[undone]

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/blackb...190000414.html

BlackBerry to reinforce cross-platform capabilities as a preferred EMM provider of Android for Work
Marketwired

WATERLOO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Feb 25, 2015) - BlackBerry Limited (BBRY)(BB.TO), a global leader in mobile communications, announced today that the Company is working with Google to enable BES12�: a cross-platform EMM solution by BlackBerry� to manage devices equipped with Android for Work, Google's solution to securely separate business and personal data and applications.

Backed by BES12, Android for Work creates a secure, dedicated profile for business data and applications. The BES12 solution will seamlessly integrate with the Android OS to enable platform-level containerization. This will eliminate the need for application wrapping, while providing unhindered access to Google Now and any Android application available on Google Play� that is permitted by an organization's IT policies.

BES12 will provide organizations with the most secure and flexible way to manage Android for Work. Android for Work smartphones and tablets will be natively managed within the BES12 environment, which streamlines management of all device platforms and deployment models, such as BYOD and COBO, in a single command and control center. Android for Work will be deployable with BES12 either on-premise or in the cloud, and will be supported by BlackBerry's gold standard of mobile security, scalable architecture and trusted network infrastructure.

"BlackBerry is working with Google to provide customers with solutions they can confidently deploy on all major mobile platforms within their organization," said Billy Ho, Executive Vice President, Enterprise Products and Value Added Solutions, BlackBerry. "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."

In addition to announcing BES12 support for Android for Work, BlackBerry has expanded its cross-platform efforts with support for Android through value added services including BBM� Meetings, BBM Protected�, VPN Authentication by BlackBerry� and WorkLife by BlackBerry�.

BES12 support for Android for Work will be available for an invite only preview in March and will be available starting in the second quarter of 2015. For additional information, visit BlackBerry. To learn more about BES12, visit BlackBerry Enterprise Service 12 ? BES 12 ? Download BES 12 - United States.

[howarmat]

Thanks for posting the article

[Ment]

Yep, Google launched Android for Work preview today along with a list of partners: AirWatch, Blackberry, Citrix, Maas360 (IBM), MobileIron, SAP, Soti.

[ccbs]

Yep, Google launched Android for Work preview today along with a list of partners: AirWatch, Blackberry, Citrix, Maas360 (IBM), MobileIron, SAP, Soti.

Essentially, Google doesn't favor any EMM over others, just provide a level playing field for all the players.

[Tre Lawrence]

Interesting announcement.

[Dunt Dunt Dunt]

Essentially, Google doesn't favor any EMM over others, just provide a level playing field for all the players.

Not sure if that is the case... but they do have to cover the major players.

And while it's hard for us to know how BES is doing as the death of BIS slowly eating away at Services Revenues.... many of these EMM are seeing huge growth. But their revenues are still pretty modest. Really afraid that BES is no longer the revenue or profit generator it once was. All this competition has slashed it's ability to print money for BlackBerry.

[Troy Tiscareno]

Android for Work is essentially Google's version of BlackBerry Balance, but with Google's broad range of apps and services integrated, rather than an EDM/EMM (read: BES) competitor.

Here's another article about Android for Work that talks a bit more about that:

With 'Android for Work,' Google hopes you'll use your phone on the job - CNET

[lnichols]

Hmmm. Will be interesting to see if BlackBerry gets a little more out of this deal like increased Android compatibility support.....

Posted via CB10

[AnimalPak200]

Hmmm. Will be interesting to see if BlackBerry gets a little more out of this deal like increased Android compatibility support.....

Posted via CB10

Honestly, the Enterprise Services division probably just wants the $$ from the (possibly massive pool of Android) BES license fees and has been told to not even think about BlackBerry devices... and even less about getting Google Play Store on them.

Posted via CB10

[Tre Lawrence]

Honestly, the Enterprise Services division probably just wants the $$ from the (possibly massive pool of Android) BES license fees and has been told to not even think about BlackBerry devices... and even less about getting Google Play Store on them.

Posted via CB10

I would tend to agree.

[Troy Tiscareno]

Hmmm. Will be interesting to see if BlackBerry gets a little more out of this deal like increased Android compatibility support....

What BB is getting out of the deal is the opportunity to maintain parity with their EDM competitors, rather than fall behind. Google is giving those vendors extra access not because it's good for the vendors so much as that it is good for Google - it just works out that it's also good (or, at least, not bad) for the vendors too.

Google could effectively wipe out all of those EDM companies within 2 years by entering that market themselves - they are Android experts and have some of the best crypto people on the planet working for them, so they could crush the competition by making a quality product and undercutting the price with their scale. BB, AirWatch, Mobile Iron, etc. should all be thankful that neither Apple or Google has done this.

