BlackBerry has agreed to acquire UK identity services provider Movirtu for an undisclosed amount. London-based Movirtu offers a virtual SIM platform that allows users to have both a business number and personal number running on the same smartphone, with separate billing for voice, data and messaging usage on each number. As a result, companies avoid paying costs incurred by employees using their devices for personal use. BlackBerry said Movirtu’s software improves device management in bring-your-own device (BYOD) and corporate owned personally enabled (COPE) environments.
Movirtu's technology already works on BlackBerry devices, as well as iPhones and Android-powered smartphones. BlackBerry confirmed it would roll out the service to “all major smartphone operating systems”, not just its own. The company also intends to integrate its Enterprise Service platform with Movirtu so that IT personnel can set policies on the business number without affecting the personal side.Earlier this year, BlackBerry confirmed a change of focus to its core business and government clients and a renewed effort to build on its strengths in security and mobile-device management. In July the company acquired Germany's Secusmart GmbH to boost its security offerings for the target business and government market.
Venture capital firm TLcom Capital announced a cash return on the sale in excess of two times its initial investment in Movirtu made in 2010. TLcom was a lead investor in the company and supported Movirtu in gaining commercial traction, notably with Airtel and other leading mobile operators in Africa and other markets. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.
