The New York City Police Department (NYPD) is forced to face a tough lesson after purchasing 36,000 Windows phones that they will now replace with iPhones. The task force acquired these smartphones three years ago during a time when the gadgets were already beginning to decline. With news that Microsoft is ending support for Windows Phone 8.1, the switch comes as no real surprise.
It’s also a predictable end as Windows market share fell below 1% at the time the police department obtained the phones. The original decision to go with the Windows phone was made entirely by its NYPD deputy commissioner for IT and no further implementation was made into the program.
“Three years ago, we made the decision to bring mobility to the NYPD,” said the commissioner. “At that time, neither iOS nor Android phones allowed us to cost-effectively utilize prior investment in custom Windows applications.”
The Windows models used by the department were Nokia Lumia 830 and Lumia 640 XL, equipped with unique 911 apps, case management apps, and the capability of receiving assignments.
The phones were handed out to the department in 2014 in an effort to modernize the police force. While three years doesn’t sound too bad in terms of smartphone upgrades, the NYPD continued to issue years-old Windows Phones to officers as of October 2016.
However, with Microsoft ending security updates and other support, the police department has decided to no longer use the outdated phones. The NYPD will replace the smartphones with iPhones by the end of 2017. It’s not yet specified which model of the iPhone the department plans to give to enforcement officers, but the switch may happen after the iPhone 8 has been released. While the iPhones will be provided at no cost to the NYPD, given the rumored pricing, it is unlikely they will be equipped with the latest version of the smartphone.
Source: The Verge
Advertisement
Learn more about Electronic Products Magazine
