When it comes to unexpected partnerships, a BlackBerry-Android mashup is surely at the top of the list. But Google and BlackBerry have announced they will be joining forces to create a version of the Android system designed for enterprise applications.

The collaboration will feature mobile devices powered by the Android 5.0 Lollipop OS (pictured on left), but with the enterprise security Relevant Products/Services features included in BlackBerry’s BES12 system (pictured on right).

The combination of BlackBerry’s secure enterprise framework with the world’s most popular mobile operating system could be a match made in heaven for enterprise users. They would get access to the smartphone functionality common in consumer-grade smartphones. IT departments, meanwhile, would get the enterprise security features that have made BlackBerry popular with organizations in more security conscious sectors.

Security Meets Functionality

Among the security features BlackBerry will bring to the Android ecosystem is the ability to manage a dedicated work profile, hardware-based full disk encryption, and sharing restrictions to ensure business data Relevant Products/Services such as calendars, contacts, files, and apps, are kept separate from malware while keeping personal information private.

Beyond BlackBerry’s existing security features and Android’s functionality, the co-venture will also introduce new features that will allow organizations to secure enterprise and personal data on Android devices, set new levels of hardware-based encryption, and integrate with Google Play for Work for increased application management.

Google and BlackBerry are promising users all the business apps they need from Google Play for Work, along with the ability for IT departments to create apps quickly using the Android app framework. The new devices also promise seamless integration with existing IT systems.

The companies are also aiming at IT departments with an enterprise mobility management (EMM) framework provided by BlackBerry. That framework will give clients control of work-related policies, profiles, and data, allowing them to push apps to users and remotely wipe business data from devices. Administrators will also have control over device availability and usage, apps, activities, and critical data through a variety of deployment models. The EMM framework can be deployed on premises, in the cloud, or as a hybrid.

A Win-Win

Meanwhile, Android is promising a host of new features for corporate clients, such as client-side lockdown. The feature will allow enterprises to control all the corporate assets being used on employees' mobile devices, regardless of the ownership model.

Besides the obvious advantage to enterprise clients, the partnership also offers major benefits to both BlackBerry and Google. For the latter, working with BlackBerry provides the security capabilities and enterprise management system that has prevented Android from dominating the enterprise market as it has the consumer market.

For BlackBerry, teaming up with Google offers the possibility that the company will finally be able to staunch the bleeding. While BlackBerry was once the most common mobile device among high-powered executives, it now controls only a sliver of the market.