Microsoft blames Canada

This story reminds me of the late great John Candy's last movie, Canadian Bacon.

After my colleague, Stephanie Martin, blogged about President Obama's refusal to give up his Blackberry, I found a little nugget to follow up on that story. This week, The Wall Street Journal reports that Microsoft's Randy Siegel, who oversees the company's mobility strategy and relationship with the U.S. Federal Government, questions President O'Bama's use of a Blackberry.  Keep in mind that the company behind the Blackberry device and network, Research in Motion or RIM, is based in Canada. Siegel is quoted as saying “You would be sending your data outside the country. We wouldn’t want the casual musings or official communications of the most important person in the world being intercepted by others.” Siegel argues that a better alternative would be a National Security Agency-approved device, such as the Sectéra Edge. Made by defense contractor General Dynamics and powered by Microsoft’s Windows CE software, the Edge is 12 ounces and costs about $3,350.

Whether it's good or bad publicity, Microsoft has certainly brought some attention to the company surrounding President Obama's first day in office. To Blackberry or not... you make the call.

-posted by Andrew