White House limits feds' mobile devices to cut costs

An Obama Administration executive order aimed at cutting government waste includes a plan to trim "duplicative and unnecessary" employee information technology devices such as smartphones, laptops and tablets. Most of the duplication in federal employees' personal IT devices involves computers, not phones, said Cindy Auten, general manager of the Telework Exchange, an industry group that promotes working remotely. Especially in the early days of telework, many agencies presumed an employee working remotely needed two computers -- one for the home and one for the office -- rather than a single laptop. "Agencies are starting to be smart in asking employees and managers 'what do you need to be productive?' " Auten said. The executive order directs them to consider agencywide IT investments such as remote desktop services that limit the need for extra devices.