Just when it seems as though BlackBerry is about to flatline, the struggling handset maker shows signs of life. The Canadian company recently managed to secure a contract with the US Department of Defense that will see 80,000 smartphones put into commission in the near future according to a statement on the matter from the Defense Information Systems Agency.
BlackBerry is one of the few companies whose devices have met the high-level security demands of various government agencies but they aren't alone in their efforts. In addition to the BlackBerry handsets, the agency said they support 1,800 unclassified mobile devices which include the iPhone and iPad from Apple as well as several Samsung and Motorola devices.
BlackBerry stock value was up more than nine percent on the news in after hours trading as US exchanges were closed on Monday in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Shares have rallied around 35 percent since the end of 2013 but are still down roughly the same percentage over the past 12 months.
In other BlackBerry news, the company also recently revealed plans to divest much of their Canadian real estate holdings. Specifically, they will sell more than three million square feet of commercial real estate. The company plans to remain headquartered in Waterloo, Ontario, according to CEO John Chen, but the initiative will provide additional resources to support their operations as the business continues to evolve.