VA to expand tablet initiative

After launching a mobile device pilot program earlier this year, the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is apparently looking to increase the scope of its mobile initiative, giving some 10,000 tablet computers to its employees.

According to a report from Washington, DC-based Federal News Radio, the VA recently requested information regarding a mobile device platform that will enable it to manage "tens of thousands of tablets across the enterprise" securely.

Eventually, the department will increase the program to 100,000 tablets.

Federal News reports that the VA will initially deploy tablets running Google's Android™, Apple's iOS and Microsoft's Windows® Mobile, though it is likely the department will switch to Windows 8 when it becomes available in 2012.

In September 2011, FedBizOpps.gov revealed the VA had planned to invest in smartphones and tablet computers for roughly 1,000 of its employees, or 0.3 percent of its workforce. During the pilot program, individuals were required to demonstrate their needs for the technology. However, it is unclear how the VA plans to hand out the tablets in this latest development.