JOHANNESBURG – BLACKBERRY, the global software leader, has disclosed its next major agreement to license software and services for the production of secure BlackBerry Android handsets in more global markets.
The exclusive, long-term licensing agreement with leading Indian telecom enterprise, Optiemus Infracom, follows the recent global licensing agreement with TCL Communication and PT BlackBerry Merah Putih in Indonesia.
With this latest regional deal, BlackBerry has achieved full global coverage for licensees in all markets to manufacture BlackBerry-branded devices.
Officials said this was proving the company was delivering on its licensing strategy and accelerating its transition to be a leading security software and services company.
Alex Thurber, Senior Vice President, General Manager, Mobility Solutions at BlackBerry was delighted the latest licensing partnership, which will extend the BlackBerry software experience to more customers and support the Indian government’s ‘Make In India’ agenda.
This is an important milestone in our strategy to put ‘the smart in the phone’, providing state-of-the-art security and device software on a platform relevant to mobile customers, with more localization.
Ashok Gupta, Chairman of Optiemus Infracom said the exclusive partnership with BlackBerry, was testament to its commitment to partner and innovate to bring the latest in handset design and experience.
The partnership combines the security of BlackBerry and versatility of Android.
The agreement with Optiemus Infracom Ltd expands on an existing relationship announced in November 2016, for the distribution and sale of the DTEK50 and DTEK60 by BlackBerry, the company’s DTEK series of Android smartphones with BlackBerry Security Software.
BlackBerry’s shift to software appeared to pay dividends off after the Canadian firm posted a profit for the third quarter of the year and raised its revenue forecast for 2017.