Portable Electronic Device (SME PED) program, the Sectéra Edge smartphone will provide wireless access to the U.S. Government's Secret Internet Protocol Router Network (SIPRNet), and Non-classified Internet Protocol Router Network (NIPRNet), enabling users to e-mail, Web-browse, and with one touch, switch between classified and unclassified data communications.
Similar in form and function to a commercial cell phone/PDA, the Sectéra Edge smartphone will operate on existing Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), and wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) commercial cellular networks. The smartphone will also interface with the Department of Defense Public Key Infrastructure using the government's standard Common Access Card.
