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Germany looking to buy 20,000 BlackBerry 10 phones for its officials?

posted by Alan F. / Jul 28, 2014, 11:52 PM

Germany looking to buy 20,000 BlackBerry 10 phones for its officials?

Germany turned to BlackBerry 10 powered handsets, to keep the NSA from continuing to monitor the mobile communications of Chancellor Angela Merkel. The technology used by BlackBerry, was combined with anti-eavesdropping technology from German firm Secusmart. The German government was so pleased with the results from the 3000 units they employed, that there is talk that the government wants to buy 20,000 more BlackBerry 10 handsets.

While Germany's Federal Ministry of the Interior wouldn't confirm exactly how many phones are being ordered, spokesman Tobias Plate said that more and more BlackBerry 10 units are being used. On Monday, Plate said that only BlackBerry handsets are able to meet the standards for security that are required by the Ministry. The spokesman also noted that the Ministry had checked out other brands of smartphones, but were sold on the security features found only on BlackBerry handsets.

"We have a federal authority for information security and they checked several smartphones, and the only brand that was approved by them is the BlackBerry smartphones… It’s the security of the device."-Tobias Plate, spokesman, German Federal Ministry of the Interior

This is obviously a positive bit of news for BlackBerry. After the new BlackBerry 10 lineup failed to help the company gain ground on iOS, Android and Windows Phone, new CEO John Chen has been working hard to turn around the company. He reached a deal with Foxconn for the contract manufacturer to design, produce, and store low-end models for emerging markets. The first phone to launch from that five-year pact, the BlackBerry Z3, has been selling well.

But more exciting is a pair of interesting high-end handsets for developed markets. The BlackBerry Passport could be a monster with high-end specs and a unique physical keyboard that doubles as a touchpad. Virtual keys appear depending on the context of what you are writing. The BlackBerry Classic brings back the classic Bold-esque QWERTY keyboard with a touchpad and function keys. The latter is expected to be released this November.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel holds up her secure BlackBerry handset

source: N-TV.de (translated), FinancialPost via Crackberry

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32 Comments

1. javy108

Posts: 1004; Member since: Jul 27, 2014

I kinda like BB10 System

posted on Jul 28, 2014, 11:55 PM 8

3. cen89

Posts: 10; Member since: Nov 14, 2012

Have you really tried it? if you don't, do it, you won't regreat it. i have it since day one, a year and half later here i am happy with my Z10.

posted on Jul 29, 2014, 12:02 AM 11

12. slaggyb

Posts: 218; Member since: Oct 19, 2011

Bought mine black unlocked from day one and I was so excited that I had to buy the white. 2 BlackBerry Q10's I just swap sim on them to suit what am putting on. Love my blackberry and can't wait to get the passport by September.

posted on Jul 29, 2014, 1:11 AM 7

24. javy108

Posts: 1004; Member since: Jul 27, 2014

I tried for a week a Z10's friend and it was amazing, is really smooth and has a nice camera.

posted on Jul 29, 2014, 3:14 PM 2

29. meanestgenius

Posts: 22491; Member since: May 28, 2014

BlackBerry 10 is even better on a Z30! That large screen makes the OS that much more enjoyable! I also own a Q10 and switch between the two often, as I am a HUGE fan of the BlackBerry physical keyboard! Impatiently waiting for the Passport to be released!

posted on Jul 29, 2014, 3:25 PM 2

32. ATInsider

Posts: 22; Member since: Mar 13, 2014

The BlackBerry 10 OS, especially with the upcoming 10.3 update is by far the most Intellectual, Instinctive, Elegant, Fluid, Advanced, Multitasking & Multimedia Mobile Operating System ever created in the World to date. It's also the most productive and the most easiest to learn and use.

posted on Aug 07, 2014, 11:25 AM 1

2. fzacek

Posts: 2486; Member since: Jan 26, 2014

I guess that's a situation where BlackBerry phones are useful. What I don't understand is why the NSA has to be such a b**ch...

posted on Jul 28, 2014, 11:56 PM 4

4. Jason78

Posts: 281; Member since: Apr 10, 2013

Do they really think that the NSA hasn't figured out how to hack Blackberries?

posted on Jul 29, 2014, 12:04 AM 6

5. Settings

Posts: 2943; Member since: Jul 02, 2014

They do already

posted on Jul 29, 2014, 12:33 AM 0

6. alterecho

Posts: 1106; Member since: Feb 23, 2012

Even if they did, they won't be able to completely manipulate the company as a whole, unlike all the other major (Apple and Google) and minor (Microsoft) players.

posted on Jul 29, 2014, 12:37 AM 4

13. Droid_X_Doug

Posts: 5993; Member since: Dec 22, 2010

They have cracked BBs some time ago. The Germans are just pissed that they are being monitored and so they made an effort to make it harder for NSA to eavesdrop. Nothing will outright stop NSA. Ever wonder how it was that the tape of the Russian controller and his contact chatting about the wreckage being inspected got released so soon after the MH17 shoot down occurred? The Ukrainians were only too happy to oblige.

