The IT Nerd

BlackBerry has just announced that their latest smartphone, the PRIV is available for pre-order in Canada, the United States, and UK. Built on BlackBerry’s legacy of securing and keeping private our customers’ data, PRIV brings the best of BlackBerry’s security, privacy and productivity to the Android ecosystem.

The device offers unique tools and features – like DTEK which is their exclusive warning system app that lets you know when your privacy could be at risk so you can take action to improve it, as well as an elegant, slim design with a slide-out physical keyboard, 5.4-inch dual-curved screen and a powerful 18MP camera. And of course, access to the Google Play store to easily download all the apps you want.

PRIV will be the solution for smartphone users who are learning daily of the lack of privacy they have on their current devices. PRIV will be the answer for former BlackBerry users who miss the physical keyboard but want more apps. And we’re responding to current – and prospective – BlackBerry users who need it all: choice, innovation, security, privacy and productivity.

Customers in Canada, United States, and UK can pre-order PRIV from ShopBlackBerry.com. PRIV will be priced at $699 USD in the US, $899 CDN in Canada and £559 incl. VAT in the UK. Learn more via the Inside BlackBerry blog as well.

UPDATE: John Chen had these comments:

BlackBerry is the most trusted maker of secure hardware and software in the world today. World leaders, government agencies and the biggest businesses depend on us. I committed that we would release an Android phone only if we could make it secure – today is that day. I’m proud to announce the world’s first BlackBerry smartphone powered by Android built to Protect Your Privacy, available for pre-order today.

Last week, a new BBM update became available for BlackBerry, iOS and Android smartphones. With the new BBM update BBM and PayPal are integrating peer-to-peer (P2P) money transfers within BBM. P2P money transfers will initially be available in Canada with additional European countries and the United States launching in the coming weeks.

Traditional money transfers are slow and cumbersome, and it is often difficult to connect the sender and receiver. Assurance that the money had been received is also an issue. BlackBerry is addressing these challenges by integrating P2P money transfers within BlackBerry’s popular BBM app. This will provide users on iOS, Android and BlackBerry smartphones an easy and convenient way to send money directly within a BBM chat, without the need to share account numbers or sensitive financial information. Confirmation of the transaction will be communicated in real-time within BBM.

For more information about the update including BBM support for the Apple Watch, visit Inside BlackBerry.

Today is not a good day for BlackBerry. They posted [Warning: PDF] their their Q2 numbers and they don’t look good. Here’s the highlights, or low lights as the case may be:

• They reported $51-million (U.S.) of net income for the three months ended Aug. 29. That’s better than the net loss of $207-million a year ago. But it fell short of adjusted expectations with a posted loss of $66-million or 13 cents per share. The street was expecting 9 cents per share.
• Revenue dropped 46 per cent to $490-million. That is well below analyst estimates of $611-million.

The net result is that BlackBerry shares were down almost 5% in pre-market trading, but have recovered since. Maybe the news of an Android powered smartphone is helping them. Called the BlackBerry Priv, its first BlackBerry smartphone that will be able to run Android as well as BlackBerry 10:

Priv will be the solution for smartphone users who are learning daily of the lack of privacy they have on their current devices. Priv will be the answer for former BlackBerry users who miss the physical keyboard but needed apps. And, we’re responding to current – and prospective – BlackBerry users who need it all: choice, innovation, security, privacy and productivity.

What’s unique about our Android phone is that we are collaborating with Google to bring the best of BlackBerry security and productivity to the Android ecosystem.

It should be interesting to see if this helps or hurts BlackBerry as I expect that there are some BlackBerry loyalists who are having a heart attack because of this news.

You might recall that BlackBerry had announced that they were acquiring a company named AtHoc which specializes in secure, networked crisis communications. Yesterday, BlackBerry announced that they had completed the acquisition.

AtHoc technology enhances BlackBerry’s mission to provide secure communication solutions for the connected world. It will integrate with BlackBerry’s enterprise portfolio of cross-platform solutions and trusted global network to enable new capabilities for safety, security and mission-critical business communications. For example, new applications may include integrating AtHoc solutions with WatchDox for secure distribution of confidential documents during emergency situations. As part of BlackBerry’s value added solutions, AtHoc’s current portfolio will continue to be made available, including solutions such as AtHoc Connect™, which enable organizations to create their own secure, permission-based communities of individuals and groups that share critical messages and rich media during a crisis to rapidly resolve emergencies in real time assuring business continuity and support for life safety operations.

The company also put up a blog post here about the acquisition. It will be interesting to see how this and other recent BlackBerry acquisitions fit into the BlackBerry ecosystem and add value to the company.

I just about fell off my chair when the news that BlackBerry has acquired Good Technologies. for $425 million in cash. BlackBerry and Good are part of a very competitive market that’s constantly evolving. But, this move brings together complementary capabilities from both companies to create the most comprehensive secure mobile platform in the market. At least that’s how BlackBerry is spinning it on a call for investors that I am listening to as I type this. And I say that because it was just a year ago that John Chen who is BlackBerry’s CEO said that Good Isn’t Good Enough.

More spin information is available on the Inside BlackBerry Blog.

