A week after the White House appeared to shun Blackberry (and ignored Apple's iPhones) as the WSJ reported [3] it was testing Android-based smartphone replacements from LG and Samsung, it seems the Russians have the same idea. Whether this is another swing of the sanctions "boomerang" is unclear but ITAR-TASS reports that, because South Korean tablets have better information security, the Russian government is switching from iPads to Samsung. Communications Minister Nikiforov added this "isn't related to politics." We are sure...
Via Bloomberg,
South Korean tablets have better information security; Russian govt’s switch from iPad isn’t related to politics, Itar-Tass cites Communications Minister Nikolay Nikiforov as saying.
Samsung was first to certify products with Russia’s Federal Security Service, or FSB, state news wire reports, citing Samsung press service
...
Govt calling for greater scrutiny of foreign IT partners; no plans to ban or place sanctions on foreign high-tech products, state-run news service RIA Novosti says, citing Nikiforov
Nikiforov says comments by U.S. officials raise concerns of increased intelligence gathering, interception of digital information: RIA
Too bad Russia doesn't make smartphones for the US to retaliate against...