BlackBerry partners with Google concerning Android

BlackBerry Ltd.’s stock jumped after it announced a partnership with Google Inc. to allow the search giant’s suite of mobile productivity tools to run on the smartphone maker’s device management system.
The agreement lets businesses and governments running BlackBerry’s BES12 software integrate Android for Work, which Google rolled out today, BlackBerry said in a statement.
The news sent BlackBerry stock up 2.3 percent to $10.51 at the close. Google, based in Mountain View, California, rose 1.5 percent to $543.87.



As more businesses allow employees to use their own phones for work, BlackBerry is trying to increase its ability to manage devices and tools from multiple technology providers. In November, the Waterloo, Ontario-based company inked a similar deal with Samsung Electronics Co.
Android for Work allows users to separate work and personal applications on their smartphones, letting a company’s information-technology department secure and manage only work- related content.
The partnership shows BlackBerry’s reputation for security is still strong, said Kevin Stadtler, president of Stadtler Capital Management LLC.
“One shortcoming of the Android platform is security. They’re partnering with BlackBerry in order to directly address that,” Stadtler, who owns BlackBerry stock, said by phone.
Google also announced partnerships on Android for Work with companies including SAP SE, Samsung and SOTI Inc.