BlackBerry Inc. could benefit from the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation’s successful unlocking of the San Bernadino gunman’s iPhone as major smartphone makers look to shore up security on their devices. But technology analyst Carmi Levy says it will mean Blackberry drawing a “line in the sand” on government access, like rival Apple Inc. (AAPL.O -1.08%)

“If BlackBerry wants to maintain its brand going forward . . . it’s all about security. It needs to be perceived the same way,” said Levy in an interview with BNN.

Privacy software has been a key focus for BlackBerry for several years as the Waterloo, Ontario-based company shifts its focus away from building phones.

“Security is what we do. Privacy is what you get. We have the most trusted networks outside of the carriers themselves. It is what we offer, and how we think about our business,” said CEO John Chen in a Feb. 11 blog post.

Both BlackBerry and Apple have denied government requests for so-called backdoor software that would allow investigators to access a phone’s data without company assistance. But Chen has said that BlackBerry’s privacy commitment “does not extend to criminals.”
http://www.bnn.ca/News/2016/3/29/BlackBerry-could-stand-to-benefit-after-US-hacks-iPhone.aspx