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Obama uses a BlackBerry, Kim Jong-un has an HTC and Putin claims not to use one at all - which phones do world leaders keep in the pockets of their power suits?
Nawaz shareef uses iphone and samsung.
Which phones do world leaders use? | Technology | theguardian.com
For years, the well-connected world leader would use nothing but a BlackBerry to get their email on the move – and it is still Barack Obama's phone of choice. He uses a model specially enhanced by the US National Security Agency. But the news earlier this month that the White House Communications Agency is testing other phones, including models by Samsung and LG, sent shivers through fans of the struggling Canadian smartphone company, which has just announced an annual loss of $5.8bn.
For a world leader, security is much more than just having a passcode on your phone; it also means protecting it against attempted incursions from all the amateur and professional hackers, and more importantly spy agencies, who want to know to whom, when, what and where you have been speaking and reading. For a country's leader to have their phone eavesdropped is the ultimate failure of their national spy agency, and a huge loss of face. With enhancements, BlackBerry has been the spy agencies' phone of choice to guard against that so far. Now, though, Apple and Samsung – the two largest makers of smartphones – are starting to knock on the security services' doors.
Germany
Angela Merkel's mobile became the most famous phone in world politics when it emerged in October last year that the NSA had been monitoring the chancellor's calls. But she has at least two phones she uses on a regular basis: the one that was allegedly monitored by US intelligence services, a Nokia 6260 Slide, was reportedly used for party matters only. For state affairs, Merkel uses a BlackBerry Z10, fitted with an encryption chip by Secusmart. The Düsseldorf company insists its software remains hack-proof and continues to market its device as the "Kanzler-Handy", the chancellor mobile
Pakistan
In a country where unusual phone numbers are traded as prestige items it's not surprising to see well-heeled Pakistanis carrying around at least two high-end smartphones wherever they go. Nawaz Sharif, the three-time prime minister of one of the world's most populous countries, has been spotted using iPhones and Samsungs. But these belong to members of his entourage who act as gatekeepers to their boss. The only phone he carries is a far-from-fashionable BlackBerry Bold. A fan of the ailing phone maker's messenger service, Sharif uses it to stay in touch with his family and close political allies who are privileged to have his number.
Russia
The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, is famous for claiming to not have a mobile, unlike the prime minister, Dmitry Medvedev, who is known for his love of Apple products and became one of the first owners of an iPhone 4 when Steve Jobs gave him the still-unreleased phone in Silicon Valley. In 2006, Putin reportedly said he had many mobile phones but did not use any of them because he did not have time and preferred to use other methods of communication. But in 2010, the president said he did not have a phone at all: "If I had a cellphone, it would ring all the time."
But Putin's aversion could also be tied to security concerns ingrained in him from his time as a KGB spy. The president is also known to avoid the internet, instead preferring to get his information from regular reports by his intelligence agencies. A television documentary from Putin's office in 2012 showed red folders on his desk – probably intelligence reports – and a bank of old-fashioned beige telephones.
North Korea
Speculation about Kim Jong-un's mobile phone use grew after he was photographed at a national security meeting in January 2013 with a smartphone that appeared to be made by the Taiwanese company HTC.
South Korean media said the North Korean leader probably used his handset to call members of his family and senior officials in the Workers' party of Korea. Kim is one of an estimated 2 million mobile phone users among North Korea's 25 million people. The country markets handsets as its own, but they are all made in China and rebadged with local brand names, according to Martyn Williams, who runs the North Korea Tech blog. Foreign models are also popular, but expensive. Use of mobiles in the North is confined to officials and their families, wealthy residents of the capital, Pyongyang, and, increasingly, businesspeople and traders with ties to China. Most phones run on the domestic 3G cellular service Koryolink, a joint venture between Egypt's Orascom Telecom and North Korea's Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, although users near China can pick up a signal from carriers across the border.
North Korean subscribers are not permitted to access the internet via mobile phone – only to make calls and send texts inside the country. There is no international access. Foreign residents can use mobiles to communicate among themselves and make overseas calls, but not to contact local North Koreans.
Nawaz shareef uses iphone and samsung.
