BlackBerry has reached a partnership with Samsung Electronics to provide a new level of security on Android devices, a move that is intended to spur corporate sales.
Beginning early next year, Samsung devices integrated with the company’s Knox security software will also include an extra layer of security provided by BlackBerry’s end-to-end encryption system. This includes smartphones and tablets such as the Galaxy S5 and Galaxy Note 4. The new solution also brings additional Android security enhancements that reduce threats posed by flawed applications and separating business and personal data.
The deal was the highlight of a presentation this morning in San Francisco in which BlackBerry also announced its long-anticipated BES12 server software with bolstered security features.
BlackBerry is looking to rebuild its business, in part, by winning back the business and government customers that contributed to the company’s growth during its heyday. The Canadian company’s market share has dwindled to single digits in a fiercely competitive smartphone market.
“We have slipped a little bit in the past,” Chief Executive John Chen said in a presentation. “We’re going to recapture and grow on that. ”
Samsung, which is holding a developer conference in San Francisco, offers its own hardware and software aimed at corporate clients — though it would benefit from BlackBerry’s reputation for strong mobile security.
“The work we’re doing with BlackBerry goes beyond just bringing our solutions together for customers. This strategic partnership is grounded in our mutual goals [of] being the most secure in mobility. Our respective leadership positions in enterprise mobility and consumers devices are a perfect match to offer customers that need to be equally productive and secure,” said Greg Wade, senior vice president of Samsung’s KNOX Business Group.
This article originally appeared on Recode.net.
