scope:

Background and Purpose. Rapid advances in Information Technology (IT) have resulted in the development and proliferation of a new class of portable computing devices commonly referred to as PDAs. While such devices have proven valuable in enhancing organizational productivity, they also impose a unique set of management challenges such as unanticipated costs, risks to information security and the need for a supporting technical infrastructure. As not all these issues have been addressed until now, this instruction has been developed to provide policy for the acquisition, management and use these devices within the Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP).

Definition and Scope. For the purpose of this instruction, PDAs are defined as handheld, portable electronic devices that are capable of supporting personal computing tasks (e.g. calendaring, address book maintenance, and document preparation), and electronically receiving information from (or synchronizing with) larger, fixed computing or communications devices or networks. The more advanced PDAs are capable of the preparation, wireless transmission, receipt and storage of electronic mail, or access to the Internet. Additionally, technology convergence is resulting in the development of PDAs capable of voice communications. The use of such voice-enable PDAs, while subject to the guidance provided, will also be governed by prevailing policy regarding mobile telephone use. PDAs capable of either data or voice transmission are also considered as communications equipment, and as such their use is subject to the provisions of reference (a).