From Smartphones to Security: BlackBerry’s Second Life
Once synonymous with early mobile email and physical keyboards, BlackBerry has spent the past decade quietly transforming itself into a cybersecurity and connected systems specialist, far removed from the consumer smartphone market it once dominated.
Speaking to Euronews Next at the World Government Summit in Dubai, BlackBerry CEO John Giamatteo explained how the company’s shift away from hardware allowed it to refocus on its core strengths: security, reliability and trust.
In the early 2000s, BlackBerry devices became essential tools for business leaders and government officials, offering secure mobile email and encrypted communications at a time when cellular networks were unreliable. While touchscreen smartphones later reshaped the consumer market, BlackBerry’s technology continued to evolve largely out of the public eye.
Today, the company concentrates on two main pillars: secure communications and embedded software for connected devices.
Powering cars and critical infrastructure
One of BlackBerry’s flagship businesses is QNX, a real-time operating system widely used in the automotive industry. The software powers everything from infotainment systems to safety-critical functions such as braking, steering and driver assistance.
As vehicles become increasingly automated and software-driven, demand for secure and reliable operating systems has accelerated. Giamatteo said QNX is playing a growing role in next-generation vehicles, including autonomous cars and robotaxis.
The platform is now embedded across the automotive ecosystem, with major semiconductor and technology companies building on top of QNX. While largely invisible to consumers, this places BlackBerry at the core of future mobility systems.
Alongside automotive software, BlackBerry has expanded its secure communications portfolio, offering end-to-end encrypted solutions for highly sensitive voice, data and video transmissions.
With cyber threats becoming more sophisticated, governments, defence bodies and financial institutions are increasingly seeking hardened communication tools. Giamatteo said BlackBerry’s clients include public authorities and banks across Europe, reflecting growing concern over digital security and geopolitical risk.
A cautious approach to AI and the cloud
While artificial intelligence and cloud computing are reshaping the technology sector, BlackBerry has adopted a deliberately cautious strategy when deploying these tools in mission-critical environments.
Giamatteo said AI is used selectively, particularly in enterprise device management systems that allow organisations to secure and control large fleets of smartphones, laptops and tablets across multiple operating systems.
However, when it comes to vehicles and classified communications, stability and predictability take priority over rapid innovation. The company remains wary of excessive reliance on cloud infrastructure, especially as concerns grow around data sovereignty, deepfakes and advanced cyberattacks.
Rather than chasing consumer trends, BlackBerry’s strategy focuses on organisations with the highest security requirements — clients for whom digital failure could translate into serious real-world consequences.
As the technology landscape continues to evolve, BlackBerry’s reinvention shows how a former consumer icon has repositioned itself at the heart of cybersecurity and connected systems, proving that disappearance from the spotlight does not necessarily mean irrelevance.
