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Blackberry Torch, seen at a Research In Motion event in August, 2011.Fred Lum/The Globe and Mail

Research In Motion , the Waterloo, Ont.,-based smartphone markers, says the U.S. Department of Defense has given the thumbs up to the BlackBerry 7.

RIM says the BlackBerry Torch and Curve models, which include touchscreen models and touchscreen and keyboard models, have passed U.S. Army and Defence Information Systems Agency security tests.

BlackBerry devices were once the only choice among many government departments and businesses, but recently some U.S. agencies have said they are also allowing Apple's iPhones to be used.

The General Services Administration is the latest U.S. body to allow iPhones in the workplace alongside BlackBerrys.

Meanwhile, the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has begun issuing iPhones and American drilling giant Halliburton has said it's phasing out BlackBerrys among its 70,000 employees.

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