# BlackBerry

> enterprise software and the Internet of things company

**Wikidata**: [Q502121](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q502121)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BlackBerry_Limited)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/blackberry

## Summary
BlackBerry is a Canadian enterprise software and Internet of Things (IoT) company headquartered in Waterloo. Originally known as Research In Motion (RIM), the firm transitioned from a dominant mobile phone manufacturer to a specialist in cybersecurity, endpoint protection, and secure operating systems.

## Key Facts
- **Founded:** March 7, 1984, by Mike Lazaridis.
- **Headquarters:** Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.
- **Current Leadership:** John S. Chen has served as CEO since 2013 (succeeding Thorsten Heins).
- **Industry Classification:** Software industry, information technology, and Internet of Things.
- **Financials (2020):** Reported $1.04 billion in revenue with total assets of $3.888 billion.
- **Stock Listings:** Publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange (BB) and Toronto Stock Exchange (BB); formerly listed on Nasdaq as RIMM and BBRY.
- **Major Subsidiaries:** Includes Cylance Inc. (AI-driven computer security) and DataViz.
- **Proprietary Software:** Developed BlackBerry OS, BlackBerry 10, and BlackBerry Tablet OS.
- **Workforce:** Employed 3,647 people as of 2020.

## FAQs
### Q: What was BlackBerry's original company name?
A: BlackBerry was originally founded and operated as Research In Motion (RIM) before officially rebranding to BlackBerry Limited in 2013.

### Q: What are BlackBerry's primary products today?
A: While formerly known for hardware, the company now focuses on enterprise software, cybersecurity, and Internet of Things (IoT) solutions, competing with firms like Kaspersky and Avast.

### Q: Does BlackBerry still make smartphones?
A: BlackBerry historically manufactured iconic devices like the Curve, Bold, and Passport, and later the Android-based Priv, but it has shifted its core business model toward software and security services.

### Q: Who founded BlackBerry?
A: The company was founded by Mike Lazaridis in 1984 in Waterloo, Canada.

## Why It Matters
BlackBerry, formerly Research In Motion, played a foundational role in the evolution of mobile telecommunications and enterprise productivity. By introducing the BlackBerry OS and a suite of secure mobile devices, the company defined the early smartphone era, particularly for business and government sectors that required high-level encryption and reliable messaging. Its impact on the information technology industry is evidenced by its development of BlackBerry World and various proprietary operating systems that set early standards for mobile security.

In its current iteration, BlackBerry has pivoted to address the growing needs of the Internet of Things (IoT) and cybersecurity markets. Through the acquisition of firms like Cylance Inc., it has positioned itself as a competitor to major security providers like Kaspersky and Avast. The company’s shift from hardware to enterprise software demonstrates a significant transformation in response to market changes, moving from consumer electronics to securing the infrastructure of modern computer-based information systems. Its presence in the S&P/TSX 60 and its continued listing on major stock exchanges highlight its ongoing relevance as a major Canadian technology entity.

## Notable For
- **Pioneering Secure Messaging:** Created the telecommunications devices and encrypted OS that became the global standard for secure corporate and government communication.
- **Strategic Pivot:** Successfully transitioned from a hardware-centric mobile phone manufacturer to a software-focused enterprise security and IoT firm.
- **Cybersecurity Acquisitions:** Acquired Cylance Inc. in 2012 to integrate AI-driven endpoint protection into its software portfolio.
- **Operating System Innovation:** Developed multiple proprietary platforms, including the original BlackBerry OS (1999) and the later BlackBerry 10 (2013).

## Body

### Corporate History and Leadership
BlackBerry was established on March 7, 1984, in Waterloo, Canada, by founder Mike Lazaridis. For nearly three decades, the company operated as Research In Motion (RIM). In 2013, the company underwent a major leadership transition when John S. Chen was appointed CEO, replacing Thorsten Heins. The company is a constituent of the S&P/TSX 60 and maintains a significant global presence through subsidiaries like BlackBerry (United Kingdom) and BlackBerry (United States).

### Hardware and Operating Systems
BlackBerry is historically recognized for its extensive line of mobile hardware and proprietary software:
*   **Early Devices:** The BlackBerry 850 and the 8707h smartphone models.
*   **Consumer and Business Models:** The BlackBerry Curve 9300, Torch 9800, Bold, and the touchscreen Storm series.
*   **Later Innovations:** The BlackBerry Passport, the Classic, and the BlackBerry Priv, which was the company's first Android-based slider smartphone.
*   **Software Platforms:** The company developed BlackBerry OS (launched Jan 19, 1999), BlackBerry Tablet OS, and BlackBerry 10 (launched Jan 30, 2013). It also operated BlackBerry World, an application distribution service launched in 2009.

### Enterprise Software and Security
Following its pivot away from hardware manufacturing, BlackBerry focused on the software industry and computer security. It competes directly with firms such as Kaspersky Lab and Avast Software in the enterprise cybersecurity and endpoint protection markets. Key assets in this sector include:
*   **Cylance Inc.:** An Irvine-based software firm acquired to provide AI-driven security.
*   **DataViz:** A software company founded in 1984 and acquired to bolster software capabilities.
*   **IoT Integration:** Development of computer-based information systems for the Internet of Things.

### Financial and Operational Data
As of 2020, BlackBerry's financial standing included:
*   **Revenue:** $1.04 billion USD.
*   **Total Assets:** $3.888 billion USD.
*   **Total Equity:** $2.76 billion USD.
*   **Operating Income:** -$149 million USD.
*   **Net Profit:** -$152 million USD.
*   **Market Capitalization:** Valued at approximately $6.882 billion USD as of June 2021.

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## References

1. [Source](https://www.lobbyfacts.eu/datacard/blackberry-limited?rid=251259032370-30)
2. GRID Release 2017-01-10
3. Virtual International Authority File
4. [Source](https://finance.yahoo.com/news/blackberry-ltd-bbry-moves-nyse-161016898.html)
5. [Source](https://www.blackberry.com/us/en/company/newsroom/press-releases/2013/research-in-motion-ticker-change-to-take-effect-monday--february-4)
6. [Source](https://investorplace.com/2013/01/a-brief-history-of-research-in-motion/)
7. [Source](https://www.wi-fi.org/membership/member-companies)
8. [Source](https://cve.mitre.org/cve/request_id.html#cna_participants)
9. Google Knowledge Graph
10. Czech National Authority Database
11. National Software Reference Library
12. [BlackBerry Annual Report 2020 10-K](https://www.blackberry.com/content/dam/blackberry-com/Documents/pdf/financial-reports/2020/q4y2020/BlackBerry-Annual-Report%2010-K%20.pdf)
13. [BlackBerry Limited (BB) Stock Info](https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/BB/)
14. GRID Release 2015-12-14
15. GRID Release 2016-12-06
16. Aligned ISNI and Ringgold identifiers for institutions
17. [Source](https://www.iana.org/assignments/enterprise-numbers/enterprise-numbers)