CES: BlackBerry Launches New Platform For Internet of Things

By Kamal Nayan - 07 Jan '15 23:40PM

Struggling smartphone maker BlackBerry is set to explore other realm of tech. The company unveiled a new Internet of Things (IoT) platform at the ongoing CES. The IoT platform will let other manufacturers use BlackBerry's secure device management and messaging technology.

Apparently the launch of a new platform for IoT is aimed at opening up new business opportunities for BlackBerry, which is struggling for relevancy in the smartphone market.

BlackBerry touts the platform having the 'best-in-class security' - a much needed feature for the devices in IoT. And given the history of BlackBerry, the launch could work in the favor of BlackBerry.

"The BlackBerry IoT Platform blends the technologies that have enabled BlackBerry to become a leader in both the mobile data security and embedded systems industries," said Matt Hoffman, VP of Strategy and Marketing, BlackBerry Technology Solutions, in a press release.

Messaging features and security functions of the new IoT platform by BlackBerry are combined with the QNX software and this could be a big catch. From the announcement of IoT platforms, one could imply that it is only compatible with IoT devices who run QNX. If true, the new platform by BlackBerry will be incompatible with IoT devices running other software and are already in the market.

However, BlackBerry has been extending support to non-BlackBerry software in the past. e.g., the BlackBerry Enterprise server now also supports iOS and Android devices.