Obama BlackBerry

President Barack Obama hoped that he could continue to use his BlackBerry after being sworn in as the 44th president of the United States. The security of Obama's communications via the BlackBerry became of major concern to the U.S. Secret Service.Telegraph: Barack Obama faces losing beloved BlackBerry (November 16, 2008)

On January 21, 2009, it was reported that President Obama would be able to use his BlackBerry for personal communications, but business would have to be done via the highly secure Sectera Edge, which has been approved by the NSA.Times Online: Obama Wins Battle to keep Super-Encrypted Presidential BlackBerry (January 22, 2009)

Before taking office, Obama stated that he wanted to be "able to have voices, other than the people who are immediately working for me, be able to reach out and ... send me a message about what's happening in America." His chief of staff, John Podesta, wrote an opinion piece that was featured in the Los Angeles Times on January 20, 2009, he pleaded, "Let the man have his BlackBerry. An off-line Obama isn't just bad for Barack. It's bad for all of us. The president's ability to reach outside his inner circle gives him access to fresh ideas and constructive critics."Freep: Will Obama Give Up His BlackBerry? (January 21, 2009)