 "BlackBerry's healthcare bet: Picks up stake in NantHealth")
BlackBerry has bought a minority stake in privately-held healthcare technology start-up NantHealth. The companies will collaborate on the development of HIPAA and other government privacy certified, integrated clinical systems that transform the delivery of medical care, according to a statement released by the company. The financial terms of the investment were not disclosed.
“Healthcare is one of the key industries in which we have unique advantages. BlackBerry’s capabilities align closely with NantHealth’s and this investment represents the type of forward-looking opportunities that are vital to our future,” said said BlackBerry CEO and Executive Chair, John Chen.
[caption id=“attachment_77558” align=“alignleft” width=“300”]
 Image: Reuters[/caption]
“This investment and planned collaboration aligns with the reliability, security and versatility of BlackBerry’s end-to-end solutions - from the embedded QNX operating system powering complex medical devices, to secure cloud-based networks, to instantaneous information sharing over BBM Protected.”
NantHealth’s cloud-based platform is already set up at about 250 hospitals and connects more than 16,000 medical devices. The tech startup said the partnership with BlackBerry would enable NantHealth to expand its base of services. “BlackBerry’s expertise is incredibly valuable to NantHealth as we expand our platform and make it available for wider deployment through a secure mobile device,” said Patrick Soon-Shiong, NantHealth’s founder.
“The future of the healthcare industry requires the ability to share information securely and quickly, whether device-to-device or doctor-to-doctor anywhere and at any time. The potential to integrate BlackBerry’s secure mobile communications, along with the company’s QNX embedded technology, will put the power of a supercomputer in the palm of the caregiver’s hand. Providing actionable information at the time of need will significantly improve the efficiency of healthcare and, more importantly, the efficacy of care for the patient,” he added.
Future BlackBerry devices will support NantHealth’s medical software, known as the clinical Operating System (cOS), and use BBM Protected to allow for secure communication between doctors and patients.
The two companies are even working together to develop a new smartphone tailored to the needs of the healthcare sector. “The device is likely to get launched late in 2014 or early in 2015,” Jim Mackey, BlackBerry’s head of corporate development and strategic planning, told Reuters. “We do plan to make the device available for all, but it will be optimised for viewing 3D images and CT scans,” said Mackey, adding that the device will also be usable as a regular smartphone, allowing users to view movies, play games or access consumer applications."
 "Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?")
 "As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland")
 "Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar")
 "Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe")
 "Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?")
 "As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland")
 "Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar")
 "Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe")
](https://images.firstpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/blackberry380.jpg){kind=link}