BlackBerry splits high-growth Internet of Things, cryptography and embedded software assets into new division

BlackBerry has split a number of its high growth businesses in fields such as the Internet of Things and its patent library into a new business unit called BlackBerry Technology Solutions (BTS).

BTS will include embedded device software developer QNX, Internet of Things application platform Project Ion, cryptography division Certicom, RF antenna business Paratek and the company’s patent portfolio.

The division will be headed up Sandeep Chennakeshu, who previously served as the president of Ericsson Mobile Platforms and chief technical officer of Sony-Ericsson.

In a statement to investors, BlackBerry chief executive John Chen said BTS lead to “new revenue streams” that will help BlackBerry’s turnaround.

“I am very pleased that Sandeep has joined BlackBerry to lead BTS. QNX, Certicom and Paratek are strategic and technically innovative assets with significant potential to address the much wider global markets for secure, reliable communications and embedded applications,” said Chen.

The news comes as new photos purporting to show a prototype of BlackBerry’s forthcoming Passport device leaked onto the internet.