Windows Phone 8 cleared for US and Canadian government use

While Microsoft struggles to make Windows Phone 8 a consumer success, a new accreditation might increase its appeal to a different sort of customer. The company announced that the OS has received all nine FIPS 140-2 validation certificates, paving the way for Windows Phone 8 smartphones to be issued to US and Canadian government employees. While the platform hasn't yet been added the DoD's own, extra-secure whitelist, Microsoft joins Apple and BlackBerry in being certified to protect a basic level of sensitive information -- so there's probably nothing to prevent Obama from expensing a Lumia 1020 now, if he wanted to.