Pentagon Expands Its Threat Response Capability Using BlackBerry’s AtHoc Crisis Communications Platform

SAN MATEO, CALIFORNIA–(Marketwired – May 31, 2016) – BlackBerry Limited (NASDAQ:BBRY)(TSX:BB), a global leader in secure mobile communications, today announced that the Pentagon Force Protection Agency has awarded a contract to renew and expand its use of BlackBerry’s AtHoc Networked Crisis Communications Suite.

Click to Tweet: BlackBerry’s AtHoc in expanded use by U.S. Pentagon Security and Police

The Pentagon Force Protection Agency (PFPA) is a civilian agency within the Department of Defense charged with safeguarding the occupants, visitors, and infrastructure of the Pentagon building and sixty-nine other defense installments in the National Capitol Region. This crucial mission is accomplished with officers of the United States Pentagon Police, anti-terrorism and protective services agents, plus threat management agents including chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosives technicians.

“We are honored by the continued trust in AtHoc by the Pentagon towards protecting its personnel,” said Guy Miasnik, President of BlackBerry’s AtHoc Division. “Their trust in AtHoc reinforces a shared mission for early warning, personnel accountability and cross-organization information sharing during times of crisis.”

Before implementing AtHoc, important resources inside the Pentagon were not connected to a common messaging and emergency notification network, and the PFPA was unable to effectively communicate directly with organizations outside the Pentagon building during a crisis.

AtHoc has enabled the PFPA to establish secure alerting and permission-based crisis communications internally and among numerous external organizations that, together, can respond to whatever threats might arise.

The renewed one-year contract between BlackBerry’s AtHoc and the Pentagon Force Protection Agency includes multi-year options extending through 2020. The agreement includes 37,000 Department of Defense users, including Enterprise Alerting for the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Offices of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Defense Security Services, and the DoD’s Washington Headquarters Services.

About BlackBerry

BlackBerry is securing a connected world, delivering innovative solutions across the entire mobile ecosystem and beyond. We secure the world’s most sensitive data across all end points – from cars to smartphones – making the mobile-first enterprise vision a reality. Founded in 1984 and based in Waterloo, Ontario, BlackBerry operates offices in North America, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Asia-Pacific and Latin America. The Company trades under the ticker symbols “BB” on the Toronto Stock Exchange and “BBRY” on the NASDAQ. For more information, visit www.BlackBerry.com.

About AtHoc

AtHoc, a division of BlackBerry Limited, is the pioneer and recognized leader in networked crisis communication, protecting millions of people and thousands of organizations around the world. AtHoc provides a seamless and reliable exchange of critical information among organizations, their people and devices. A trusted partner to the world’s most demanding customers, AtHoc is the leading provider to the U.S. Departments of Defense and Homeland Security, and safeguards numerous other government agencies and leading commercial enterprises. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, AtHoc operates around the globe. For more information about AtHoc, please visit www.athoc.com.

Trademarks, including but not limited to ATHOC, EMBLEM Design, ATHOC & Design and PURPLE GLOBE Design are the trademarks or registered trademarks of BlackBerry Limited, its subsidiaries and/or affiliates, used under license, and the exclusive rights to such trademarks are expressly reserved. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Media Contact:
Jennifer O’Brien
AtHoc, Inc.
(650) 477-6122
[email protected]

BlackBerry Media Relations
(519) 597-7273
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Investor Contact:
BlackBerry Investor Relations
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