LAS VEGAS – BlackBerry is embracing the Internet of Things (IoT) and wearables, and is getting its feet wet in healthcare, the company revealed Wednesday during a series of announcements made during CES.
The smartphone maker unveiled its cloud-based IoT platform, an efficient, scalable messaging system that combines technology from its QNX Software Systems. BlackBerry said that it will initially target the automotive and asset tracking industries before extending into the smart energy sector and the healthcare field.
BlackBerry also announced that BBM will be available on wearable technologies for a wide range of Android Wear smartwatches, enabling BBM users to receive alerts on the watch when new BBM messages come in and discreetly preview messages; respond to messages hands-free with Google Now; and accept BBM invites from the watch without the need to access their smartphone. BBM support for Google Android Wear Platform will be available early this year.
In addition, BlackBerry announced that it is the software provider for the next-generation of NantHealth’s Internet of Medical Things device, the HBox. BlackBerry’s QNX technology powers the HBox, a portable device that captures and transmits secure medical data between the patient, doctor and hospital.
Currently, HBox collects three billion vital signs annually and transmits that data to thousands of medical devices and 250 hospitals throughout the U.S. The HBox will be compatible with BlackBerry's BES enterprise mobility management platform in the coming months.
