BlackBerry acquires anti-snooping firm Secusmart
by The Canadian Press
Chief executive John Chen says buying the German company will address growing concerns about threats to individual privacy and national security
WATERLOO, Ont.—BlackBerry has bought German anti-eavesdropping firm Secusmart GmbH in a move to bulk up its security assets.
The company did not disclose the financial details of the agreement, which was announced at a security-themed event held in New York.
Chief executive John Chen says buying the company will address growing concerns about threats to individual privacy and national security.
Secusmart provides high-level voice and data encryption for governments, businesses and telecommunications service providers.
BlackBerry has previously worked with Secusmart to develop special technology for phones that were distributed to several German government agencies, as well as German government ministries and leaders, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Chen was hired last year to reshape BlackBerry, cut costs and lead an effort to find a better footing in the highly competitive tech sector. Before he took the job, he helped turn software company Sybase into a profitable operation focused on mobile business technology.
