BlackBerry

History

2018

Purchase of the cybersecurity developer of solutions Cylance for $1.4 billion

On November 16, 2018 announced BlackBerry acquisition of Cylance for $1.4 billion. The Canadian software maker will transfer this amount from own means and will not attract the actions to payment of the transaction. At the same time unsecured awards to the staff of Cylance enter the specified amount. Read more here.

Partnership with Check Point Software Technologies

On September 13, 2018 BlackBerry Limited and Check Point Software Technologies Ltd companies announced the conclusion of global partnership within the ISV program (Independent Software Vendor) for independent software suppliers. The agreement provides collaborative planning of release on the market and sales of the solution Check Point SandBlast Mobile for protection against mobile threats and also the BlackBerry UEM and BlackBerry Dynamics systems.

For simplification of work with customers specialists of BlackBerry will undergo full training in the solution Check Point SandBlast Mobile further to sell a product and to provide uniform support and professional services.

The organizations implement solutions for mobility worldwide to increase efficiency and to implement projects in the field of digital transformation. At the same time questions of ensuring mobile security often remain indifferently in spite of the fact that the complexity and level of danger of cyberthreats grows. The recent research of Check Point showed that 94% of security experts doubt capability of their companies to prevent cracking of mobile devices of employees.

"The modern world of hyper communications requires ultra-security. Too often we hear about the enterprises which think of the strategy of mobility of security too late when it can be the weakest link. BlackBerry and Check Point create structure which rotates around cyber security, and with each company bringing different industry solutions, partnership is natural approach and excellent addition to our ISV ecosystem. Mark Wilson, marketing director of BlackBerry

"The companies need to use consecutive comprehensive protection against threats on mobile devices that they did not become a door for malefactors. Thanks to the fact that Check Point and BlackBerry combine efforts for prevention of mobile cyber attacks we provide technologies of prevention of threats for mobile devices which are necessary for each business. Jeremy Kai, vice president for the solutions Mobile Security Solutions of Check Point Software Technologies company

The solution Check Point SandBlast Mobile works with the BlackBerry Dynamics platform and is integrated with the system of uniform control of the end devices BlackBerry Unified Endpoint Management (UEM). SandBlast Mobile 3.0 reflects mobile phishing attacks and also fixes receipt of harmful network traffic on devices and back for the purpose of security of information and employees. Users will be able to start downloaded on phones and tablets of the application in a virtual cloud environment for the analysis of their behavior. After such check of software it is marked as approved or harmful. Other SandBlast Mobile functions — protection of network from the device thanks to tracking and control of the entering and outbound network traffic, blocking of phishing attacks in all applications and browsers, a rupture of connections with harmful command servers.

2017: Roskomnadzor blocked all BlackBerry in Russia

Roskomnadzor blocked the websites of BlackBerry company, having deprived of owners of their smartphones of access to settings and personal accounts. In response to complaints of users the Russian officials send them to Canada, to smartphone manufacturer^[1].

The Canadian smartphone manufacturer of BlackBerry which are famous for the security and because of it enjoy special popularity at businessmen and politicians, refused to provide data on the users to the Russian supervisory authority. After that the websites connected with BlackBerry were blocked. Blocking practically did not influence work of the messenger which data transmission is performed via a secure channel. But blocked there were other services which BlackBerry provides to the clients: the people who officially purchased the smartphone in the Moscow shop cannot use activation of the new device now or enter into app store. Service of search of the lost device and management with it using special service BlackBerry ceased to work.

2016

BlackBerry joined in business of unmanned vehicles

On December 21, 2016 it became known of plans of BlackBerry regarding redefinition of reference points of development of the company - the center of researches in the field of technologies is open for unmanned vehicles.

According to materials of Reuters, the Autonomous Vehicle Innovation Centre organization was placed in Ottawa (Canada) near the headquarters of QNX company which BlackBerry purchased in 2010. In this center about 650 people will work. Total amount of investments into the project ~ $75 million.

Advertizing BlackBerry, (2016)

The most part of the amount will go for compensation of engineers^[2].

The research center will continue development of the QNX operating system. This OS is used in many industries, including, in aircraft construction. Some characteristics allow to use it as software basis for vehicles.

QNX will form a basis for creation of software of control of cars. On the basis of QNX high-level algorithms for object recognition on the road will be created. The main thing — to ensure reliable system operation and to protect it from cracking attempts.

BlackBerry have chances to be fixed in the market of self-governed cars and they are rather high, believe in VDC Research companies. But you should not forget about risks. If, for example, Intel is able to offer car makers of a discount or the free license on own software for work with the hardware, in attempt to increase sales of the processors, the Canadian company will have an opponent to whom will resist difficultly.

