BlackBerry announces partnerships for launch of BlackBerry Classic

BlackBerry has announced a couple of new device partnerships with Mackenzie Health and Ingram Micro Mobility. Both companies will launch the new BlackBerry Classic. Mackenzie Health will launch the device to its employees, including those in sensitive positions.

In addition to launching the BlackBerry Classic, Ingram Micro will also distribute BlackBerry enterprise bundles, and already offers BES12. For more on the BlackBerry Classic, be sure to read our full review.

Press release:

December 17, 2014

Healthcare Provider Mackenzie Health to Deploy BlackBerry Classic Mackenzie Health also adds BlackBerry Passport and Z30 smartphones to its mobile fleet; Chooses BES12 for secure EMM

WATERLOO, ONTARIO and RICHMOND HILL, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Dec. 17, 2014) - BlackBerry Limited (NASDAQ:BBRY)(TSX:BB), a global leader in mobile communications, and Mackenzie Health, a dynamic regional healthcare provider serving a population of more than half a million people, today announced that Mackenzie Health will use BlackBerry(R) Classic(TM) within their organization.

Mackenzie Health, which includes Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital, the future Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital and a comprehensive network of community services, will make BlackBerry Classic available to its employees, particularly those dealing with highly-sensitive information, as part of their corporate-issued mobile device fleet. BlackBerry Classic merges the industry-leading security and award-winning performance of BlackBerry 10 with the traditional device design and features that users love, including the classic navigation keys, optical trackpad and short cuts.

"We are eager to add the BlackBerry Classic to our fleet of BlackBerry 10 devices available to our employees. They deal with sensitive information so we need to be assured that our mobile devices comply with strict patient privacy and confidentiality regulations without sacrificing productivity," said Richard Tam, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Mackenzie Health. "Together with BES12, BlackBerry Classic offers us the most secure end-to-end mobile infrastructure for our staff, especially for those who loved the familiar design of their BlackBerry Bold and Curve devices."

BES12, BlackBerry Passport and Healthcare

"Our customers in regulated industries like healthcare have said they need more than just point solutions, they want the breadth and peace of mind that only an end-to-end, cross-platform EMM solution can provide," said Ron Louks, President, Devices and Emerging Solutions at BlackBerry. "BES12 will allow Mackenzie Health to offer their employees choice when it comes to BYOD, but still maintain the data privacy standards required in the healthcare industry. With BES12, BlackBerry delivers a secure cross-platform, deeply integrated communications engine for the exchange of health information. BlackBerry Classic and BlackBerry Passport provide end-to-end security for the employees who need it and gives them the productive user experience that they're looking for."

In addition to BlackBerry Classic, Mackenzie Health will add the BlackBerry(R) Passport and Z30s to their cross-platform mobile fleet, offering employees choice in either a QWERTY keyboard or all-touch smartphone. The BlackBerry Passport is uniquely positioned to be a primary device for healthcare professionals because of its wide screen and very high pixel density for viewing and sharing clinical images, as well as a pocket-sized form factor and a physical and touch-enabled keyboard for easy and secure communication.

To manage Mackenzie Health's cross-platform fleet of mobile devices, they will also deploy BES12(TM): a cross-platform EMM solution by BlackBerry(R). BES12 can manage any mobile deployment model such as BYOD, COPE and COBO, and seamlessly supports iOS, Android(TM), Windows Phone(R), BlackBerry(R) 10 and BlackBerry(R) OS devices. The best-in-class security of BES12 is allowing Mackenzie Health to offer a BYOD program for employees who are not issued a corporate device for regulatory reasons.

Press release:

December 17, 2014

Ingram Micro Mobility Partners with BlackBerry to Launch the BlackBerry Classic Ingram Micro Mobility to distribute BlackBerry Enterprise Bundles and BES12

WATERLOO, ONTARIO and SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA--(Marketwired - Dec. 17, 2014) - BlackBerry Limited (NASDAQ:BBRY)(TSX:BB), a global leader in mobile communications, and Ingram Micro Inc. (NYSE:IM) ("Ingram Micro Mobility") today announced that Ingram Micro Mobility will launch BlackBerry(R) Classic(TM), a device built for the QWERTY keyboard loyalists and those eager to rediscover the speed and accuracy of a physical BlackBerry keyboard.

BlackBerry Classic merges the industry-leading security and award-winning performance of BlackBerry 10 with the traditional device design and features that users love, including the classic navigation keys, optical trackpad and short cuts. This device also upgrades the BlackBerry(R) Bold experience with a faster browser, larger screen size, longer battery life, higher quality camera, and more applications.

"As a long-time partner of BlackBerry, we are excited to deepen our relationship and support the launch of BlackBerry Classic," said Shailendra Gupta, Executive Vice President and President Ingram Micro Mobility world-wide. "With immense experience in providing complete Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM) solutions, we believe our reseller channel will embrace the BlackBerry Classic and robust BlackBerry enterprise solutions offering as part of our comprehensive enterprise focused portfolio."

"As one of our leading global distribution partners, Ingram Micro Mobility's commitment to delivering BlackBerry Classic supports our desire to make our best-in-class products available around the world," said Ron Louks, President, Devices and Emerging Solutions at BlackBerry. "With the addition of BlackBerry Classic, Ingram Micro Mobility will now be offering our full portfolio of enterprise security, productivity, and communication and collaboration products and services."

The BlackBerry Classic symbolizes the no-nonsense form and function that long-time BlackBerry users have come to depend on when looking to get work done in an efficient manner. This powerful communications tool upgrades the previous BlackBerry(R) Bold 9900 experience with:

  • Three times faster browser

  • 60 percent more screen space

  • 50 percent longer battery life

BlackBerry Classic is built on BlackBerry's renowned secure operating system, with built-in protection against viruses, tampering and data leaks. The BlackBerry Classic is private by default, protecting users with encrypted email, web browsing and BBM.

Enterprise Bundles and BES12

The companies also announced today that Ingram Micro Mobility will offer the following enterprise bundles:

The Secure Productivity Bundle includes the following enterprise solutions:

  • VPN Authentication by BlackBerry(R)

  • BBM(TM) Protected

  • BlackBerry(R) Blend for Enterprise

  • Advantage Level Support

The Enterprise Communicator Bundle includes the following solutions:

  • BBM Meetings

  • BBM Protected

  • Advantage Level Support

Ingram Micro Mobility already offers BES12(TM): a cross-platform EMM solution by BlackBerry(R) to its reseller channel. BES12 securely manages devices from all of the major enterprise mobile platforms and is the foundation for BlackBerry's extensive portfolio of enterprise security, productivity, and communication and collaboration services that will help organizations securely connect employees with each other and with the corporate information and machines that are required to get their jobs done.

For more information on BES12, please visit www.blackberry.com/bes12 and for more information about where and how to purchase the BlackBerry Classic and other Blackberry products, please contact your local Ingram Micro Mobility representative.

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