BlackBerry was one of the pioneers in the mobile sector. While against the likes of Android and iOS, its mobile devices eventually didn't perform as well as its competitors, the company didn't want to let go another title it is also known for: security.
Law enforcement to enterprises that work around healthcare, finance and defenses, need a secure real-time communication. While there are others in the market that provide security, but they require something on a different level.
To address this relatively small but potential market, on February 7th, 2017, the Canadian manufacturer is launching BBM Enterprise SDK, a secure cloud-based Platform-as-a-Service communications for developers.
"We feel, and we see an increasing need, for secure communications. This is beyond SMS. This is for organizations that need real-time messaging and voice. And they need it built into their applications," said Marty Beard, COO of BlackBerry.
What BBM Enterprise SDK does, is to allow software developers to integrate secure communications features of BlackBerry Messenger into their own apps. So from one-to-one chats to group conversation, as well as image, voice, video and file sharing, information transaction can be encrypted using its technology.
BlackBerry's BBM Enterprise SDK highlights a number of features that aren't common in most other messaging systems. On the user-interface, for example, users have the ability to edit, quote, delete and retract text messages. In short, users are having full control over what they have and what they want to send.
There is also location services and custom statuses.
While the famous read receipt the original BlackBerry Messenger is known for, was later copied by many other messaging apps, BlackBerry has gone beyond that. A representative from the company gave the example of a delivery driver having an "E" message status when the driver is en-route, and one that says "A" when he had arrived..
BBM Enterprise SDK is designed to meet the most demanding enterprise requirements by leveraging features that BlackBerry Messenger have, and tie them together so developers can create a new product out of it.
Benefits in using BBM Enterprise SDK is to have BlackBerry's Enterprise-Grade Security with its NOC architecture that was built with security in mind. By leveraging its communication framework, developers can focus more on what matters than thinking about complexities in development or IT infrastructure.
Because it's hosted in the clouds, developers can also make sure that their apps can be guarded against unforeseen spikes in usage.
All those features come with a price. Initially supporting both Android and iOS applications, the company is offering it as a subscription product based per-user licensing model..
BlackBerry in creating a software with a system that is secure, scalable and brandable, is a pivot for the company that was once famous for being a hardware manufacturer: it's a realization of its goal to go beyond what it was once famous for. By bringing its own technology for others to use, the company ambitions is now for enterprise software by embracing and helping developers and not anymore its own.