Testing of the BlackBerry platform will begin in the nearest future. The company cooperates with Ford and got permission to testing of Lincoln unmanned vehicles on roads to Ontario. Negotiations with potential partners are in parallel conducted.

Development of automobile software will become fast-growing business of BlackBerry as each car maker is a potential client of the company. John Chen, CEO of BlackBerry

BlackBerry assigned the right to use of the TCL Corporation brand

On December 19, 2016 it became known of transfer to TCL Corporation company of the rights to production and sale of smartphones under a brand of BlackBerry company. According to the message of the press service, the company will focus on development of safe software.

In the blog BlackBerry reported - the long-term license agreement with the Chinese partner will allow it to focus on the software for security and services^[3].

In October, 2016 released BlackBerry the smartphone which became to the last in its independent process line. Deterioration in positions of the company in the market of devices became the reason of such solution — it lost to Android devices and products of Apple.

According to the results of the II quarter 2015-2016 financial years which came to the end on August 31, 2016 revenue of BlackBerry reached $334 million against $490 million the previous year. A loss - $372 million against the profit of $51 million during the same period of last year.

Earlier the company acquired the rights to a brand of Alcatel. Under the terms of the agreement, the Chinese businessmen, acting as the world distributor for BlackBerry, will be engaged in development of design of smartphones, their production, sales and technical support of users.

It is planned that the TCL smartphones will be on sale in all countries, excepting India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh and Indonesia (according to experts, these countries - key for the BlackBerry brand).

At the beginning of December, 2016 in BlackBerry announced start of own platform of security for corporate Internet of Things (Enterprise of Things, EoT) that became a new step in the history of the company after cessation of production of smartphones. The platform which integrated in itself technologies of cyber security Good Technology, WatchDox, AtHoc and Encription is intended for work with Big Data.

The Chinese company TCL Corporation with the headquarters in the city of Huizhou is engaged in release and sale of TVs, mobile phones, conditioners, washers, refrigerators and small appliances.

Blackberry stops release of the legendary smartphones

Blackberry (the former Research In Motion) will stop release of the BlackBerry Classic model, Ralph Pini, the operating officer of the company and the CEO of division of devices reported in the official blog. News forced to doubt even more future Blackberry as producer of devices, Reuters notes. After Pini published record, shares of the manufacture fell in price more, than for 4%, adds^[4].

It is possible that to replace Classic at Blackberry other device is conceived already. According to VentureBeat, until the end of 2016 the company is going to release two new devices. But both of them will be touch devices, with the diagonal of screen 5.2 and 5.2 of inch respectively. The successor of Classic is planned for the I quarter 2017 the Device bears the code name Mercury.

BlackBerry will independently not project any more smartphones , but will continue to develop client (for Android-smartphones) and the server software for data management and their protection and to offer the mobile^[5].

Earlier similar model was selected by Nokia which sold the plants on release of devices, but continuing to be engaged in their development.

Together with this BlackBerry licensed the applications and services to new joint venture PT BB Merah Putih which will place orders for production of devices, to be engaged in their advertizing and sale. The company did not specify who will be engaged in development. Possibly, this task will lay down on the same producers.

The PT BB Merah Putih joint venture was created by BlackBerry together with PT Tiphone in Indonesia. It will provide with the BlackBerry smartphones local market. As noted in the press release, the purpose of creation of the joint venture — support of an initiative of the Indonesian government of creation of own products and to their own production in the state.

PT Tiphone is PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk subsidiary company — the largest telecom operator in Indonesia. Creation of new joint venture will allow PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk and affiliated structures to occupy a half of the market of mobile phones in Indonesia.

2015

Closing of office in Russia

The way of corporation on the Russian market was "very thorny". Long time of FSB did not give the import permit of the BlackBerry smartphones because of the encryption algorithms which are used in them.

In 2008 operators "VimpelCom" MTS could also get import permits of the first official batches of BlackBerry and started BES service. Soon with BES also individuals had an opportunity for work, and in 2011 also the operator "Megafon" began to work with BlackBerry.

In 2012-2014 mobile operators did not get new import permits of new batches of the BlackBerry smartphones therefore new data models of devices were imported on "gray" channels. At the end of 2012 announced BlackBerry that agreed about the simplified diagram of import of the smartphones: the corporation had to perform notification about import of cryptodevices, and the distributor - Asbis had to be engaged in sales.

However it did not occur also the latest models of smartphones working on the BlackBerry 10 operating system are still imported into Russia on "gray" channels. And at the beginning of 2015 VimpelCom and MTS announced the termination of connections of new clients to BES service (the former version of software - BES 5). For the existing clients VimpelCom raised the prices twice.

