BlackBerry partners with Sharecare to accelerate consumer-driven healthcare and enable secure communication

BlackBerry and Sharecare, a leading digital health and wellness engagement platform, have announced a new strategic technology collaboration at CES 2016. The partnership will see BlackBerry integrate Sharecare's proprietary fractal voice analysis into BlackBerry's secure messaging to increase consumer self-awareness, reduce stress and improve relationships, all while providing the gold-standard in consumer privacy.

"At Sharecare, we strive to make healthcare more accessible by allowing consumers to ask, learn and act on their health and wellness, and we recognize mobility is an integral way consumers live, transact and interact," said Jeff Arnold, Chairman and CEO, Sharecare. "With BlackBerry, we are safeguarding against vulnerabilities and taking responsibility to address privacy concerns in the healthcare industry." "With the accessibility mobility provides, it also comes with the increased risk of data breaches that can compromise patient information and care," said Marty Beard, COO, BlackBerry. "When it comes to managing our health, it is imperative we provide secure solutions that address privacy concerns for organizations like Sharecare, in order to address one of the critical requirements for mass adoption of mobile healthcare solutions."

This news makes Sharecare the first company to integrate BBM messaging and VOIP infrastructure capabilities into its native application, regardless of smartphone or operating system. Furthermore, the companies will move to enable consumers to safely store, manage and update their health information in one place, enable doctors and healthcare professionals to privately communicate with patients, and offer secure tele-health services.

Press release:

BlackBerry and Sharecare Partner to Accelerate Consumer-Driven Healthcare and Enable Secure Communication

Sharecare First Company to Integrate BlackBerry Software Into Native Mobile Applications on iOS, Android and BB10 Devices

WATERLOO, ONTARIO and ATLANTA, GEORGIA and LAS VEGAS, NEVADA--(Marketwired - Jan. 6, 2016) - BlackBerry Limited (NASDAQ:BBRY)(TSX:BB), a global leader in secure mobile communications, today announced at CES 2016 a partnership with Sharecare, a leading digital health and wellness engagement platform, to provide consumers with better and more secure insights into their health.

Over 41 million people have shared more than 6 billion data points about their health status and habits with Sharecare, which uses that information to create a comprehensive health profile where each user can access their health resources in one place, and connect to the care they need. With security and privacy of its consumers a top priority, Sharecare will be the first company to integrate BBM messaging and VOIP infrastructure capabilities into its native application - regardless of smartphone or operating system.

This strategic technology collaboration between Sharecare and BlackBerry will integrate Sharecare's proprietary fractal voice analysis into BlackBerry's secure messaging to increase consumer self-awareness, reduce stress and improve relationships, all while providing the gold-standard in consumer privacy. Building on this, the companies will move to enable consumers to safely store, manage and update their health information in one place, enable doctors and healthcare professionals to privately communicate with patients, and offer secure tele-health services.

"At Sharecare, we strive to make healthcare more accessible by allowing consumers to ask, learn and act on their health and wellness, and we recognize mobility is an integral way consumers live, transact and interact," said Jeff Arnold, Chairman and CEO, Sharecare. "With BlackBerry, we are safeguarding against vulnerabilities and taking responsibility to address privacy concerns in the healthcare industry." "With the accessibility mobility provides, it also comes with the increased risk of data breaches that can compromise patient information and care," said Marty Beard, COO, BlackBerry. "When it comes to managing our health, it is imperative we provide secure solutions that address privacy concerns for organizations like Sharecare, in order to address one of the critical requirements for mass adoption of mobile healthcare solutions."

BBM works on iOS®, Android™, and BlackBerry smartphones. Find out more about BBM at www.bbm.com.

About BlackBerry

BlackBerry is securing a connected world, delivering innovative solutions across the entire mobile ecosystem and beyond. We secure the world's most sensitive data across all end points - from cars to smartphones - making the mobile-first enterprise vision a reality. Founded in 1984 and based in Waterloo, Ontario, BlackBerry operates offices in North America, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Asia Pacific and Latin America. The Company trades under the ticker symbols "BB" on the Toronto Stock Exchange and "BBRY" on the NASDAQ. For more information, visit www.BlackBerry.com.

About Sharecare

Sharecare is a digital health and wellness engagement platform that provides people with personalized resources to help them live their healthiest lives. Nearly 40 million people have shared more than 6 billion data points about their health status and habits with Sharecare, which uses that information to create a comprehensive health profile allowing users to access all of their health resources in one place, and dynamically connect to the knowledge, evidence-based programs and health professionals they need. Created by Jeff Arnold and Dr. Mehmet Oz in 2010, Sharecare's predictive and personalized platform is accessed daily by millions of consumers, including viewers of The Dr. Oz Show, patient populations of the country's leading hospital systems and every Soldier in the United States Army.

Read more