“Close on the heels of last week’s announcement that US Department of Defense approval of iOS 6 devices was imminent comes word from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) that a cryptographic module in iOS 6 has achieved FIPS 140-2 certification (Level 1),” Steven Sande reports for TUAW.
“This has, to quote our tipster, ‘huge implications for government use of iOS (and eventually Macs),'” Sande reports. “The module was tested on an iPhone 4, an iPhone 4S and an iPad (single-user mode) running iOS 6.0.”
Sande reports, “It is unknown if the certification is specific to these devices or if it also extends to newer devices like the iPhone 5.”
Read more in the full article here.
Single-user mode?
One by one, the barriers to important markets are being eliminated.
Of course a great deal of iPhone’s “slowdown” in sales can be attributed to markets maturing without new markets being opened. With this certification, the US government represents a larger market than the third world countries the media tout as Apple’s savior.
Throw in China Mobile and DOCOMO and western governments that may take a cue from Cert. 140-2, then there is lots of growth potential without addressing markets that can’t benefit from the iPhone (thereby willing to pay the price).
If they really want to break into the DoD and IC markets they’ll need at least Level 2 (or higher) approval.
Earning a FIPS cert for all A4,A5,A5X devices is a huge step. Its very hard to obtain this certification even at entry level. Only a few Samsung devices hold this certification at the same level when it comes to android.
“The module was tested on an iPhone 4, an iPhone 4S and an iPad (single-user mode) running iOS 6.0”
Just in time for the 5s and iOS 7.
Geezum Crow! Musta hadta install a buncho viro protecto on dem bubbies!
It appears that Windows Phone 8 has already cleared for the 140-2 security level under the “No User Mode.”
iOS 6??? On an iPhone 4??? Dang does the government ever move sloooow…
😉 That’s why I can’t believe in conspiracy theories!