BlackBerry to buy rival Good Technology for US$425mil

Getting its ducks in a row: BlackBerry is buying a rival firm to improve its device management software for enterprise customers.

TORONTO: Canada's BlackBerry Ltd said it will buy rival mobile software provider Good Technology Corp for US$425mil (RM1.82bil), to boost its ability to help corporate clients manage smartphones running on different operating systems. 

The cash deal may help BlackBerry, a one-time smartphone pioneer, win new customers for its services business, a priority as it shifts focus to device management software for enterprise customers. More than half the devices running on Good's systems are Apple Inc products such as the iPhone.