Soldiers could soon have an approved Android smartphone on the battlefield.

Next Gov says the Android operating system developed by Google is expected to win approval for use on military networks by April.

Before being approved Android will need certification for use on unclassified defense networks.

But Michael McCarthy, the director of the Army’s smartphone project, says that approval should come by the end of this year.

He also predicts that Android would win approval from the National Security Agency for use on Secret networks.

The Army estimates between 30 to 40 percent of soldiers deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq have purchased their own smartphones.

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