It’s just smart to always have a plan B in case plan A falls through, and that’s exactly what BlackBerry is doing right now. You’ve probably heard about its impending $4.7 billion dollar sale to Fairfax Financial, but right now BlackBerry is rumored to be taking sale meetings in offers from Google, Samsung, Cisco and others just in case their deal with Fairfax falls through.
Most of the companies bidding are interested in BlackBerry’s servers and patents. They probably won’t renew the company’s horrid smartphone business, but you never know what the future may hold.
The Rise and Fall of BlackBerry
BlackBerry’s smartphone business has done terribly because they were so late to the party. They dug this hole themselves by not being willing to take risks and waiting for a sure thing. Then, when they did finally start making smartphones, they were behind the times! Their “new” phones were worse than most people’s old phones.
In the early 2000s, BlackBerry was a pioneer in the mobile industry, known for its secure email services and physical keyboards. Business professionals and government officials swore by their BlackBerry devices. However, the advent of the iPhone in 2007 and the subsequent rise of Android smartphones marked the beginning of BlackBerry’s decline. The company failed to innovate and adapt to the touchscreen revolution, sticking to its physical keyboard design for too long.
Potential Buyers and Their Interests
The companies rumored to be interested in BlackBerry, such as Google, Samsung, and Cisco, are likely eyeing BlackBerry’s valuable assets rather than its failing smartphone business. BlackBerry holds a treasure trove of patents related to mobile security, wireless communications, and enterprise solutions. These patents could be incredibly valuable to tech giants looking to bolster their own portfolios.
For instance, Google could integrate BlackBerry’s secure communication technologies into its Android operating system, making it more appealing to enterprise customers. Samsung, on the other hand, could use BlackBerry’s patents to enhance its Knox security platform, which is already popular among business users. Cisco might be interested in BlackBerry’s enterprise solutions to strengthen its own offerings in the corporate sector.
BlackBerry’s QNX operating system, which is used in automotive infotainment systems, could also be a significant draw for potential buyers. As the automotive industry moves towards connected and autonomous vehicles, having a robust and secure operating system like QNX could be a major advantage.
I’ve never been a fan of BlackBerry. The name has always stood for high-class ignorance in my opinion, and their phones have always been pretty ugly looking. I’ve never owned a BlackBerry, never will, and I’m kind of glad to hear they’re leaving. How about you?
Despite my personal feelings, it’s worth noting that BlackBerry’s contributions to mobile security and enterprise solutions have been significant. Their decline serves as a cautionary tale for other tech companies: innovate or risk becoming obsolete.
Source – Engadget
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