In an effort to boost the BYOD features of its devices, BlackBerry has acquired a UK-based startup Movirtu, which makes software that lets users maintain multiple identities for work and personal use.
With this acquisition, BlackBerry can extend and improvise its services to professionals who have to take their own devices to their workplace. The software maintains separate accounts of all the call, text and data usage for the different identities of the device, making way for a clear billing.
John Sims, BlackBerry’s enterprise unit head said that the move fits well with the strategy BlackBerry has been envisioning for its devices and while providing more valuable services to the enterprises using their devices, they are also building ways to earn recurring revenue from the value-added services offered.
The company’s virtual SIM technology lets carriers bill the customers and their employers separately for the business and personal calls eliminating the need to carry multiple devices to work and also keeping the devices active for personal calls, texting and internet access during work hours.
Sims also added that the Movirtu’s service will let the IT administrator of organizations to bar all official calls to the device after work hours without restraining personal calls, texts and emails. BlackBerry has been trying to regain its lost space in the market, this time focusing on the professional and government sector customers who need a secure environment. The company also acquired Secusmart, a German based company specializing in adding encryption to voice and data communications between devices.
The financial terms of the deal with Movirtu remain undisclosed.
