BlackBerry Signs its First BlackBerry Secure Licensing Deal

BlackBerry (NASDAQ:BBRY; TSX:BB) has announced it has signed its first BlackBerry Secure licensing deal with Yangzhou New Telecom Science and Technology Company.
As quoted in the press release:

As part of BlackBerry’s multi-dimensional licensing strategy, this licensing agreement means NTD will develop devices that will be branded by OEMs, carriers and local smartphone brands and marketed as “BlackBerry Secure” due to the use of BlackBerry’s security software. This builds on the agreements with BB Merah Putih, Optemius and TCL, which enable those companies to bring to market BlackBerry-branded devices such as the award-winning BlackBerry KEYone smartphone.
“This marks the next phase of our licensing strategy, which is focused on enabling vendors to bring to market mobile communication devices that aren’t just secure, but BlackBerry Secure,” said Alex Thurber, senior vice president and general manager of Mobility Solutions, BlackBerry. “We’re thrilled to partner with NTD and Equiis and look forward to extending this dynamic relationship to include more carriers and a range of devices.”
The first product from this partnership will be an all-touch smartphone, which will use BlackBerry’s suite of device software security technologies and secure enterprise collaboration technology from Equiis Technologies Switzerland AG of Zurich. It is expected to ship early in 2018. Customers and markets for the smartphone will be announced at a later date.
“With hacks and other malicious threats directed towards all connected devices on the rise, we’re proud to be able to offer our customers BlackBerry Secure smartphones,” said Eugene Li, CEO of NTD. “Providing this level of security will give our customers peace of mind while communicating for business or just in their everyday lives.”

Click here to read the full press release.