BlackBerry Extends Its Advance Mobile Security to the Android Platform by Partnering with Samsung
On Thursday, in San Francisco, BlackBerry made public several upgrades it has done to its mobile security software. Also at the same event, BlackBerry unveiled its new plans of partnering with its rival Samsung Electronics.
BlackBerry has taken a new approach to counter its declining popularity in the market, by availing its mobile-security feature on its rivals’ smartphones and tablets. Now devices running on Windows, iOS and Android will be able to utilize BlackBerry’s advanced mobile-security features.
John Chen, the BlackBerry CEO, is hoping that the increasing concern among consumers about their mobile security will turn the tides in BlackBerry’s favor. Given that compared to its rivals, BlackBerry still has the most advanced mobile-security features. BlackBerry’s security features have been designed to ensure businesses and government officials stay protected from malicious software and cover up loopholes used by hackers to steal private information.
The move by BlackBerry was welcomed by investors as can be attested to by the fact that company’s shares rose by 8% (92cents) to $12.19 by Thursday afternoon. BlackBerry’s new alliance with Samsung will lead to availing the BlackBerry’s security software to Samsung’s corporate customers using the Galaxy smartphones and tablets.
BlackBerry commanded about 50% of the US smartphone market in 2009, has seen its market share drop drastically. Experts say this can be attributed to its competitors producing iOS and Android devices that incorporated touch-screen technology among other easy-to-use features that became a great hit among consumers. All the while BlackBerry stuck to its gun; by maintaining physical keyboards on its smartphones and was slow to come up with a system that would accommodate third party apps.
The company reacted to this situation rather late, in the year 2012. By then its competitors had already gained a firm grip on the market, that BlackBerry’s effort seemed too-little-too-late.
The new CEO, Chen, who took over the mantle about a year ago, has been focusing the company’s efforts towards the business and government official consumers. Something seen by many as BlackBerry’s admission of defeat; in terms of winning over the general consumers who currently seem to be better enjoying the iOS and Android platform.
The company’s most recent smartphone dubbed the Passport; a square-shaped device sold out quickly after its release last September. During the Thursday presentation, the CEO gave a glimpse of the upcoming red Passport model that will be released come November 26th. Chen also added that the company will release another smartphone, dubbed the Classic on December 17th.