Employees can binge on company calling and data plans after the work day is complete, but BlackBerry aims to change that scenario by acquiring a startup that helps separate work from play in the bring-your-own-device world and corporately owned, personally enabled environments.
Movirtu develops a virtual SIM platform that separates business voice and data consumption from personal usage. Employees can use whatever device they'd like to for work and the platform then partitions work and personal usage into two separate bills.
Because Movirtu's SIM is digital, users can switch seamlessly between work and personal usage on the mobile device. There's no need to carry multiple devices or to swap SIMS to change profiles.
BlackBerry is struggling to keep its footing in the enterprise market and the Movirtu purchase will bolster the company's core focus, says CEO John Chen.
"In a BYOD and COPE world, there remain a number of efficiency and convenience challenges facing enterprises, employees and mobile operators alike," said Chen. "The acquisition of Movirtu complements our core strategy of providing additional value-added services, and it will leverage our key assets, including our BES platform, along with our existing global infrastructure, which is connected to a large number of mobile operators around the world."
Movirtu, still the size of a startup, gains BlackBerry's capital and business relationships, which will push the virtual SIM to cell service providers that support all major mobile operating systems, according to Carsten Brinkschulte, Movirtu's CEO.
"BlackBerry is the best partner to help us carry forward our vision of redefining the mobile experience by introducing virtual identities," said Brinkschulte. "We address the challenges of BYOD and COPE by providing our unique and innovative technology solution through BlackBerry's existing relationships with mobile operators and customers around the world."
While BlackBerry's struggles have been the source of a widespread doubt expressed by market watchers and investors, Chen, hired in 2013, has been helping the troubled smartphone business tighten its belt and rework its services sectors. In May of 2014, Chen said BlackBerry was nearing the end of its restructuring period and was looking forward to years of steady growth.
"Clearly this fits nicely within the strategy we have so far articulated," said John Sims, head of BlackBerry's enterprise division. "We are building recurring revenue streams in value-added services and providing more value to enterprises."
