Good Technology
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Mobile security, software |
| Predecessor | Visto, Good Technology (original) |
| Founded | 1996 |
| Fate | Acquired by BlackBerry Limited |
| Successor | BlackBerry Software (rebranded products) |
| Headquarters | Sunnyvale , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Christy Wyatt (CEO in 2013) |
| Products | Mobile device management, Good Dynamics platform, Good Collaboration Suite, Good Mobile Alliance ISV Ecosystem, Good Secure Mobility Solution, Good for Enterprise (GFE), Good Vault, Good Share, Good Connect |
| Owner | BlackBerry Limited |
Number of employees | ~470 (circa 2006) (2006) |
| Parent | BlackBerry Limited |
Good Technology, operating as a subsidiary of BlackBerry Limited, is a mobile security firm headquartered in Sunnyvale, California. It supports more than 5,000 clients worldwide, spanning industries such as financial services, healthcare, manufacturing, energy, legal, government, and technology. The company’s core expertise lies in mobile device management and security, with an emphasis on safeguarding applications and data within corporate settings.
History
The present-day Good Technology emerged from the consolidation of two entities: Visto, established in 1996 (initially named Roampage), which acquired the original Good Technology in 2009 and subsequently adopted its name. The original Good Technology began as SpringThings in 2000, initially marketing MP3 players before pivoting to mobile email solutions tailored for business users.
Prior to the merger, both firms provided email access for portable devices. In 2006, Motorola acquired Good Technology to rival Research in Motion's BlackBerry within the enterprise sector while continuing to license its technology. At that point, Good’s primary offerings included Good Mobile Messaging, Good Mobile Intranet, and Good Mobile Defense, supported by a workforce of approximately 470 employees.
In 2009, Motorola divested Good Technology to competitor Visto, a push email service provider that then rebranded itself as Good Technology. Between 2009 and 2012, the company grew through multiple acquisitions such as Intercasting Corporation (May 2009), CloudSync (January 2010), Copiun (2012), and AppCentral (2012).
Late 2009 marked the company’s expansion to support iPhone and Android platforms. In October 2011, it introduced Good Dynamics, a platform designed for developing mobile applications aimed at both enterprises and consumers.
The release of the Good Secure Mobility Solution in June 2013 addressed complex multi-application workflows by integrating app containerization with the Good Dynamics platform to improve security and user experience. By September 2013, its "Good for Enterprise (GFE)" product became the first cross-platform mobile collaboration tool to earn Common Criteria Evaluation Assurance Level 4 Augmented (EAL4+) certification—the sole containerized solution with this certification on iOS or Android.
In February 2014, Good Technology enhanced its offerings by acquiring BoxTone to strengthen capabilities in Mobile Device Management (MDM), Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM), Mobile Service Management, and Mobile Application Performance Monitoring.
On September 4, 2015, BlackBerry Limited announced plans to purchase Good Technology for $425 million. The acquisition was finalized on November 2, 2015. The transaction sparked debate due to Good Technology’s prior valuation of $1 billion and an IPO registration filed in May 2014. Although revenue increased from $160.4 million in 2013 to $211.9 million in 2014, the company faced substantial operating losses ($83.9 million in 2014) alongside diminishing cash reserves. Additionally, the value of employee common stock had declined markedly by the time of acquisition.
By late 2016, the Sunnyvale office of Good Technology was closed with staff relocated to BlackBerry’s Mountain View facility. In 2017, all products under Good Technology were rebranded as part of BlackBerry Software.
Platform and products
The Good Dynamics Secure Mobility Platform serves as the foundation for both the Good Collaboration Suite and the Good Mobile Alliance ISV Ecosystem, where independent developers design and distribute applications. In October 2013, Good introduced the Good Dynamics Shared Service Framework, which provides functionalities like printing, file sharing, and email services. This framework encourages app integration and promotes code reuse among developers. Furthermore, in 2013, Good launched Direct Connect, a solution that allows organizations to manage data transfers across corporate or national borders securely.
The Good Collaboration Suite offers a comprehensive set of tools including email, calendar, contacts, task management, instant messaging, web browsing, and document sharing. These features exceed the capabilities typically found in consumer mobile operating systems and are seamlessly integrated. The suite delivers enterprise-grade functionalities such as single sign-on, secure access to corporate networks, and robust administrative controls. At its core is Good for Enterprise, which guarantees strict separation between personal and business data on employees’ devices without sacrificing security. Additional components include Good Share, which supports SharePoint-based file sharing, and Good Connect, designed for instant messaging via Lync and Sametime platforms.
Other offerings include Good Vault, which strengthens data security through two-factor authentication; Good for OEMs/Carriers, enabling telecommunications providers to offer integrated social messaging solutions; and the Good Secure Mobility Solution that assists in the development, protection, deployment, and management of mobile workflows.
Industry status
Executives at Good Technology and their analytical reports are widely regarded as authoritative sources in the field of enterprise mobile technology adoption. Their quarterly Mobility Index Report examines customer device and application activation trends to deliver important market intelligence.
Good Technology caters to clients with stringent security requirements such as government bodies and financial institutions. Its security products support seamless migration from BlackBerry environments to platforms including iOS, Windows Phone, and Android. In 2013, the company expanded its global footprint by establishing offices in Benelux and Stockholm alongside existing locations in New Jersey, New York, Washington, Texas, Australia, China, Germany, Italy, South Korea, Spain, and the United Kingdom.
The platform holds multiple certifications that ensure compliance with international government regulations. Notably, it played a crucial role in securing approval for the U.S. Department of Defense’s first Android device in 2012. In 2013, it became the inaugural cross-platform mobile collaboration solution to earn Common Criteria Evaluation Assurance Level 4 Augmented (EAL4+), standing as the only containerized platform certified at this level on both iOS and Android. Additionally, it is included on Australia’s Defence Signals Directorate Evaluated Products List.
In 2013, CEO Christy Wyatt emphasized the company’s commitment to workforce diversity: women comprised 27% of all employees and 40% of executive roles—figures substantially higher than the industry average of approximately 10%.