Already then in the market a talk on fast leaving of BlackBerry from the Russian market went. However, in corporation it was disproved, claiming that only the work format changes: instead of BES 12 mobile operators will be on sale through distributors.

The problem with import of the subscriber equipment in Russia still remained unresolved. But, as noted in BlackBerry, the BES 12 platform is cross-platform and, in addition to corporate smartphones, can work on devices running different operating systems: Android, iOS, Windows Phone and Samsung Knox.

In July, 2015 BlackBerry made the decision on closing of the office in Russia. This CNews was announced by the representative of corporation Julie Paillard. Such solution is a part of general strategy of corporation on recovery from the crisis^[6].

Within the accepted strategy of BlackBerry Payllard will concentrate the efforts on the most profitable directions, objyasnyalya. The corporation is grateful to the staff of the Russian representative office for their "hard work". The staff of the Russian office at the time of closing: area manager Alexander Kiselyov and sales director in the CIS countries of Eastern Europe Oleg Orlov.

It was reported that the current version of a corporate product of BlackBerry company - BlackBerry Enterprises Services (BES) 12 - will be still available to the Russian users through the authorized dealers, assured Payllard.

BlackBerry turns from smartphone manufacturer into software developer

On June 23, 2015 it became known of progress of BlackBerry on the way of transformation of the company from smartphone manufacturer to software developer.

According to the results of the first financial quarter closed on May 30, 2015 earned by BlackBerry from sale of software about $137 million (corresponds about one heel from total revenue) against $67 million quarter before. The analysts polled by Thomson Reuters predicted this income in range from 70 to 100 million dollars.  

Though BlackBerry actively increases sales of software, analysts do not see in it a reason for joy of the company

According to the CEO of BlackBerry John Chen (John Chen), for all financial year which began in March of the 2015th the company hopes for sales of software in the amount of $600 million. Thus, the vendor needs to receive quarterly about $150 million in this market.

BlackBerry aims to become the market leader of solutions in the field of safe control of corporate mobile devices regardless of their platform. For gain of positions in the software market the company made several profile acquisitions. One of the last by June 23, 2015 is purchase of the Israeli startup of WatchDox specializing in technologies of safe data exchange for $100 million.

Despite the growing sales of software which it was announced on June 23, 2015 the stocks BlackBerry this day dropped by 4.2% up to $8.81 for the moment of closing of the exchange in New York. The reason of falling of quotations of the Canadian producer — income generation is lower than forecasts of Wall Street though the net profit of the company trebled — from $23 million in March-May, 2014 to $68 million a year later.

At the same time experts note that unexpected raising of income of BlackBerry is not a reason for joy of the company as in software revenue the most part of profit on license patent agreements is put. Of such — — BlackBerry signed one with Cisco company on June 23, 2015. The analyst Maynard Um from Wells Fargo estimates net quarter sales of the software of BlackBerry (without license transactions) at $74 million.

As notes Bloomberg, before John Chen's arrival to the management of BlackBerry in November, 2013 the company was on the verge of sale, however it managed to save independence and to attract investments. According to Chen, the company is not on sale – at least, at the present price. As of June 23, 2015 market capitalization of BlackBerry makes $4.66 billion.

2014

Loss of a market leadership of management of corporate mobility

At the beginning of July, 2015 the IDC analytical company published results of a research of the world market of the software in the field of management of corporate mobility. The only producer at which sales of this software decline is BlackBerry.

In the market strong fragmentation and dense fight where even small recession of vendor can discard it on several positions back is still observed.

Alignment of forces in the market of EMM solutions, data of IDC for 2014.

So happened to BlackBerry at which proceeds from sales of software in the field of management of corporate mobility dropped by 16.7% in 2014 — to $133.8 million. As a result the Canadian company rolled down from the first on the third place in the rating of the leading vendors, having conceded to AirWatch and Good Technology.

BlackBerry opened Germany the source code OS in exchange for local firm

On November 28, 2014 the Deutsche Welle edition  announced conclusion of an agreement between the German authorities and smartphone manufacturer of BlackBerry. Under the terms of the transaction which journalists called "anti-espionage" the Canadian company got approval on purchase of the developer of security systems Secusmart, and in exchange will grant to Berlin the right of control of the products.^[7]

BlackBerry agreed to open to the Federal agency on information security (Federal Office for Information Security, BSI) source codes of the operating system. Besides, the company undertook to announce without delay the regulator problems with software protection and not to transfer confidential data to foreign intelligence agencies.

BlackBerry went to all this for the sake of merger of the German firm Secusmart which is engaged in development and deployment of instruments of enciphering of a voice communication, files and e-mail.