Which phones do world leaders use? | Technology | theguardian.com
For years, the well-connected world leader would use nothing but a BlackBerry to get their email on the move – and it is still Barack Obama's phone of choice. He uses a model specially enhanced by the US National Security Agency. But the news earlier this month that the White House Communications Agency is testing other phones, including models by Samsung and LG, sent shivers through fans of the struggling Canadian smartphone company, which has just announced an annual loss of $5.8bn.
For a world leader, security is much more than just having a passcode on your phone; it also means protecting it against attempted incursions from all the amateur and professional hackers, and more importantly spy agencies, who want to know to whom, when, what and where you have been speaking and reading. For a country's leader to have their phone eavesdropped is the ultimate failure of their national spy agency, and a huge loss of face. With enhancements, BlackBerry has been the spy agencies' phone of choice to guard against that so far. Now, though, Apple and Samsung – the two largest makers of smartphones – are starting to knock on the security services' doors.
Germany
Angela Merkel's mobile became the most famous phone in world politics when it emerged in October last year that the NSA had been monitoring the chancellor's calls. But she has at least two phones she uses on a regular basis: the one that was allegedly monitored by US intelligence services, a Nokia 6260 Slide, was reportedly used for party matters only. For state affairs, Merkel uses a BlackBerry Z10, fitted with an encryption chip by Secusmart. The Düsseldorf company insists its software remains hack-proof and continues to market its device as the "Kanzler-Handy", the chancellor mobile
Pakistan
In a country where unusual phone numbers are traded as prestige items it's not surprising to see well-heeled Pakistanis carrying around at least two high-end smartphones wherever they go. Nawaz Sharif, the three-time prime minister of one of the world's most populous countries, has been spotted using iPhones and Samsungs. But these belong to members of his entourage who act as gatekeepers to their boss. The only phone he carries is a far-from-fashionable BlackBerry Bold. A fan of the ailing phone maker's messenger service, Sharif uses it to stay in touch with his family and close political allies who are privileged to have his number.
Russia
The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, is famous for claiming to not have a mobile, unlike the prime minister, Dmitry Medvedev, who is known for his love of Apple products and became one of the first owners of an iPhone 4 when Steve Jobs gave him the still-unreleased phone in Silicon Valley. In 2006, Putin reportedly said he had many mobile phones but did not use any of them because he did not have time and preferred to use other methods of communication. But in 2010, the president said he did not have a phone at all: "If I had a cellphone, it would ring all the time."
But Putin's aversion could also be tied to security concerns ingrained in him from his time as a KGB spy. The president is also known to avoid the internet, instead preferring to get his information from regular reports by his intelligence agencies. A television documentary from Putin's office in 2012 showed red folders on his desk – probably intelligence reports – and a bank of old-fashioned beige telephones.
North Korea
Speculation about Kim Jong-un's mobile phone use grew after he was photographed at a national security meeting in January 2013 with a smartphone that appeared to be made by the Taiwanese company HTC.
South Korean media said the North Korean leader probably used his handset to call members of his family and senior officials in the Workers' party of Korea. Kim is one of an estimated 2 million mobile phone users among North Korea's 25 million people. The country markets handsets as its own, but they are all made in China and rebadged with local brand names, according to Martyn Williams, who runs the North Korea Tech blog. Foreign models are also popular, but expensive. Use of mobiles in the North is confined to officials and their families, wealthy residents of the capital, Pyongyang, and, increasingly, businesspeople and traders with ties to China. Most phones run on the domestic 3G cellular service Koryolink, a joint venture between Egypt's Orascom Telecom and North Korea's Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, although users near China can pick up a signal from carriers across the border.
North Korean subscribers are not permitted to access the internet via mobile phone – only to make calls and send texts inside the country. There is no international access. Foreign residents can use mobiles to communicate among themselves and make overseas calls, but not to contact local North Koreans.
Personally I prefer Xiaomi MI3, although Lenovo or Huawei is good, they are not mainly focusing on mobile devices, for example, Lenovo laptop is really awesome, but it's phone is less popular or well built compared to Xiaomi MI3. Check out this video.
