BlackBerry Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY) (TSE:BB) is working on the wearable devices internally, according to a top executive, who says that he would “love” to see the company’s Messenger service on a wearable. However, officially there has been no announcement of the same.
Wearable in line with CEO’s strategy
During a discussion with the reporters, John Sims, BlackBerry Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY) (TSE:BB)’s president of global enterprise services, said “We are doing some different experimentation internally with wearables,” and added “I would love for BBM to be running on a wearable.”
Sims noted that the wearable would probably be paired with a smartphone. At the same time Sims told that the company is not announcing or launching any wearable, but the segment is surely an “area of research for us.”
Wearable’s are definitely in line with the changes introduced by the CEO John Chen for the turnaround of the Canadian firm. Chen is focusing on four key areas: devices, BBM, enterprise services and technology solution (QNX and IoT).
Is restructuring over for BlackBerry?
In August, the CEO via an internal memo informed that the three-year-long restructuring efforts are now over, and the company is now ready to hire more employees and make strategic acquisitions. In contrast, Sims said that the transition of BlackBerry Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY) (TSE:BB) from a device-centric company focusing only on its own platform to a more open one is an ongoing process.
“This is a process that will go on not over one quarter or two quarters, but over the course of a couple of years,” he said.
In November, BlackBerry is expected to launch Blackberry Enterprise Service 12, which will be a major achievement for the firm. BlackBerry BES 12, apart from supporting Google’s Android and Apple Inc.’s iOS will also support Microsoft’s Windows phone. The BES 12 will be fully compatible, integrating BES 10 and BES 5 on one platform.
As a part of the transformation, BlackBerry Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY) (TSE:BB) created a new unit called BlackBerry Technology Solutions, or BTS. The unit comprise of its QNX software, “Project Ion” Internet of Things application platform, Certicom cryptography applications and Paratek RF antenna tuning. To lead the new unit, BlackBerry hired Sandeep Chennakeshu, who has been the president of Ericsson Mobile Platforms and CTO of Sony Ericsson.
