windows phone New York Police Department to replace 36,000 useless smartphones

[captain_to_fire]

Source: New York Post

 

It all started with my late night Reddit browsing today 

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The NYPD has to scrap the 36,000 smartphones it gave cops over the past two years because they’re already obsolete and can’t be upgraded, The Post has learned.

 

The city bought Microsoft-based Nokia smartphones as part of a $160 million NYPD Mobility Initiative that Mayor Bill de Blasio touted as “a huge step into the 21st century.” But just months after the last phone was handed out, officials plan to begin replacing them all with brand-new iPhones by the end of the year, sources said.

 

The move follows Microsoft’s recent decision to stop supporting the operating system that runs the NYPD’s devices and nearly a dozen custom-engineered apps.

Not good for Microsoft's only large customer for Windows Phone when the NYPD ditched the platform but I think the NYPD is better off with iOS and Android. 

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Law enforcement sources blamed the boondoggle on NYPD Deputy Commissioner for Information Technology Jessica Tisch, with one saying, “She drove the whole process.” “Nobody purchases 36,000 phones based on the judgment of one person,” a source said.

“I don’t care if you’re Jesus f- -king Christ, you get a panel of experts.”

 

Technology experts had long questioned the NYPD’s decision to choose Microsoft-based phones over those that run on Google’s Android software or Apple’s iOS. “The NYPD’s decision to go with Microsoft’s mobile operating system seems to confound more than a few, since Windows Phone’s 2.3 percent US market share is anemic when compared to Android’s 65.2 percent and iOS’s 30.9 percent,” read an article published on the tech news site Digital Trends in October.

I think the NYPD is better off to have their apps ported to either iOS or Android. 

Quote

The NYPD bought two models of Nokia phones: the Lumia 830, first released in October 2014, and the Lumia 640XL, which was rolled out in March 2015.

By comparison, Apple unveiled its iPhone 6 in September 2014 and has since updated its flagship product three times.

Despite the Microsoft phones’ short shelf life, they have been hailed by both NYPD brass and the rank and file for giving cops the ability to receive alerts, search law enforcement databases, file reports and even watch in real time as 911 dispatchers type up emergency calls.

An NYPD spokesman said the department wouldn’t discuss the cellphone situation until Tisch returned from vacation Monday.

Now, are those phones no longer supported by Microsoft because if I'm not mistaken, those phones will still receive updates. Basically, what the NYPD did is flog a dead horse. Microsoft tried but questionable business decisions finally lead to its demise. 

[Billy_Mays]

Rip New Yorks budget this year 

[PlayStation 2]

lul

doesn't shock me that ny spent a bunch of money on phones thay would be obsolete

[Nowak]

Fix for dark theme users, please.

 

OT: This doesn't surprise me in the slightest. Windows Phone is a dead end.

[elfensky]

Wow, that's like, cutting the WP marketshare by like 90% in some swoop lmao. jkjk

[NumLock21]

They should have a design contest, as to who can make the most feature packed and secure phone for the police department. I don't know, isn't that what car makers do in order to win a contract to build police cars? I mean, I doubt their Smartcar or Toyota Prius is the same as the civilian version. There must be more under that hood.

For start I say the phone need a ultra high-beam flash light, where it can read the house numbers at night.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[ravenshrike]

1 hour ago, hey_yo_ said:

The city bought Microsoft-based Nokia smartphones as part of a $160 million NYPD Mobility Initiative that Mayor Bill de Blasio touted as “a huge step into the 21st century.” But just months after the last phone was handed out, officials plan to begin replacing them all with brand-new iPhones by the end of the year, sources said.

Found the problem.

[AshleyAshes]

1 hour ago, Billy_Mays said:

Rip New Yorks budget this year 

New York City's annual operating budget is over 80 billion dollars.  Unless a Windows Phone costs 2.2 million each, they're fine.

[Nowak]

14 minutes ago, AshleyAshes said:

New York City's annual operating budget is over 80 billion dollars.  Unless a Windows Phone costs 2.2 million each, they're fine.

They're replacing the phones with iPhones tho, and, as we all know, iPhones aren't exactly cheap.

[PlayStation 2]

6 minutes ago, Daring said:

They're replacing the phones with iPhones tho, and, as we all know, iPhones aren't exactly cheap.

I'm sure there's some sort of negotiating going around.

Beats having Windows Phones around by a lot, though.

[Misanthrope]

Why do cops need iPhones though? What's next diamond encrusted guns? 

[PlayStation 2]

Just now, Misanthrope said:

Why do cops need iPhones though? What's next diamond encrusted guns? 

New York City is big on blowing money towards useless shit.

[Billy_Mays]

29 minutes ago, AshleyAshes said:

New York City's annual operating budget is over 80 billion dollars.  Unless a Windows Phone costs 2.2 million each, they're fine.

O I didn't know it was that much that tells you how Canadians think about budgets

[MyName13]

Why?How can phones be obsolete for police?Smells like corruption to me, or maybe they are either idiots or swimming in money, it would be better to invest the money into something else.

