Get All Access for $5/mo

Bye Bye BlackBerry: Which Smartphone Should President Obama Use Next? The White House is reportedly testing out Samsung and LG devices for use by President Obama and his staff.

By Geoff Weiss

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

President Obama's latest executive order? A cell phone that isn't a BlackBerry.

Rumor has it that Obama, like other longstanding BlackBerry customers, is in the market for a new device. The White House is reportedly piloting Samsung and LG devices for internal use by the president and his staff.

While the White House confirmed to The Wall Street Journal that it is currently trying out new phones, it could still be months before Obama jettisons his specially-modified BlackBerry -- which has been the government's preferred device for more than a decade.

Related: How the New Obama Overtime Rules Will Squelch Opportunity

And even if Obama were eyeing an iPhone -- which is favored by both of his daughters, he said -- the Secret Service prohibits it for "security reasons," he noted at a press conference last December.

Third-party software-makers, meanwhile, are reportedly working to bolster security features on the rival Android operating system.

Samsung notably ramped up security with its Knox platform -- which enables business and personal content to discretely coexist one the same device -- and also recently scored an order for 7,000 Galaxy Note 2s from the U.S. army.

Related: PHOTOS: This Is Supposedly the iPhone 6

"We have seen strong interest from the government sector and are working closely with various agencies to deploy pilot programs," stated Samsung, which has also reportedly cherry-picked former BlackBerry execs to help enhance its security features.

With a horde of hot new phones on the market, Obama certainly has some enticing options to choose from. Should he opt for the just-released Samsung Galaxy S5 -- or hold out for the brand new HTC One, hitting shelves next week? As a noted fan of the iPad for reading, perhaps he should sync his gadget arsenal with an iPhone 6, rumored for later this year.

Let us know which smartphone you think Obama should use next in our poll below.

Related: LG and Motorola Announce Smartwatches for Google's 'Android Wear'

Geoff Weiss

Former Staff Writer

Geoff Weiss is a former staff writer at Entrepreneur.com.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Side Hustle

The Side Hustle He Started in His College Apartment Turned Into a $70,000-a-Month Income Stream — Then Earned Nearly $2 Million Last Year

Kyle Morrand and his college roommates loved playing retro video games — and the pastime would help launch his career.

Science & Technology

Why We Shouldn't Fear AI in Education (and How to Use It Effectively)

Facing resistance to new technologies in the educational process is nothing new, and AI is no exception. Yet, this powerful tool is set to overcome these challenges and revolutionize education, preparing students and professionals for a future of unparalleled efficiency and personalized learning.

Business News

Apple's AI Has a Catch — And It Could Help Boost Sales

Not every iPhone owner will get to use the new Apple Intelligence.

Business News

Elon Musk Threatens to Ban Employees from Using Apple Products, Says Will Lock Devices in 'Cages'

The Tesla founder sounded off on X following Apple's 2024 Worldwide Developer Conference on Monday.

Business News

Y Combinator Helped Launch Reddit, Airbnb and Dropbox. Here's What I Learned From Its Free Startup School.

The famed startup accelerator offers a free course on building a business — and answers five pressing questions for founders.

Business Culture

You'll Always Have Anxious Employees if You Don't Follow These 4 Leadership Tactics

Creating a thriving workplace environment hinges on the commitment of company leaders to nurture and inspire their teams.