Presidential Cell Phone

Despite previous security concerns, President Obama will be allowed to keep using his Blackberry. After the election, the Secret Service reportedly notified the then President Elect that he would be required to give up his cell phone. The agency was concerned that phone company employees or foreign agents might access his phone records, listen to his calls, read his emails or in a worse case scenario, use the phone’s signal to triangulate his location.

President Obama has been described as “addicted” to his Blackberry. He was reportedly not pleased with the Secret Service’s order and worked with them to find a solution. President Obama jokingly described the process stating “In just the first few weeks, I’ve had to engage in some of the toughest diplomacy of my life. And that was just to keep my Blackberry,”

While some suspect he will be forced to switch to a more secure phone, it has not been released how the Secret Service’s concerns were eliminated. No matter what the solution, it was announced that the President’s number has only been released to a small and select group. Known to be in that group include the President’s wife, the Vice President and several members of his staff. Not in the group, and raising once again the question of the President’s priorities, the Secretary of Defense.

Source: The Economic Times, Telegraph.co.uk, CBC, Fox News