Samsung to team up with BlackBerry for a super-secure Android smartphone

Can Samsung save BlackBerry?

Can Samsung save BlackBerry?

A recent report claimed BlackBerry will turn to Android to save itself from extinction, and now it seems the Canadian company could be teaming up with Samsung to make that happen. It’s thought the pair are working on a new smartphone powered by Lollipop that will be secured by BlackBerry services.

BlackBerry and Samsung first formed a partnership around two years ago, when BlackBerry convinced Samsung to begin pre-installing BBM on its latest Galaxy devices. Since then, BlackBerry has made tools like SecuSUITE compatible with Samsung devices like the Galaxy S6 to make them enterprise-friendly.

At one point, it was reported that Samsung was even planning to buy BlackBerry, but both companies dismissed those claims.

Now Eldar Murtazin, a Russian blogger and analyst who has a somewhat mixed track record when it comes to Samsung leaks, suggests BlackBerry and Samsung are working together on something brand new.

“Samsung + BlackBerry = Android,” he tweeted. “Smartphone with Lollipop + BB services.”

The tweet suggests the duo are working on a new enterprise device that will provide customers with the benefits of Android 5.1 Lollipop, with its thriving app catalog and comprehensive feature set, with BlackBerry’s unbeatable security and device management services.

The move makes a lot of sense. It gives Samsung a device that will interest enterprise customers, and it gives BlackBerry an opportunity to prove that its BES12 platform can be just as effective on Android as it is on BlackBerry 10 and previous BlackBerry platforms.

But this doesn’t mean it’s going to happen. Again, Murtazin doesn’t have an excellent track record, so while the move may seem plausible, it could be little more than speculation. With that in mind, take this one with a pinch of salt for now.