BlackBerry to buy crisis-communications software firm AtHoc

BlackBerry Ltd. (TSX:BB) has signed a deal to buy software company AtHoc, a provider of secure, networked crisis communications.

The terms of the deal, which is expected to close by November, were not revealed.

AtHoc helps organizations and people to connect and share information in times of crisis. BlackBerry says the deal announced today will enable AtHoc to expand globally.

BlackBerry said one example of a new applications may to to bolster BBM Meetings with AtHoc capabilities enabling the use of live video feeds or the transmission of messages to provide real-time collaboration by leaders and decision makers.

BlackBerry has made a number of recent acquisitions as part of a new software-focused strategy created to improve its flagging performance. “We’re making the move to acquire AtHoc, because we knew we could take a government-grade, secure software platform meant for crisis communication and enhance it with our current enterprise portfolio and trusted global network”.

John Chen, executive chairman and CEO of BlackBerry, said: “AtHoc’s technology and expertise will play a key role as BlackBerry works to connect and secure a broad range of endpoints”.

AtHoc’s software, which the company describes as an Internet-of-Things platform, enables users to collaborate in realtime during life-safety operations through devices on multiple platforms, such as iOS, Android, PC and Mac desktops.

“Federal departments, state and local agencies, and commercial enterprises alike depend on AtHoc to communicate reliably during their most critical moments”.

Blackberry obviously stands to benefit from absorbing AtHoc’s high caliber clientele, but AtHoc’s software will also get powerful injection by integrating with Blackberry’s BBM messenger.

Gartner Inc., a research firm, recently granted AtHoc the top spot for having implemented the firm’s Magic Quadrant for U.S. Emergency/Mass Notification Services. He later stated that some of the company’s large clients compliment BlackBerry’s own. Founded in 1984 and based in Waterloo, Ontario, BlackBerry operates offices in North America, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Asia Pacific and Latin America.