Announced acquisition of this BlackBerry company at the end of July, 2014. Then the German government expressed the intention to carefully check this transaction not to allow emergence of threat of national security. According to local media, after the made investigation of the Ministry of Economics did not see the reasons to interfere with Secusmart sale.

The press secretary of the ministry confirmed to Reuters agency Secusmart purchase approval by BlackBerry company, however refused to call conditions on which the transaction was given "green light".^[8]

Especially for German Chancellor Angela Merkel manufactured Blackberry Q10 with the strengthened security system

After Edward Snowden told the former employee of the American intelligence agencies about illegal shadowing which is kept by the U.S. National Security Agency upon the top officials of the states, German Chancellor Angela Merkel decided to replace phone with more protected.

Especially for it and other German officials bought 2500 BlackBerry Q10 smartphones with the strengthened security system — the Secusmart cryptochip which protects a talk from wiretap and also nullifies the various attacks of hackers.

2013

Change of the name with BlackBerry

Research In Motion Ltd. (RIM) decided to take the name of the main product and will replace the name with BlackBerry. The new name is approved by Board of Directors, and shares of the company will begin to be traded under a ticker of BBRY at the American exchange Nasdaq and under a ticker of BB at the exchange of Toronto.

Share in the market of smartphones of only 2.9%, dismissals, losses

Capitalization of BlackBerry makes $5.582 billion (in 2008 this digit reached $84 billion). A share of the Canadian company in the market of smartphones decreased from 20% in 2008 to 2.9% in the second quarter 2013 (data of company IDC). In attempts to reduce costs on $1 billion in a year of BlackBerry dismissed for the last 12 months of 5 thousand employees. It did not help, in the second quarter 2013 its loss reached $84 million.

The BlackBerry company is offered for sale

The BlackBerry company officially announced in the summer of 2013 that it intends to sell the business if will receive the advantageous offer, Wall Street Journal reports. The committee created in the company, with the assistance of consultants from J. P. Morgan Chase financial group will be engaged in search of the buyer.

In addition to sale, the committee which part the chief executive officer of BlackBerry Torsten Haynes (Thorsten Heins) also was, will study perspectives of merge and long-term partnership. In August it was announced delisting of the producer.^[9]

Against the background of mass migrations with BlackBerry capitalization of the producer sharply fell to Android of the state departments. If 3 months ago the company was estimated at $8.2 billion, then a few days ago all at $3 billion. It is remarkable that news about sale had a positive impact on share price: they jumped by 10.5% that increased capitalization to $5.65 billion.

Despite weak market positions, BlackBerry has a number of assets which can interest buyers. For example, only its patent portfolio is estimated at $2 billion. $3 billion more the company locate in the form of money.

One of probable buyers of BlackBerry in the past was called the Microsoft corporation. According to Wall Street Journal, the parties conducted negotiations more than a year ago, but they did not lead to anything. The transaction could have a strategic importance for Microsoft, but would be complicated by the current cooperation with Nokia. Also the Silver Lake investment fund which participates in acquisition of Dell for $24.8 billion now is mentioned.

If the foreign investor (experts consider the most probable options the American or Chinese company or fund), then the transaction will have to wants to purchase the company it is approved by the government of Canada which studies all acquisitions which amount exceeds $334 million, regarding advantage for the country in general. And it is not an idle question because there are data that the Chinese company Lenovo became interested in BlackBerry.

But there is also the third option - writes the Bloomberg agency, the Canadian companies and the pension funds began to raise money for the redemption of the company group of investors on purpose not to give to BlackBerry the chance to pass into foreign hands. Canadians do not doubt that in this case the company will be partitioned and sold in parts. An example of such sad destiny is the Nortel Networks company. If the Canadian pool of investors will collect the amount sufficient for the redemption of all actions BlackBerry which are traded on the market, the company will become private, without having made to it special efforts – almost everything will make the Canadian patriotism.

Gartner: the organizations should think of transition from the BlackBerry platform

Gartner urged the clients "select a new conduct" concerning BlackBerry from the closed report of September 27, 2013. At least, the organizations should develop a backup plan for mobile devices in the next three-six months in order to avoid accident, the analyst of Gartner and the author of the report Ken Dyyulani specifies, emphasizing that those who will decide to remain on the BlackBerry platform, strongly risk.

BlackBerry decided not to be on sale and lost the CEO

BlackBerry and group led by Fairfax Financial Holdings fund refused from the transaction on business sale. The head of the Canadian smartphone manufacturer Torsten Haynes resigned, and his place was temporarily taken by John Chen, the former CEO of software developer of Sybase.

