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In a bid to diversify its revenue base, BlackBerry has joined the bandwagon of companies competing for a slice of the Web-connected devices, popularly known as the Internet of Things (IoT).
The Canadian smartphone maker has launched a new IoT platform for keeping track of shipping containers and vehicles; the Web application will soon come to Indian shores.
Leading BlackBerry’s charge in this space is India-born Sandeep Chennakeshu, who was handpicked by Chief Executive Officer John Chen last August, to lead a new business unit called BlackBerry Technology Solutions (BTS).
The IoT platform would bank on BlackBerry’s technology assets, including QNX (embedded software), Certicom (cryptography applications), Paratek (RF antenna tuning) and its patent portfolio.
“We believe that our IoT platform is the most complete one featuring devices, dashboards, administrative console, federated identity, device management, and a global network equipped with a strong messaging bus. We did not build all of this instantly and it’s not easy for others to do so either,” BTS president Chennakeshu told BusinessLine . In a career spanning over 30 years, US-based Chennakeshu has had top management stints in Ericsson and Freescale Semiconductor. Chen added that the BlackBerry platform would be inter-operable, thereby allowing it to connect with other competing platforms in the market.
Chennakeshu is scheduled to visit India in the next few months for showcasing the IoT platform to potential customers.
“We are starting to talk to a lot of government and quasi-government agencies in India. Given the Centre’s thrust on security and connected cities, we are optimistic of getting good traction in India for IoT and embedded software,” he said on the sidelines of the Consumer Electronic Show here.
BTS is scouting for partners that can smoothen out its India foray and assist in tweaking technology for local needs. On its radar are large logistic companies and automakers that want to track assets on a real-time basis.
“Once we get a serious partner, my goal will be to expand in India more than the US or Canada,” he added.
The IoT play is in line with CEO Chen’s focus on making BlackBerry a more software- and enterprise solutions-focussed company. BlackBerry has been trying to re-invent itself for the last three years after sales of its smartphones dramatically eroded due to competition from Apple and devices powered by Google’s Android operating system.
“We’ve still got a lot of work to do. The most important thing is that for the year that has passed, I hope that everybody agrees the company is no longer in financial trouble. We’re here to stay — now the fun part starts,” CEO Chen said.
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