BlackBerry announced on Wednesday, Feb. 25, that it has partnered with Google to bring its secure electronic mobile management (EMM) system to Google's own Android for Work platform.
After striking a similar deal to integrate its BES12 EMM solution into Samsung's own Knox suite of security software, BlackBerry is now working with Google to provide the cross-platform solution to all devices running on Android for Work, a technology that allows users to separate their work accounts from their personal accounts even as they use a single device.
"BlackBerry is working with Google to provide customers with solutions they can confidently deploy on major mobile platforms within their organization," said Billy Ho, executive vice president for enterprise products and value added solutions at BlackBerry.
BlackBerry, which is struggling to make a dent in the hardware market after Apple, Samsung, and other smartphone makers have shot it down with their newer devices, aims to turn around its fortunes by selling $500 million worth of its software to enterprises and government institutions for whom security remains a top-notch priority.
With Google as one of its leading partners, BlackBerry immediately gains access to Google's customers who choose to deploy Android for Work, whether on the cloud or on premise. BES12 allows businesses who use Android for Work to let their IT admins manage the work accounts of their employees' devices, while allowing employees access to Google Now and other apps on the Google Play Store that are allowed by the IT department.
"Android for Work with BES12 will provide customers with another option to enhance their mobile security and the productivity of their employees, and the peace of mind that they will not have to relinquish any control over corporate data, sacrifice user experience or introduce more complexity into their environments," said Ho.
Analysts believe BlackBerry's ability to forge partnerships with major players such as Google and Samsung is proof of the embattled company's still solid reputation for developing secure products.
"One shortcoming of the Android platform is security," said Kevin Stadtler, a BlackBerry stockholder and president of Stadtler Capital Management. "They're partnering with BlackBerry in order to directly address that."
Investors welcomed the news with open arms. Following BlackBerry's announcement, the Waterloo, Ontario-based company saw its shares rise by 2.3 percent to $10.51 at the end of the trading day. Meanwhile, Google's stocks rose slightly by 1.5 percent to $543.87.
Organizations can choose to purchase the BES12 system themselves beginning next month, when BlackBerry will offer its EMM solution on an invite-only basis. The full offering will be available in the second quarter of this year.
BlackBerry's partnerships with Samsung and Google are in part the result of a deal between Apple and IBM to work together to bring security-focused, business-centric apps to enterprise and government clients.