2012

Planned factors of growth

Growth factors in 2012 financial year on which the company placed emphasis:

• The release of the BlackBerry 7 operating system marked the largest updating of a line of the BlackBerry smartphones in the history of the company
• Sale of PlayBook tablets worldwide and future release of the second version of the BlackBerry PlayBook OS operating system
• Development of BBM and social applications worldwide

Логотип компании в 2012 году

Staff reduction

The Canadian company Research in Motion, the producer of the BlackBerry mobile phones, can announce in the summer of 2012 large-scale dismissals within the plan for reduction of annual costs for 1 billion dollars, Financial Times reported in May. As the market share of RIM decreases because of the competition to iPhone and the Android platform, the company intends to dismiss about 2 thousand from 16.5 thousand employees. The company already carried out a number of staff reductions which originally totaled about 20 thousand people.

Rumors about sale of a part of business of IBM

IBM considers the possibility of purchase of one of divisions of Research In Motion (RIM) which is responsible for business of the company in business market, Bloomberg reports. If more precisely, then this division is responsible for the servers which are used for ensuring work of BlackBerry services.

In the message of Bloomberg it is emphasized that it is only about officially stated intention of IBM, negotiations with RIM. Are conducted in any way yet at the initiative of the current head of the company Thorsten Heins of RIM employed financial advisors who should develop the business development strategy, including it can include sale of a part of business or technology partnership.

According to Bloomberg, so far RIM did not receive offers on purchase of telephone business or the company in general. Official comments of RIM and IBM about a possibility of this transaction were not heard yet.

Large failure in EMEA region

Owners of the BlackBerry smartphones in EMEA region had on September 21, 2012 problems with access to mobile services. Failure representatives of the Canadian company Research In Motion (RIM) which releases the BlackBerry smartphones and renders to consumers of service under this brand, announced in official accounts in Facebook and Twitter.

The macroregion of EMEA enter Europe, the Middle East and Africa. In it it is also included Russia. Problems with access to BlackBerry services appeared in day of an exit in sale smartphone Apple iPhone 5, notices the agency Reuters which announced some of the first them. "It is difficult to provide more improper time for this purpose", - noted the agency.

New failure forced loyal clients of RIM to remember 3-day idle time in work of services which affected a set from 70 million users of BlackBerry last year, including users in Russia. Then the problem accepted so large-scale character that Mike Lazaridis had to apologize personally to the chief executive officer a RIM Undershirt. Breakdown of the switch in network infrastructure of RIM became the failure reason as reported in the Canadian firm.

Earlier similar situations also were: in 2009 the error in the software of BlackBerry Messenger became the reason of one of failures. As a result users within 8 hours were left without communication.

Crash of sales: the first losses since 2005

On March 29, 2012 RIM published the negative financial statement for the IV quarter which led to falling of the share price of the company for 8% at once. Because of bad results of the place will lose several top managers, including operational and technology directors of RIM at once. The chief executive of RIM Torsten Hynes did not exclude sale to the company.

Revenues of RIM in the fourth quarter were only $4.2 billion contrary to expectations analysts in the amount of $4.6 billion. It should be noted that income was considerably reduced in comparison with an indicator in $5.2 billion quarter before, despite start in the IV quarter of the new models of the smartphone working at BlackBerry 7 OS. Also Research in Motion for the first time from 2005th financial year announced losses according to the GAAP standard in the amount of $125 million.

As analysts note, RIM goes through difficult times because of drop in sales and deliveries as a result of the amplifying competition in the market of smartphones. In addition, in the report the company had to charge off some money which went for carrying out reorganization and acquisition.

As a result the guide of the Canadian giant of the mobile equipment decided on a number of serious shifts in top management of the company. So, the Board of Directors of the company was left by Jim Balsillie who also held earlier a post of the chief executive of RIM. Jim Balsillie is considered one of the top managers standing at the origins of the company. He worked in RIM together with the founder Mike Lazaridis, since creation of the company 1990-x at the end.

In addition, it became known that the technology director of RIM David Yach and the operating officer of the company Jim Rowan will be dismissed.

In the statement devoted to the publication of the new financial statement of RIM, the chief executive of the company Thorsten Heins said that he will consider a number of the measures directed to overcoming difficulties in RIM. These measures include possible search of partners and the conclusion of license agreements with other large players of the industry.

The publication of the negative financial statement also led to emergence of rumors about possible sale of Research in Motion to one of giants of the IT industry. So, among possible candidates for acquisition of the Canadian smartphone manufacturer analysts call such companies as Microsoft and Nokia. Torsten Hynes answered a question of potential sale to the company that he does not exclude a similar opportunity, however this step is not "the main direction" of the strategic overview of the future of the company^[10].

Dynamics of a share of RIM in the market of smartphones

Leaders in sales of mobile phones and smartphones from 1992 to 2018 in animation are lower.