[Misanthrope]

2 minutes ago, Dan Castellaneta said:

New York City is big on blowing money towards useless shit.

I suppose iPhones are better than Trump recent  reauthorization of military equipment for cops. 

[Nowak]

3 minutes ago, Misanthrope said:

Why do cops need iPhones though? What's next diamond encrusted guns? 

"Android" and "security" don't exactly co-exist, plus iPhones are supported for 5 years (iPhone 5S is still supported, for example). It was either stick to the useless, unsupported fleet of Windows Phones, or replace them with iPhones.

[raphidy]

Useless phones....Harsh. I guess the best bet for long term support smartphones are iphones.

[AshleyAshes]

43 minutes ago, Misanthrope said:

Why do cops need iPhones though? What's next diamond encrusted guns? 

 

39 minutes ago, Daring said:

"Android" and "security" don't exactly co-exist, plus iPhones are supported for 5 years (iPhone 5S is still supported, for example). It was either stick to the useless, unsupported fleet of Windows Phones, or replace them with iPhones.

Apple also offers some VERY amazing Enterprise solutions for the iOS platform.  This isn't just 'A cop with an iPhone and some Apps' it's going to be an entire enterprise iOS solution with support infrastructure in the back end and everything.  Of of which Apple will offer extensive support of.

[ashypanda]

while i understand going to iOS for security sakes, but wouldn't it be better use of taxpayer funds to develop a custom fork of android just for LEA useage, and have it on devices for the entire country so all LEAs can have quick and secure access to all their databases, or for quick deployment, blackberry DTEK devices and have hire some kids out of uni to port their applications.

[Misanthrope]

38 minutes ago, Daring said:

"Android" and "security" don't exactly co-exist, plus iPhones are supported for 5 years (iPhone 5S is still supported, for example). It was either stick to the useless, unsupported fleet of Windows Phones, or replace them with iPhones.

 

26 minutes ago, AshleyAshes said:

 

Apple also offers some VERY amazing Enterprise solutions for the iOS platform.  This isn't just 'A cop with an iPhone and some Apps' it's going to be an entire enterprise iOS solution with support infrastructure in the backed and everything.  Of of which Apple will offer extensive support of.

That seems a lot more reasonable. Though one would hope they can still get robust support and needed features with a bit of an older SKU like the 5S or 6 I guess we'll see.

[Me1z]

2 hours ago, Billy_Mays said:

Rip New Yorks budget this year 

Honestly, rip New York's budget EVERY year. Blowing millions on dumb projects has been an ongoing trend for as long as I can remember

[LAwLz]

Is this because Microsoft dropping support for all but a handful of devices, or is it because they are dropping support for non-UWP apps? If it's the latter then I think I was spot on with this post:

On 2017-04-05 at 9:02 AM, LAwLz said:

Since they used WP 8 they are probably heavily invested in app development for WP already, so it is not worth the switch. I doubt they moved to Windows 10 Mobile because they were happy with them and think it's a solid platform, and more to do with financial reasons such as having to redo apps and possibly heavy discounts from Microsoft.

1

It seems to me like, as soon as they had to redevelop their apps they decided to abandon WP.

 

 

1 hour ago, Misanthrope said:

Why do cops need iPhones though? What's next diamond encrusted guns? 

The Swedish police switched over to iPhones like 1 or 2 years ago and from what I've heard it's been great.
For example, they have an app which scans and looks up registration plates on cars. They just need to photo the license plate and it will bring up useful information about the vehicle. The phones are also slowly phasing out things they used to do over the police radios.

 

 

 

@Daring remember this thread? Was looking for my old post and found a few of yours:

On 2017-04-04 at 9:24 PM, GoodBytes said:

New York City Police, and Hamburg, Germany police department have recently bought mass amount of Windows 10 Mobile phones for their fleet.

1

On 2017-04-04 at 10:47 PM, Daring said:

But how long until they ditch it?

On 2017-04-04 at 10:53 PM, GoodBytes said:

Well New York Police used to have Windows Phone 8, they now bought Windows 10 Mobile phone and expanded the program due the success, and police officers are happy with these phone. Police department could care less about Snapchat, that i can assure you.

On 2017-04-05 at 2:04 AM, Daring said:

But what happens when Microsoft inevitably cuts off support? We all know it's bound to happen eventually.

 

 

[Nowak]

4 minutes ago, LAwLz said:

@Daring remember this thread? Was looking for my old post and found a few of yours:

Yup, I remember. All I can say now is I WAS RIGHT!

[TVwazhere]

Quote of the year

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“I don’t care if you’re Jesus f- -king Christ, you get a panel of experts.”

 

[Fetzie]

3 hours ago, AshleyAshes said:

New York City's annual operating budget is over 80 billion dollars.  Unless a Windows Phone costs 2.2 million each, they're fine.

They need to get their custom apps redone though. That won't be cheap.