BlackBerry Limited, a global leader in secure mobile communications, today announced that it has completed the acquisition of AtHoc, a leading provider of secure, networked crisis communications. AtHoc will operate as a division of BlackBerry. AtHoc’s Chief Executive Officer, Guy Miasnik, will lead the division as part of BlackBerry’s senior leadership team reporting to John Chen, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.
The AtHoc software platform enables people, devices and organizations to exchange critical information in real time during business continuity and life safety operations. The platform securely connects with a diverse set of endpoints, including mobile devices running iOS and Android, PC and Mac desktops, digital displays, radios, IP phones, sirens, fire panels and speakers to facilitate collaboration and enhance situational awareness. AtHoc is recognized as a “Leader” by industry analyst firm Gartner, and at the highest position for ability to execute on the firm’s Magic Quadrant for U.S. Emergency/Mass Notification Services1.
AtHoc has customers around the world in both the public and private sectors, and is the leading crisis communications provider to the U.S. Departments of Defense (DoD) and Homeland Security (DHS). AtHoc helps safeguard millions of people and thousands of organizations, including leading international corporations in high technology, heavy industry, and other mission critical industries including healthcare institutions and the vast majority of U.S. federal agencies – including the U.S. Department of the Treasury, U.S. Department of Energy, the Centers for Disease Control and the Food and Drug Administration.
The company most recently announced that it has been selected by the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA), a component agency of the DHS, to provide crisis communications for all TSA staff across more than 200 major airports. More organizations are becoming aware of the need for mass communication and collaboration with new legislation such as the DHS Interoperable Communications Act. AtHoc is well positioned to support compliance with this law, which requires homeland security agencies to maintain interoperable communications for daily operations, planned events and emergencies.
AtHoc technology enhances BlackBerry’s mission to provide secure communication solutions for the connected world. It will integrate with BlackBerry’s enterprise portfolio of cross-platform solutions and trusted global network to enable new capabilities for safety, security and mission-critical business communications. For example, new applications may include integrating AtHoc solutions with WatchDox for secure distribution of confidential documents during emergency situations. As part of BlackBerry’s value added solutions, AtHoc’s current portfolio will continue to be made available, including solutions such as AtHoc Connect™, which enable organizations to create their own secure, permission-based communities of individuals and groups that share critical messages and rich media during a crisis to rapidly resolve emergencies in real time assuring business continuity and support for life safety operations.
