Daughters on iPhone, but Obama stuck with BlackBerry
06 Dec 2013
Troubled smartphone maker BlackBerry still has at least one loyal customer at the cost of its rival Apple: US President Barack Obama.
At a meeting with the youth, on Wednesday, to promote his landmark healthcare law, known as 'Obamacare', the president said he is not allowed to have Apple's iPhone for "security reasons"' though he still uses the iPad, Apple's tablet computer.
Apple was one of several technology companies that, according to revelations by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden, may have allowed the National Security Agency (NSA) direct access to servers containing customer data.
The company denies the allegation.
Obama fought to keep his BlackBerry after coming to the White House in 2009, though he said only 10 people have his personal email address. Neither George W Bush nor Bill Clinton used email during their presidencies.
"Now, I am not allowed, for security reasons, to have an iPhone. I don't know what your bills are. I have noticed that Sasha and Malia (his daughters) seem to spend a lot of time on it," Obama said in his remarks at the youth summit in the White House.
Obama's remarks were met with laughter and a round of applause.
"My suspicion is that a lot of you, between your cable bill, your phone bill, you're spending more than 100 bucks a month. The idea that you wouldn't want to make sure that you've got the health security and financial security that comes with health insurance for less than that price - you guys are smarter than that. And most young people are, as well," Obama said while pushing for his showpiece affordable healthcare act.
According to the White House, the event brought together 160 local and national youth leaders who will help promote the benefits of the Affordable Care Act, popularly known as 'Obamacare'.
