Army favors Android in smart-phone push

Indications are that the Army will use Google’s Android operating system to power handheld smart phones that might eventually be distributed in large numbers to soldiers featuring mapping and friendly-force tracking apps, reports Spencer Ackerman at Wired’s Danger Room.

The military service is testing a prototype device running Android known as the Joint Battle Command Platform, which was developed by the tech nonprofit Mitre.

The development kit, called the Mobile/Handheld Computing Environment, is expected to be released to apps creators in July.