BlackBerry buys two Android-centric domain names, reveals more details about partnership

By Jason Hahn July 11, 2015

Blackberry android — Image used with permission by copyright holder

The rumor mill built around the prospect of an Android-powered BlackBerry smartphone is in full force this week after the revelation that BlackBerry has purchased two Android-centric domain names: AndroidSecured.com and AndroidSecured.net.

AndroidSecured.com is functional, though it redirects to a page on BlackBerry.com emblazoned with a BlackBerry logo and Android logo sandwiching a plus sign, and headlined by the words “Bring Android to Work.” While Google’s Android for Work partnership with BlackBerry has been known since February, the new page reveals more details about the endeavor.

“BlackBerry and Google are working closely together to set new standards in enterprise mobile security for organizations deploying Android devices,” according to the page, which goes on to declare that Android Lollipop and BES12 are “better together.”

BlackBerry and Android — Image used with permission by copyright holder

BlackBerry shrugged off questions about the significance of its newly purchased domain names. “BlackBerry frequently registers domain names to support the breadth of our cross-platform portfolio,” the company told Reuters via email. “Android is an important part of our cross-platform enterprise software strategy.”

While the discovered BlackBerry.com page confirms only that BES12 will support Android devices, it has sparked more online discussions about the possibility of a more titillating partnership between BlackBerry and Android.

Android led the way with 52.1 percent of the U.S. smartphone market during the three months ending in May, according to comScore. BlackBerry was fourth with 1.3 percent.

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Jason Hahn is a part-time freelance writer based in New Jersey. He earned his master's degree in journalism at Northwestern…

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