BlackBerry has announced the new redesigned BlackBerry Passport Silver Edition, which features a sophisticated design and intuitive tools that business professionals need.

The new BlackBerry Passport Silver Edition makes everyday tasks easier with updated features that business professionals need to stay productive on-the-go:

• Achieve a stylish look with a refined industrial design, made with a stainless steel frame to provide more strength and durability
• Always stay connected with the new BlackBerry 10.3.2 operating system, including new features such as BlackBerry Assistant, BlackBerry Blend and Amazon Appstore
• Never worry about charging your phone with the best-in-class battery that provides up to 30 hours of usage

The BlackBerry Passport Silver Edition will be available through ShopBlackBerry.com in North America starting today for $549 USD. The BlackBerry Passport Silver Edition will be available through ShopBlackBerry.com in the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands in the coming weeks. Amazon.com, Carphone Warehouse and Selfridges will be launching the BlackBerry Passport Silver Edition online in the next couple of weeks. Selfridges will also launch the BlackBerry Passport Silver Edition in the BlackBerry Shop at Selfridges London. Distributors in select regions will also carry the BlackBerry Passport Silver Edition in limited quantities.

Never heard of AtHoc? That’s okay. They’re a company that AtHoc facilitates real time secure communications during emergencies. People like DHS and the department of defense in the US use them. And now BlackBerry has bought them. Here’s why:

“BlackBerry is making strategic investments in security, privacy and the Internet of Things, and acquiring AtHoc will enable us to provide a holistic, end-to-end approach to communications,” said John Chen, BlackBerry Executive Chairman and CEO. “We have a proud history of securing mission-critical communications for the public sector as well as enterprises operating in the most highly regulated industries. AtHoc’s technology and expertise will play a key role as BlackBerry works to connect and secure a broad range of endpoints.”

“AtHoc and BlackBerry share a common vision of a securely connected world,” said Guy Miasnik, President and CEO, AtHoc. “Federal departments, state and local agencies, and commercial enterprises alike depend on AtHoc to communicate reliably during their most critical moments. Becoming part of BlackBerry will give us the ability to scale more quickly to expand our global reach and introduce new applications for the AtHoc platform, while continuing to serve our government and enterprise customers.”

If you look at some of the companies that BlackBerry has acquired over the last little while, they’re clearly trying to position themselves as the secure communications provider. It will be interesting to see how it pays off for them.

BlackBerry 10 users can download or update to BlackBerry Blend 1.2 to take advantage of a new UI and enhanced features. BlackBerry Blend seamlessly brings messaging and content that’s on your BlackBerry smartphone to your computer and tablet.  Get instant message notifications, read and respond to your work and personal email, BBM and text messages, and access your documents, calendar, contacts and media in real-time on whatever device you are on, powered by your BlackBerry. BlackBerry Blend works across multiple operating systems including Mac, Windows, iOS and Android.*

Boost your productivity by upgrading to BlackBerry Blend 1.2, which introduces numerous new enhancements:

• BlackBerry Blend dashboard & application navigation, updated user interface redesign: The BlackBerry Blend Dashboard has been newly designed based on customer feedback. You can now access the apps, settings, and help in the left navigation pane. You can move between apps from anywhere within BlackBerry Blend, so you can quickly and easily accomplish more.
• Instant replies from BlackBerry Blend notifications: Notifications of BBM and SMS from any app let you respond or go to the BlackBerry Hub with a single touch. When receiving notifications reply directly by clicking on the instant preview without having go to the BlackBerry Blend dashboard, allowing you to quickly respond and get back to what you were doing without missing a step.
• Centralized File Transfer Manager for file uploads and downloads: View the progress of a file transfer, cancel a transfer, and view previous transfers from the File Transfer Manager.
• Spell check within BlackBerry Blend: BlackBerry Blend now includes spell check so you can see and correct misspelled words before sending your messages.
• Portrait Mode for tablets: Pick the best view for your content with the introduction of portrait mode for tablets.

Check out their “How to Videos” to learn more and InsideBlackBerry for additional details.

BlackBerry launched enhancements to BBM Protected that provide simple, secure instant messaging with strong IT control for enterprise customers:

• BBM Protected Cloud Directory Service enables enterprise users to start BBM chats with their coworkers within the same organization without the need to first send a BBM invite. This service enables users to find and connect with their coworkers more quickly and easily, and ultimately increases their productivity.
• Two new IT policies, ‘BBM Protected Wipe Data’and ‘BBM Protected Disable BBM Channels’ give IT admins more control over their corporate data and usage of BYOD devices.

You can find out more about BBM Protected enhancements in this blog post.

BlackBerry also announced new features for BBM Meetings that provide expanded multi-OS support and additional feature enhancements:

• The Microsoft Outlook Plug in for Mac will allow users to directly schedule and start a BBM Meeting as seamlessly from their desktop as they already do from their mobile device. Similar to the Microsoft Outlook Plug-in for Windows PC, users will be able to download the Plug-in for Mac via an online download page.
• Coming soon, BBM Meetings will also support a fully featured collaboration experience for iPad users, including a whiteboard feature to brainstorm with other participants in the meeting.

Get the details on these features and other enhancements for BBM Meetings in this blog post.