BlackBerry Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY) could soon license the brand name for tablets, wearables, and other devices.
The Canadian tech giant said on Friday that the second phase of its licensing strategy could include tablets, wearables, medical devices, appliances, point-of-sale terminals and other smartphones.
BlackBerry said that its licensing strategy is designed addresses the growing need for secure, connected devices and endpoints in today’s Enterprise of Things.
Announced in September 2016, the first phase “was focused on providing the most secure and comprehensive Android software for smartphones around the world manufactured and marketed by TCL Communication, PT BB Merah Putih and Optiemus Infracom Ltd,” the company said in a statement.
BlackBerry Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY) is now focusing on providing end-to-end security and software services for smartphones build by its partners. The company plans to expand the services to “Enterprise of Things” devices.
“There is an incredible opportunity for connected devices to improve lives, but to realize its full potential, privacy and security must be embedded in every end point from the start. For example, companies providing medical monitoring devices must protect health data on the device, guarantee it connects securely to the healthcare system, and most importantly ensure that it cannot be hacked, BlackBerry Secure helps solve this triple threat,” BlackBerry CEO John Chen said.
“We have taken a long-term and thoughtful approach to our licensing strategy, which includes an expansive view of the entire Enterprise of Things ecosystem. As part of this strategy, we will work with a wide range of manufacturers to integrate BlackBerry Secure software into both BlackBerry-branded and co-branded devices,” Chen added.
BlackBerry is also betting on autonomous and connected cars. The company announced the most advanced and secure embedded software platform for self-driving and connected cars at CES 2017.
Shares of BlackBerry Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY) closed up 11.51% on Friday. The stock is up 12.48% year-to-date. Shares have surged 3.61% during the last 12 months.