[ray689]

What BB is getting out of the deal is the opportunity to maintain parity with their EDM competitors, rather than fall behind. Google is giving those vendors extra access not because it's good for the vendors so much as that it is good for Google - it just works out that it's also good (or, at least, not bad) for the vendors too.

Google could effectively wipe out all of those EDM companies within 2 years by entering that market themselves - they are Android experts and have some of the best crypto people on the planet working for them, so they could crush the competition by making a quality product and undercutting the price with their scale. BB, AirWatch, Mobile Iron, etc. should all be thankful that neither Apple or Google has done this.

Bwahahahahahahaha. Yes Google know they can dominate the whole market within 2 years yet out of the goodness of their heart they decide to let others handle it. Yup sounds like something Google would do for sure.

Posted via CB10

[bradu1]

Then why can't they stop from getting hacked? Those experts should do something about that.

[3hb78ftg]

Then why can't they stop from getting hacked? Those experts should do something about that.

They have...asked BlackBerry for help. Bwahahahaha

[Tre Lawrence]

BBRY skating to where the puck is going to be, no? It's an adjustment that makes sense.

But is this another indicator of less of a reliance on hardware?

[lnichols]

Google could effectively wipe out all of those EDM companies within 2 years by entering that market themselves - they are Android experts and have some of the best crypto people on the planet working for them, so they could crush the competition by making a quality product and undercutting the price with their scale. BB, AirWatch, Mobile Iron, etc. should all be thankful that neither Apple or Google has done this.

Yes that is why BlackBerry is assisting Samsung with securing Android for corporate/federal use.

Posted via CB10

[pstrusi]

After reading this, the first question that came to my mind is:
Does this mean that Blackberry eventually will quit to make handsets and focus in software ( BES, IoT ) ? It seems so :-(

I hope future android OS could adopt certain blackberry features, because all of us will be buying android devices

[AnimalPak200]

After reading this, the first question that came to my mind is:
Does this mean that Blackberry eventually will quit to make handsets and focus in software ( BES, IoT ) ? It seems so :-(

I hope future android OS could adopt certain blackberry features, because all of us will be buying android devices

I wouldn't count on the second one.

But someone (Samsung, LG, Blu? lol) may throw down a few bucks to buy the physical keyboard IP and maybe include a physical keyboard variant into their Android device lineup.

Or maybe they'll spin off to the first Canadian 'no-name' Android OEM,.. something like Blu,.. Call it Maple Syrup.

"Man, that Maple Syrup is sweet!"

Posted via CB10

[Soulstream]

BBRY skating to where the puck is going to be, no? It's an adjustment that makes sense.

But is this another indicator of less of a reliance on hardware?

This. I think BB is realising that it can't compete with Apple/Android OEMs/WP OEMs in terms of hardware. out of the Apple/Android/WP8/BB10 only BB had reduced device sales last year (and by a lot).

[LuvULongTime]

This. I think BB is realising that it can't compete with Apple/Android OEMs/WP OEMs in terms of hardware. out of the Apple/Android/WP8/BB10 only BB had reduced device sales last year (and by a lot).

Chen is an *****. The only thing he should realize is that he can't increase sales when he has no devices to sell. 99% of smartphone sales are touch screen and BB had zero new models of those last year. Winning strategy right there.

He obviously wants to kill HW. I don't know what he is waiting for. Just do it already.

[LuvULongTime]

What BB is getting out of the deal is the opportunity to maintain parity with their EDM competitors, rather than fall behind. Google is giving those vendors extra access not because it's good for the vendors so much as that it is good for Google - it just works out that it's also good (or, at least, not bad) for the vendors too.

Google could effectively wipe out all of those EDM companies within 2 years by entering that market themselves - they are Android experts and have some of the best crypto people on the planet working for them, so they could crush the competition by making a quality product and undercutting the price with their scale. BB, AirWatch, Mobile Iron, etc. should all be thankful that neither Apple or Google has done this.

EMM is small potatoes for Apple and Google. They have their eyes set on the auto sector now. Today cell phones, tomorrow world domination.

[Dunt Dunt Dunt]

What BB is getting out of the deal is the opportunity to maintain parity with their EDM competitors, rather than fall behind. Google is giving those vendors extra access not because it's good for the vendors so much as that it is good for Google - it just works out that it's also good (or, at least, not bad) for the vendors too.

Google could effectively wipe out all of those EDM companies within 2 years by entering that market themselves - they are Android experts and have some of the best crypto people on the planet working for them, so they could crush the competition by making a quality product and undercutting the price with their scale. BB, AirWatch, Mobile Iron, etc. should all be thankful that neither Apple or Google has done this.

I'm not sure you need scale to undercut pricing... just look at what all these companies have done to the BES pricing structure.

[pstrusi]

I'm looking forward badly what blackberry will do at the Mobile Congress Spain about. This could be the key to see its strategy