BlackBerry Flaunts Security Solutions In New SecuTablet Release

BlackBerry is touting its security solutions to dip into the tablet market, partnering with Samsung and IBM to create SecuTablet, an extra-secure version of the Galaxy Tab S 10.5.

SecuTablet enables public-sector users handling sensitive data to safely utilize personal applications, which are safeguarded by IBM's bundling software, and further protected by a micro-SD security card from BlackBerry's secure communications subsidiary, Secusmart.

BlackBerry partners hope that the partnership will help the Waterloo, Ontario, smartphone company attract enterprise users in a struggling tablet market through capitalizing on its strength -- security solutions.

[Related: BlackBerry Keeps Foothold In Smartphone Space With Midrange Phone Release]

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"As partners -- we know that our customers want to balance security and features -- hopefully collaborations such as these will usher in a new opening within the mobile market for BlackBerry partners and customers," said Robby Hill, founder and CEO of HillSouth, a Florence, S.C.-based BlackBerry partner. "I think that this collaborative approach BlackBerry is taking -- focusing on their core strength of security -- and working with industry leaders such as Samsung and IBM is a great game plan to build confidence in their business."

Secusmart, a German-based communications security company that BlackBerry acquired in December, boasts solutions that encrypt voice and data communications, and protect against external eavesdropping.

Secusmart's chip, coupled with IBM's software to securely wrap apps on Samsung's 10.5-inch, ultra-thin HD tablet, will solve the long-standing problem that many high-security businesses face with unmanaged apps, like Facebook, YouTube and Twitter, on devices containing sensitive company data.

The new tablet also represents the latest development in Samsung and BlackBerry's ongoing partnership. In November, the two companies linked to sell end-to-end security products for Samsung's Android Galaxy devices in a cross-platform solution called BES12.

"I'm for this partnership … Samsung makes fine products, and it is smart for BlackBerry to leverage Samsung's capabilities," said James Hawkins, president and CEO of Red Hawk IT Solutions, a Woodridge, Va.-based solution provider. "This is a good way for BlackBerry to get into the tablet market while not having to support that manufacturing and growth requirement. We'll continue to push their products, both tablets and mobile phone solutions."

While partners praised the highly secure layers on the device, they expressed concern about SecuTablet's steep prices. According to BlackBerry, the new device will sell for about $2,380.

"The market needs easy-to-use, secure products, however, this new product has a high price point for the general business user," said HillSouth's Hill. "Surely, if this product is a success on its own, it will set the stage for a deeper collaboration and more joint announcements to bring usability and legendary BlackBerry security to the mobile market."

Beyond pricing, however, the move also will help BlackBerry and Samsung, both known mobility competitors, to overcome struggling sales in the tablet market, which, according to market research firm IDC, will crawl to a mere 2.1 percent growth in 2015 due to slow replacement cycles.

Samsung, for its part, has surged forward in the struggling market, taking 19.3 percent market share for tablets sold in 2014, to come in second place behind first-place brand Apple, according to NPD Group, a Port Washington, N.Y.-based market research firm that provides data from leading technology distributors. BlackBerry has not been as lucky, as its only consumer-focused tablet model, the BlackBerry PlayBook, flopped during its release in 2010 when it did not meet target sales. The new SecuTablet will be available this summer, according to The Wall Street Journal.

PUBLISHED MARCH 16, 2015