Don’t count BlackBerry out just yet. In spite of their buyout addition to their buyout offer from Fairfax Capital for $4.7 billion late last month, the telecommunications company today announced plans at the Gartner Symposium in Orlando, Florida, to launch a new cloud-based system for managing users and applications across BlackBerry, Android, and iOS.
The cloud service ambitiously plans to address the ‘bring your own device’ movement while addressing privacy and tech support at ‘less than a cup of coffee a month,’ according to BlackBerry.
It makes sense for BlackBerry to invest in software and services, especially in a post-buyout world, as comScore recently reported BlackBerry handsets not ranking in the top five OEM makers in the US, but even its operating system has diminished to a minute 4% in the same market. The more services it can introduce across iOS and Android, the better, right?
Administrators can easily manage and secure smartphones and tablets. The simple Web-based admin console will provide easy activation and deployment of BlackBerry, iOS and Android™ smartphones, app management, security policy configuration and compliance monitoring.
Administrators can secure, deploy and manage apps. Administrators will be able to build a catalog of public apps from the App StoreSM, Google Play and the BlackBerry World storefront, and then view app distribution and usage for all users and devices.
End-users can manage their own devices through the self-service console. End-users will be able to easily perform common management tasks such as setting up or changing device passwords and remote wipe and lock without relying on an administrator, giving them independence and saving on helpdesk calls.
Of course, it’s cross-platform approach to messaging has seen its fair share of turbulence, adding pressure to the company to deliver without falling flat. The company promised BlackBerry Messenger would reach iOS and Android earlier this year, but that roll out was rocky at best as the iOS app debuted then was subsequently pulled from the App Store.
Here’s to the underdog, right? At any rate, you can sign up and learn more about BlackBerry’s new cloud service here if you think it’s just the service you’ve been waiting for!
