Mr. John Wall reports

QNX COLLABORATES WITH MICROSOFT TO DRIVE SOFTWARE-DEFINED VEHICLE INNOVATIONS

QNX, a division of BlackBerry Ltd., is collaborating with Microsoft to make it easier for automakers to build, test and refine software within the cloud, accelerating the development of software-defined vehicles.

As part of the collaboration, the QNX software development platform 8.0 will soon be available on Microsoft Azure, providing developers with a robust and proven cloud environment to create, test and integrate the software that will power next-generation automotive and Internet of Things applications. Looking to the future, the two companies intend to work together to extend the solution to include the QNX Hypervisor and the new QNX Cabin, an innovative reference architecture that allows original equipment manufacturers to develop hardware agnostic digital cockpits using the cloud.

"A cloud-first, shift-left strategy is becoming a requirement for any competitive development infrastructure," said John Wall, chief operating officer and head of product, engineering and services at QNX. "Together with Microsoft, we are looking at innovative ways to bring Microsoft Azure AI in to support cutting-edge technology early in the development cycle. This approach accelerates development timelines and minimizes risks, allowing automakers to leverage the scale and development velocity inherent to the cloud. Together, we're paving the way for the next generation of connected and autonomous vehicles."

"This collaboration bolsters our commitment to empower the automotive industry with cutting-edge technology to accelerate innovation," said Dayan Rodriguez, corporate vice-president, manufacturing and mobility, Microsoft. "By combining the strengths of Microsoft Azure and QNX, we're enabling OEMs to deliver on the promise of the software-defined vehicle."

At CES 2025, QNX will demonstrate how developers can benefit from the QNX software development platform 8.0 on Azure for early testing and validation of software virtually, helping to ensure that potential issues are identified and resolved earlier in the development process.

QNX's complete suite of automotive offerings will be on display at CES from Jan. 7 to Jan. 11, 2025, at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Visit QNX at booth No. 4224 in the west hall or schedule a meeting with a spokesperson.

About BlackBerry Ltd.

BlackBerry provides enterprises and governments the intelligent software and services that power the world. Based in Waterloo, Ont., the company's high performance foundational software enables major automakers and industrial giants alike to unlock transformative applications, drive new revenue streams and launch innovative business models, all without sacrificing safety, security and reliability. With a deep heritage in secure communications, BlackBerry delivers operational resiliency with a comprehensive, highly secure and extensively certified portfolio for mobile fortification, mission-critical communications and critical event management. The company is also a pioneer in leveraging artificial intelligence and machine learning to deliver advanced cybersecurity solutions to its customers.