U.S. Department of Defense to Get Its Own App Store

The U.S. Department of Defense is getting its very own app store, so soldiers can more efficiently book plane tickets and call in airstrikes.
The department awarded a contract to Digital Management, a Maryland-based firm, for an initial amount of $2.9 million to build the "mobile device management system," according to a release.
Along with apps that would streamline paperwork and the airstrike process, the department is interested in translation software, facial-recognition apps and a more advanced Google Maps, among other tools.
"Across [the Department of Defense] there is a huge demand for applications," Alana Johnson, a department spokesperson, told Mashable in an email. "Our mission partners are looking for a solution, which closely resembles the experience and user interface that they have grown accustomed to while using their civilian devices."
Jeff Gilmore, a former active duty Air Force officer who developed an app for military use and helped launched the first Defense Entrepreneurs Forum, said there is a desire to make military life more efficient.
"There's a niche need for tools, kind of like productivity tools, that help you out," Gilmore said. "They save you a heck of a lot of time."
Only devices managed by the Defense Department will have access to the store, minimizing the risk of infiltration, Johnson said. What's more, a security system will also be enforced to for protection, and the app store won't contain any classified information that could compromise a defense department mission or plan.
The app store is scheduled to be completed in July 2014.