2011

Purchase of six companies

• In February, 2011, the RIM company purchased Gist, the company specializing in providing information on contacts of the user in the context-dependent, consolidated and ordered form.

• In March, 2011, the RIM company purchased tinyHippos, creators of the mobile simulator of the environment.

• In April, 2011, the RIM company purchased Tungle conducting the developer of services of scheduling on the basis of cloud computing.

• In June, 2011, the RIM company purchased Scoreloop, SDK for development of mobile games to which the developers creating applications for Android and iOS use.

• In May, 2011, the RIM company purchased ubitexx GmbH, the company specializing in products for mobile device management on the basis of the platforms other than BlackBerry. Acquisition of this company will allow RIM to offer corporate clients an opportunity to manage devices based on iOS and Android by means of the uniform web console.

• In the 2nd quarter of 2012 financial year (July, 2011), the RIM company purchased JayCut, the company specializing in cloud computing of video-tape editing.

Results for the II quarter of a fiscal year

Financial results for the 2nd quarter of 2012 financial year:

• In the 2nd quarter of 2012 financial year 10.6 million devices were shipped
• Revenue based on the second quarter of 2012 financial year made 4.2 billion US dollars
• For the first time in the history of RIM revenue from rendering services exceeded 1 billion US dollars. Increase in revenue was provided with growth of a subscriber base by 40% for last year
• The amount of a subscriber base of BlackBerry exceeded 70 million people
• Steady financial balance. The amount of free money based on the 2nd quarter of 2012 financial year was 1.4 billion US dollars
• The most significant contribution to ensuring growth of the company was made by the markets of South Africa, Indonesia, Western Europe, the Middle East and Latin America

Business in the different countries of the world

According to IDC for the 2nd quarter 2011, BlackBerry is the largest supplier of smartphones in Latin America, holding a market share of 35.8%.

• Colombia – the supplier of smartphones No. 1, IDC August, 2011
• Ecuador - the supplier of smartphones No. 1, IDC August, 2011
• Mexico - the supplier of smartphones No. 1, IDC August, 2011
• Peru - the supplier of smartphones No. 1, IDC August, 2011
• Venezuela - the supplier of smartphones No. 1, IDC August, 2011

According to IDC for the 2nd quarter 2011, is the largest supplier of smartphones in such countries as:

• Kuwait - the supplier of smartphones No. 1, IDC August, 2011.
• The United Arab Emirates - the supplier of smartphones No. 1, IDC August, 2011
• Great Britain - the supplier of smartphones No. 1, IDC August, 2011

Great Britain

According to GfK Retail and Technology, as of July, 2011 BlackBerry wins first place among suppliers of the smartphones offered on the terms of advance payment in Great Britain. For a month the BlackBerry Curve 8520 model was the most popular phone in Great Britain sold on the terms of advance payment.

Netherlands

According to GfK Retail and Technology, BlackBerry wins first place in a segment of the smartphones sold on the terms of advance payment. In July, 2011 the BlackBerry Curve 8520 model was the most popular phone sold on the terms of advance payment.

Spain

According to GfK Retail and Technology, BlackBerry wins first place among the smartphone manufacturers sold on the terms of advance payment, and the BlackBerry Curve 8520 model in July, 2011 became the most popular smartphone in terms of sales volumes.

South Africa

According to GfK Retail and Technology, in July, 2011 the BlackBerry brand won first place in a segment of contract mobile phones and smartphones in the market of South Africa. For a month of the BlackBerry Curve 8520, BlackBerry Bold 9780, BlackBerry Curve 3G 9300 and BlackBerry Torch model were the most sold smartphones in South Africa.

Indonesia

According to GfK Retail and Technology, BlackBerry is the largest supplier of smartphones in Indonesia as of July, 2011. For a month of the BlackBerry Curve 8520, BlackBerry Bold 9780, BlackBerry Torch 9800 and BlackBerry Curve 9300 model took respectively the 1,2,4 and 5 places among the most sold smartphones in this country.

Saudi Arabia

According to GfK Retail and Technology, the BlackBerry Curve 8520 model was the most sold smartphone in Saudi Arabia as of July, 2010.

Nigeria

According to GfK Retail and Technology, the BlackBerry Curve 8520 model was the most sold smartphone in Nigeria as of July, 2011.

From the moment of the basis till October, 2011 the RIM company sold more than 150 million BlackBerry smartphones worldwide. More than 45 million subscribers use products and company services worldwide.

