BlackBerry attacks Android security

BlackBerry's UK chief has claimed that sales of the new Z10 BlackBerry are going well, and emphasised “the inherent weaknesses” of rival operating systems.

Samsung announced a rival to BlackBerry’s ‘Balance’ programme that allows work and personal data to be viewed on one device yet secured according to different protocols. BlackBerry’s Rob Orr said that any system to secure data “was only as strong as the weakest link”, and said that “there’s an inherent weakness in any open operating system” such as Android. BlackBerry’s secure operating system is a key selling point, while Google has attempted to make a virtue of the openness of its rival Android.

It has also, however, been plagued by discoveries of malware in its app store, and claims that it is not as secure as other versions. While few users, however, have been affected, the Android Play Store has had to remove a number of apps.

Mr Orr added that small businesses in particular had been forced to compromise on device security as more consumer-friendly devices have become part of the workplace. Android phones and Apple’s iPhone and iPad have been a key part of the "bring your own device" trend that has seen BlackBerry’s corporate dominance struggle. At Mobile World Congress, Windows Phone has announced a series of new business customers in the UK, including the estate agents Foxtons.


The new BlackBerry Z10 launched first in the UK and has now been on sale for a month. Although Mr Orr said that sales were going “really well”, he did not give any precise numbers. Sources at operators said that BlackBerry was “not selling as well as Nokia was at this stage”.

Mr Orr also clarified comments made by Chief Executive Thorsten Heins last month.

Shops denied claims made by Mr Heins following the launch of the Z10 that some of the company’s new phones had sold out. In an interview following the launch of the Z10, Mr Heins hailed the success of his company’s new phones, saying that sales in the UK were “beyond expectations”. He added: “White is sold out already. The black is hard to stock up again. It’s very encouraging.” Mr Orr pointed out that the device was sold out at 55 per cent of Phones4U stores, where it is sold exclusively.