BlackBerry and Exclusive Networks are extending their distribution agreement into Benelux, DACH and the U.K. after the success of the partnership in Australia and the Nordic region. The new deal will focus on security, mobile device management and worker collaboration, says a report from ChannelBiz.
What’s in it for BlackBerry?
Now Exclusive Networks will be providing all of BlackBerry’s enterprise software portfolio, including the Good Secure EMM Suites, a set of mobile security, management, productivity and collaboration offerings.
Exclusive Group COO Barrie Desmond said, “BlackBerry has developed genuinely disruptive new technology and has been a leader in security for the mobile enterprise for many years.”
Desmond notes that this presents a lucrative opportunity as clients always aim to get the most productivity and security for all their products from a single platform.
Meanwhile BlackBerry’s president of global sales, Carl Wiese, said both companies have worked well as a team “in Australia and the Nordics, and we’re confident about extending our partnership to bring customers the most innovative and secure solutions across more territories.”
Exclusive Networks says it will help the Canadian firm take its enterprise software portfolio deeper into tier 1 reseller accounts and target verticals. To achieve this, Exclusive Networks will use its “strong partner relationships” and big data analytics to “maximise tactical and strategic opportunities.” Also, its team in several countries will help improve BlackBerry-based, cyber-security-focused technical pre-sales capabilities and “new go-to-market propositions.”
2016 to be the year of Android
Even though BlackBerry’s share in the smartphone market continues to decline, its core enterprise management software still holds a noteworthy market share when it comes to managing mobile devices running on other operating systems. On the other hand, in an attempt to up its smartphone success, the Canadian firm has now adopted Android to power its devices and recently launched its first Android-based handset, the Priv.
Also the Canadian firm has already confirmed that this year, it will launch at least one more phone based on the Android OS. In addition, CEO John Chen has hinted that the company may consider a second Android device during the year. Chen revealed this during the CES 2015 expo in Las Vegas.
In pre-market trading today, BlackBerry shares were down marginally. Year to date, the stock is down by over 14%, while in the last year, it is up by over 18%.
