The Movirtu technology revolves around the idea of using a single smartphone that allows the user to have two distinct numbers -- one for business and one for personal use. Both numbers run independently on the same smartphone and will have separate billing for usage on messaging, data and voice. The aim is to eliminate the need to bring multiple devices or maintain several SIM cards.
Movirtu works on all BlackBerry smartphones though iPhone and Android users are also given access. BlackBerry does not welcome the idea of keeping Movirtu exclusively on its devices. The company plans to make the service available to all major smartphone OS.
By purchasing Movirtu, the company would be able to ramp up its slew of services that would cater to the growing needs of its solid base of corporate and government users.
"Clearly this fits nicely within the strategy we have so far articulated," said John Sims, head of BlackBerry's enterprise unit.
According to Sims, the technology behind Movirtu would enable IT administrators to deliver certain privileges to users such as the restricting of calls and emails to a work number at a specified schedule of time without having to block personal calls or sending emails to the same device.
The acquisition also complements BlackBerry's campaigns on Secure Work Space, Balance and other partitioning technologies. Through these, employees gain the freedom and privacy they are seeking in their personal use while enjoying the benefit of a more secured and enhanced management option in their business activities. Moreover, Movirtu allows employees to switch between profiles for messages, data and calls regardless whether they are on their home network or in a roaming condition.
Blackberry has managed to maintain most of its major users made up mostly by large corporations and government agencies. The company plans to build out its offerings to its enterprise clients by making small acquisitions over the past couple of months.
In July, BlackBerry announced that it is acquiring the private German company Secusmart. The acquisition of the voice and data encryption providing company is BlackBerry's attempt to polish its credentials with security-focused clients such as government agencies.
BlackBerry managed to dominate the smartphone industry during its infancy. Now, the company has been reshaping its package as its devices continue to lose ground to Apple's devices and those that are powered by Google's Android OS.
So far, the company was able to move rapidly through the leadership of its new CEO John Chen. Selling assets, partnering to enhance the manufacturing and supply chain and raising funds through real estate are just some of his strategies to gain stability for the company.
