BlackBerry snaps up feisty competitor Good Technology for $425 million

In a clear move that is doubling-down on the enterprise mobile security market and bolstering its enterprise mobility pitch, BlackBerry is acquiring competitor and software security provider Good Technology for $425 million in cash. BlackBerry and Good Technology have witnessed a tumultuous history with public spats in the past over the superiority of respective offerings. But all the bad blood is now history as Good’s technology will integrate into BlackBerry’s enterprise portfolio. [caption id=“attachment_1129665” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Reuters[/caption] Good specialises in multi-OS management and applications, with 64 percent of activations from iOS devices, followed by a broad Android and Windows customer base and serves more than 6,200 organisations. Clearly, as iOS grows stronger than ever in the enterprise , the iOS part of Good’s market is a draw for BlackBerry. With Good, BlackBerry claims it is creating the most comprehensive secure mobility platform in the market. “BlackBerry will expand its ability to offer a unified, secure mobility platform with applications for any mobile device on any operating system,” a BlackBerry release said. The release added that Good’s multi-OS approach combined with BlackBerry’s strength in BlackBerry 10 and Android management – including Samsung KNOX-enabled devices – will provide customers with increased choice for securely deploying any leading operating system in their organisation. “Like BlackBerry, Good has a very strong presence in enterprises and governments around the world and, with this transaction, BlackBerry will enhance its sales and distribution capabilities and further grow its enterprise software revenue stream,” said John Chen, BlackBerry Executive Chairman and CEO. “Integration of solutions such as BBM, WatchDox by BlackBerry, and Good Work will make end users more productive – and they won’t have to give up the devices or functionality that they’ve grown to love,” Good CEO Christy Wyatt said. BlackBerry said Good technology will also contribute to the growth of its Internet of Things platform to go beyond mobile devices and manage new, connected endpoints. “We will be able to better bridge IoT for regulated industries as many machines and devices requiring next generation digital displays will leverage mobile devices and tablets. These devices all require EMM solutions,” BlackBerry COO Marty Beard said. In addition, Good will enable BlackBerry to add support for wearables. BlackBerry shares were up 4 percent in pre-market trading on news of the deal.