For October, 2011 625 telecom operators and partners in distribution offer products and services under the name of BlackBerry in the markets of more than 175 countries of the world

Advantages of a product line, infrastructure, developments

The RIM company proposes solutions for corporate clients. The facts as of October, 2011 are included below:

• Products and the solutions BlackBerry are protected by means of the built-in technology of enciphering of AES with a key of 256 bits which is the safe and recognized on everything information protection standard

• To services of administrators of BlackBerry Enterprise Solution are offered more than 500 IT politician, allowing to manage flexibly mobile devices

• The safe architecture certified by the most authoritative organizations of the world is the cornerstone of all solutions of BlackBerry

• BlackBerry Enterprise Solution is the first mobile platform awarded the certificate of Common Criteria Certification. This system of certification is recognized as 25 countries of the world

• Thanks to the built-in technology of enciphering, the BlackBerry smartphones received a set of certificates of FIPS 140 (The federal standard of information processing - Federal Information Processing Standard) in the USA and Canada

• BlackBerry Enterprise Solution is the only solution for smartphones which was officially approved by CESG (The national technical agency of security of information which advises the government of Great Britain) and got permission for work with materials of limited access

• BlackBerry PlayBook became the first tablet which got permission of FIPS for use in federal government managements of the USA

• BlackBerry PlayBook became the first tablet certified for application in the System of defense signals of the government of Australia. It is the only model of the tablet which conforms to strict standards of security of the government of Australia.

Line of the company for October, 2011:

BlackBerry Curve 9350/9360/9370 The model is developed for a huge segment of the world market of mobile phones. It is available, simple in use and the full-function smartphone, with support of social networks.

• BlackBerry 7 operating system
• The convenient keyboard providing fast and exact text typing
• Support of GPS and WiFi
• Camera 5 MT with flash and a possibility of shooting of video
• NFC technology

BlackBerry Torch 9810 When preserving popular design of BlackBerry Torch 9800, the new BlackBerry Torch 9810 smartphone works quicker, has ampler opportunities and is controlled the new BlackBerry 7 operating system.

• BlackBerry 7 operating system
• Sliding QWERTY the BlackBerry keyboard providing fast text typing
• The big touch screen of high resolution with diagonal 3.2 inches
• The fast processor with a frequency of 1.2 GHz
• Liquid Graphics technology
• Shooting of video in the HD format
• A powerful set of the preset programs for joint work (BlackBerry Balance, BlackBerry Protect, Docs to Go Premium)
• Built-in amount of memory of 8 GB

BlackBerry Torch 9850/9860 The BlackBerry Torch 9850 and 9860 smartphones work running the BlackBerry 7 operating system and have completely touch construction

• The biggest screen in the history of BlackBerry - 3.7 inches
• Fast opening of the websites
• Games and applications for social networks
• A powerful set of the preset programs for joint work (BlackBerry Balance, BlackBerry Protect, Docs to Go Premium)
• Shooting of video in the HD format
• The fast processor with a frequency of 1.2 GHz

BlackBerry Bold 9900/9930 Models from the BlackBerry Bold 9900 series are the thinnest smartphones in the history of BlackBerry. In design of these models the combination of the touch screen, keyboard and cult design of BlackBerry Bold is for the first time implemented.

• Cult QWERTY BlackBerry keyboard
• The thinnest BlackBerry smartphone - 10.5 mm
• High-quality materials of the body, such as polished steel and back cover from aviation composite material
• The fast processor with a frequency of 1.2 GHz
• Liquid Graphics technology
• A powerful set of the preset programs for joint work (BlackBerry Balance, BlackBerry Protect, Docs to Go Premium)
• Touch screen of high resolution
• NFC technology

Cloud computing allows the BlackBerry smartphones to stay always in touch.

• With their help the RIM company gives to the clients an opportunity to safely obtain information using push-technologies and also provides integration into the equipment of telecom operators
• Cloud computing is constructed based on our infrastructure which continuously improved for more than 10 years
• In 2010 the RIM company expanded possibilities of a cloud computing architecture. Thanks to it, to services of developers push-technologies, mobile payments and also advertizing and navigation services which realize the potential of a cloud platform of RIM were provided and allow to create new types of applications
• In 2011 the RIM company continues to invest in development of cloud services

Global infrastructure of BlackBerry it is necessary the main key to success of business of the company and a key factor defining capability of RIM to offer in the market services based on push-technologies and also others the safe, managed and effective solutions for clients and partners of RIM. Data for October, 2011:

• Infrastructure of BlackBerry misses through itself about 22 petabytes of information monthly.
• For an example, one petabyte is 13.3 years of video in the HD format
• The BlackBerry smartphones have high efficiency of work, thanks to the data compression technologies working based on BlackBerry infrastructure
• On average, in comparison with other products, smartphones of the company provide twice more high efficiency of viewing the websites, four times more high efficiency during the work with e-mail and twice more high efficiency at message exchange. Thanks to it, clients have an opportunity to save on roaming payment of services, and operators test the smaller level of load of resources of the networks.
• The BlackBerry service allows to send to 11 times more of e-mails, than iPhone, having used 500 MB of traffic. Also, at this amount of traffic the BlackBerry smartphones are capable to display 7000 Internet pages, and iPhone only 3.000 Report of Rysavy

• RIM companies are owned the production facilities with a total area of 22300 square meters which are strategically located near the laboratories which are engaged in new product development

Emphasis on researches and development of new wireless technologies.

