As the smartphone battle becomes a two-way bout between Apple and Google, BlackBerry has found itself in fourth place, trailing Microsoft.
Sales of its models such as the Z10 have been so slow, the Ontario-based company started taking out full-page ads in newspapers worldwide, bidding carriers, consumers and partners to stick by them. Good news comes to the struggling smartphone maker has gotten some help.
KPMG in Italy has purchased 3,500 new BlackBerry 10 smartphones and will migrate to its Enterprise Mobility Management solution, BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10.
As one of the leading international consulting firms, KPMG have been longtime consumers of the devices. IT Lead Partner at KPMG Milan Davide Grassano says that the firm enjoys the security, apps and rich consumer experience.
"Every day our professionals need to share confidential information and need a reliable smartphone with strong security, and the flexibility to meet different working needs," said Grassano. "With BlackBerry 10 we have found the best solution in terms of usability, security, connectivity and price. The BlackBerry solution allows our users to have access to shared files and other internal resources, while also working to prevent the accidental leakage of business documents and attachments."
Though BES 10 may be enough for KPMG, UK IT managers have told Computing a different story. While BES 10 is a good choice in security, workers now require the flexibility to use their own mobile devices.
This comes as Cerberus Capital Management LP signs a nondisclosure agreement with BlackBerry (formerly Research in Motion Limited) to access financial information it could use to formulate a bid for the struggling company, reports said. The private-equity firm, focusing on distressed assets, is in early stages to acquire all of BlackBerry.
A bid from Cerberus would bring competition to BlackBerry's largest shareholder, Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd who has made an offer in September to buy the company for $4.7 billion.
