iPhone May Be Heading To Capitol Hill
by Robin Rhys
October 23, 2008
Members of the House of Representatives want the iPhone as an alternative to their current BlackBerries, and could get their way after the elections.
Since the release of the iPhone back in 2007, it has turned into the "must have" accessory, and members of Congress have not been immune to the hype. 
The Chief Administrative Office (CAO), which is in charge of overseeing the communications systems for the House, has begun testing a small number of iPhones to see if the switch will be feasible.
Will the iPhone be compatible with the needs of the lawmakers and their staffs? Even if the answer is yes... will it be worth the price? And who will have to pay?
Currently the device of choice on Capitol Hill is the BlackBerry, with nearly 8,200 actively being used - all receiving emails via a BlackBerry Enterprise server (not compatible with the iPhone). Congress members that choose to switch over to the iPhone (if they're given the option) would theoretically have to go, sit down at their computer, and plug in the iPhone to their computer just to receive emails - doesn't seem very cost-effective.
Since 2001, emails have been sent through the BlackBerry Enterprise Server allowing for fast, practically flawless delivery. It's likely that if the iPhone is approved as an option that most will still rely on their BlackBerry as a way of communication, unless the server is also changed to be compatible with the iPhone.
If the CAO officials decide to give the iPhone a chance, it will be an expensive endeavor. Where will this money come from? It will be paid for out of the Member's Representational Allowance, in other words, taxpayers would get the bill.
The iPhone can be recognized as one of the best in its class, but considering the state of our economic crisis, on top of a bailout with an amount that appears to be endless, this doesn't seem like the right time to make that switch. And taxpayers, if given the option, would not want to pay for it.
So maybe the iPhone isn't right for Capitol Hill (right now), but it's still the coolest phone on the market.
The Chief Administrative Office (CAO), which is in charge of overseeing the communications systems for the House, has begun testing a small number of iPhones to see if the switch will be feasible.
Will the iPhone be compatible with the needs of the lawmakers and their staffs? Even if the answer is yes... will it be worth the price? And who will have to pay?
Currently the device of choice on Capitol Hill is the BlackBerry, with nearly 8,200 actively being used - all receiving emails via a BlackBerry Enterprise server (not compatible with the iPhone). Congress members that choose to switch over to the iPhone (if they're given the option) would theoretically have to go, sit down at their computer, and plug in the iPhone to their computer just to receive emails - doesn't seem very cost-effective.
Since 2001, emails have been sent through the BlackBerry Enterprise Server allowing for fast, practically flawless delivery. It's likely that if the iPhone is approved as an option that most will still rely on their BlackBerry as a way of communication, unless the server is also changed to be compatible with the iPhone.
If the CAO officials decide to give the iPhone a chance, it will be an expensive endeavor. Where will this money come from? It will be paid for out of the Member's Representational Allowance, in other words, taxpayers would get the bill.
The iPhone can be recognized as one of the best in its class, but considering the state of our economic crisis, on top of a bailout with an amount that appears to be endless, this doesn't seem like the right time to make that switch. And taxpayers, if given the option, would not want to pay for it.
So maybe the iPhone isn't right for Capitol Hill (right now), but it's still the coolest phone on the market.