• In 2011 financial year the RIM company invested 1.35 billion US dollars in researches and development

2010

Progress in the market of mobile phones and company takeovers

• In the I quarter 2010 RIM was included into the first four of producers of mobile phones of all types though directly simple mobile phones do not enter a portfolio of the company, and remained in it till II quarter. In the IV quarter 2010, according to IDC, the company left Top-5.

• In March, 2010, the RIM company purchased Viigo, the leading supplier of relevant content and services for smartphones.

• On April 12, 2010 the RIM company reached the agreement with Harman International on acquisition of QNX Software Systems company — QNX OS developer.

• In June, 2010 the RIM company reported on sale of the 100-million BlackBerry smartphone. In the USA the BlackBerry smartphones are market leaders, and all BlackBerry are on sale in 175 countries of the world.

• In July, 2010, the RIM company purchased DataViz, industry leader on promotion of solutions for the different platforms compatible to Office and increasing productivity of work.

• On August 25, 2010 the RIM company announced purchase of Cellmania company — producer of software, allowing telecom operators and programmers to distribute applications through the centralized online platforms similar to App Store or Android Market.

• In December, 2010, the RIM company purchased The Astonishing Tribe (TAT), the company specializing in applications for mobile devices and development of user interfaces.

Release of the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet

In 2010 the company announced the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet computer. Devices are equipped with the screen of 10.1 inches, the 2-core processor and are based on own OS of the company with a multitasking support.

Financial results of year: Profit increase for 47%

Revenue for 2010, come to the end on February 26, 2011, grew by 33% to $19.9 billion in comparison with $15.0 billion in 2009-2010 financial year. Profit grew by 47% to $3.4 billion. Deliveries of smartphones reached record 52.3 million pieces - 43% more in comparison with previous year.

Amount of money and equivalents as of February 26, 2011 was $2.7 billion, having increased by $227 million in 3 months.

According to IDC, in 2010 RIM took the second place on deliveries of smartphones to the world market after Nokia (at the last - 100.3 million devices). Together with Nokia and RIM the first five of producers was separated by Apple, Samsung and HTC. Also the second place of RIM company in the market of smartphones was appropriated in Strategy Analytics.

2009: Buying up of a set of the companies

• In the 3rd quarter of 2009 financial year (January, 2009), the RIM company announced purchase of Chalk Media, developer of the set of applications 'Mobile Chalkboard' allowing to create quickly and to broadcast safely Pushkasta for the BlackBerry smartphones.

• In the 3rd quarter of 2009 financial year (February, 2009), the RIM company purchased Alt-N, the company specializing in development of solutions for safe message exchange and joint work.

• In the 4th quarter of 2009 financial year (March, 2009), the RIM company purchased Certicom, the developer of management systems for enciphering and access restrictions to information.

• In May, 2009, the RIM company purchased Dash Navigation, the supplier of the services providing information based on data on the user's location and also solutions for the analysis of traffic in real time.

• In August, 2009, the RIM company purchased Torch Mobile conducting solution provider with the open code based on Web Kit.

• In August, 2009 the Fortune magazine called RIM the most fast-growing company in the world with growth of income by 84% in three years despite global recession. In ten years the company sold 50 million smartphones that made Blackberry the second most popular smartphone in the world.

2002: The first BlackBerry smartphone

In 2002 the first BlackBerry smartphone which supported all functions of the mobile phone, text input, web surfing, push e-mail and other wireless services was released.

1997: The first pager under the name of BlackBerry

In 1997 the first device under the BlackBerry trademark was provided. Then this device looked as a pager with the big screen — basic function: instant corporate communication. According to other information the BlackBerry brand appeared in 1999.

The 1980th

The BlackBerry company, was founded in 1984 by Mike Lazaridis and Douglas Fredzhin, students of the University of Waterloo.

In the beginning the company was guided by engineering tasks. Since 1988 begins to work mainly on wireless data transmission. In 1988 the company of the first in North America offered technologies of wireless data transmission. Then the RIM company cooperated with Ericsson and RAM Mobile Data companies to use technology of wireless data transmission in the paging networks existing at that time. Inter@ctive pager 950 competing with products of Motorola company, the leader of the industry became the noticeable device.

Notes