posted on Jul 29, 2014, 1:58 AM 1

23. meanestgenius

Posts: 22491; Member since: May 28, 2014

They cracked BlackBerry's running OS7 and older, NOT BlackBerry's running OS 10 and higher. BlackBerry 10 has YET TO BE CRACKED/HACKED.

posted on Jul 29, 2014, 3:12 PM 1

18. jojon

Posts: 435; Member since: Feb 11, 2014

yep, bet your house on that

posted on Jul 29, 2014, 7:13 AM 0

31. ATInsider

Posts: 22; Member since: Mar 13, 2014

Nobody can hack a BlackBerry 10 device. Despite the claims, running under BES10, it ain't happening unless BBRY gives them access. This is why China also dumped Apple in favor for BlackBerry. The tide is slowly turning, and BlackBerry will once again rule supreme for the betterment of the entire industry.

posted on Aug 07, 2014, 11:18 AM 1

7. ManusImperceptus

Posts: 724; Member since: Jun 10, 2014

Western government buying phones based on their ability to avoid spying from one of their closest allies... Sigh! :-(

posted on Jul 29, 2014, 12:57 AM 1

8. ManusImperceptus

Posts: 724; Member since: Jun 10, 2014

Western government buying phones based on their ability to avoid spying from one of their closest allies... Sigh! :-(

posted on Jul 29, 2014, 12:57 AM 1

9. ManusImperceptus

Posts: 724; Member since: Jun 10, 2014

Western government buying phones based on their ability to avoid spying from one of their closest allies... Sigh! :-(

posted on Jul 29, 2014, 12:57 AM 1

10. ManusImperceptus

Posts: 724; Member since: Jun 10, 2014

Western government buying phones based on their ability to avoid spying from one of their closest allies... Sigh! :-(

posted on Jul 29, 2014, 12:57 AM 1

11. itsdeepak4u2000

Posts: 3718; Member since: Nov 03, 2012

She looked sad with BB.

posted on Jul 29, 2014, 12:58 AM 3

14. joey_sfb

Posts: 6794; Member since: Mar 29, 2012

Force to give up all her favorite apps of course not happy!

posted on Jul 29, 2014, 3:29 AM 2

15. WahyuWisnu

Posts: 1001; Member since: May 29, 2014

I think the german government didn't realize that 50% of BB employee were from NSA. and using BB although it's meant that it's hard to crack (secure), but NSA can read their message because NSA implant the key.

posted on Jul 29, 2014, 4:08 AM 0

16. Martin_Cooper

Posts: 1774; Member since: Jul 30, 2013

Im not saying its aliens, but its aliens..

posted on Jul 29, 2014, 4:27 AM 1

17. Zeeya

Posts: 331; Member since: Mar 17, 2013

So you know more than the German government and their secret service and their IT department? Wow.. respect... you are truly a bad ass troll.

posted on Jul 29, 2014, 7:06 AM 3

19. WahyuWisnu

Posts: 1001; Member since: May 29, 2014

There's an article about some drug cartel in PA, BB said they crack the BBM code while helping the government bring down the cartel. It is the same as having a very secure system, but the system maker (BB) were saving our key in their locker.

posted on Jul 29, 2014, 7:53 AM 0

26. meanestgenius

Posts: 22491; Member since: May 28, 2014

BlackBerry didn't "crack" the BBM code. That is NOT what happened. BBM had NOTHING to do with it. It involved pin-to-pin messaging, and BlackBerry TURNED OVER transcripts to the conversations ONLY AFTER a COURT ORDER. Sorry to interrupt your LIES with the TRUTH.

posted on Jul 29, 2014, 3:17 PM 1

30. BobbyDigital

Posts: 2125; Member since: May 29, 2014

You're a liar. Plain and simple. A trolling liar. And I will make it my personal business to call you out on every lie your non grammar knowing self says.

posted on Jul 29, 2014, 4:19 PM 1

25. meanestgenius

Posts: 22491; Member since: May 28, 2014

Just how low will you go with your lies, Wahy?

posted on Jul 29, 2014, 3:14 PM 1

20. AfterShock

Posts: 4147; Member since: Nov 02, 2012

BB will hand encryption over to any government that asks for it. Wasn't a ME country the first to publicly get it not too long ago? Safe is location limited.

posted on Jul 29, 2014, 9:25 AM 2

21. isprobi

Posts: 797; Member since: May 30, 2011

If they are using these BB10 phones through a BES server then it is probably a pretty secure setup. But nothing is perfect. Just the phone alone does not get you much more than other brands.

posted on Jul 29, 2014, 10:33 AM 0

22. ATInsider

Posts: 22; Member since: Mar 13, 2014

The NSA has in fact cracked BBRY, Apple and Android at one point in time. The rumor states, it took them about 2 weeks to Crack Apple's iOS, 1 week to Crack Android and just over one year to Crack BBOS. By which that time BlackBerry threw them out with a middle finger. BlackBerry also confirmed in a Press Release that they've not been hacked by the NSA, despite trying to. BB10 is a different animal. And now with this acquisition, BlackBerry cements there Security Dominance. Not to mention BB10 is far superior and technologically advanced versus it's competition. BB10 is also miles easier to learn and use. Most productive mobile OS in existence.

posted on Jul 29, 2014, 1:06 PM 2

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