Former mobile foes Google and BlackBerry have announced a landmark partnership, which will see the creation of a version of Android secure enough for enterprise use.
The companies are working to bring the BlackBerry BES 12 enterprise deployment service and a host of new security features to Google’s Android 5.0 Lollipop operating system.
The initiative will make it easier for workplaces to deploy enterprise apps on Android phones and tablets, while offering tougher security and easier device management.
The BES12 roll out will work in tandem with the Google Play for Work ecosystem, BlackBerry wrote in a statement (via CrackBerry).
The Canadian firm said: “New features are now available through Android and BES12 that enable organizations to further secure enterprise and personal data on Android devices, set new levels of hardware based encryption, and ensure tight integration with Google Play for Work, for increased application management, while delivering a consistent end-user and management experience across their Android fleet.”
Related: How to install Android apps on a BlackBerry phone
The announcement may be tied in with the expected launch of an Android device made by BlackBerry.
BlackBerry CEO John Chen recently said his company would build an Android phone if the OS was secure enough.
With the Waterloo company providing that security, perhaps the first Android phone to feature the bolstered software will be built by BlackBerry?
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
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We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.