Why Obama still uses a BlackBerry

Barack Obama is not allowed to have an iPhone for “security reasons”, the president has said.

“I am not allowed, for security reasons, to have an iPhone,” he told an audience at the WHite House while delivering a speech on the healthcare bill.

Obama’s daughters, Sasha and Malia, do have iPhones though and spend a lot of time using them, he said.

In May this year, smartphones running on BlackBerry 10 were approved for use by US government employees. It also achieved NATO security approval in October, proving its security credentials.

Apple’s iOS has a lower level of security clearance, meaning it can be used by some US government employees but not by top officials.

Only ten people have Obama’s personal email address, the president also said.