Blackberry has always killed Android with security, but after Google's introduction of Android for Work, users can separate work and personal applications on their smart phones, letting a company's information-technology department secure and manage only work-related content.
As more businesses allow employees to use their own phones for work, BlackBerry can increase its ability to manage devices and tools from multiple technology providers. The result will be only mean more security for business data on Android devices used for business. That will include the use of encrypted data and restrictions on who can share information like calendars, contacts, files and apps. Imagine, the devices covered are protected from malware, and the company cannot access personal information.
This means that users of the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge, for example, can access enterprise networks without the need for virtual private network infrastructure.
It also eliminates the need for app wrapping, and provides access to any Android application available on Google Play that is permitted by an organization's IT policies, BlackBerry explained in a blog post.
The everyday user
With so many employees relying on business communication tools like Hipchat and Slack or even up to date ways of accessing their Outlook email, bad apps are certainly a detriment to a phone (ehem BB).
Smartphone's needs to have those apps, and Blackberry's Amazon App Store and BB World Voltron just don't cut it.
Obviously every-day non-business users are the biggest winners of all. They will essentially get the same level of security that made BlackBerry the smartphone of choice for world leaders with the massive app library and ubiquitous functionality of the Android OS.
Since BlackBerry already went down the dual-platform route, with its square Passport and retro Classic phones both capable of running Android apps (courtesy of Amazon's Appstore), the other assumption is
that the company could just do away with its BlackBerry 10, while leaving the rest behind. But, if the company strips its OS for parts that could leave the loyal developers who have stuck with the Waterloo, ON, tech company and BlackBerry developers could suddenly find themselves forced to switch gears.
More partnerships
To enhance the competitiveness of its hardware products, there are also rumors floating that BlackBerry has expanded the list of its hardware partners to include Compal Electronics and Wistron in
addition to the previous partner Foxconn.
With this marriage, Blackberry now has the potential to create a better user experience, as well as add more value for customers looking for flexibility and personalization in to their phones.
Blackberry could deliver something that's actually different from all the other smart phones out there. It just needs to ditch its horrible OS to get there.
