BlackBerry Considering Making Bacteria-Free Smartphone

Amidst the news suggesting BlackBerry is working on an Android-based smartphone, the Canadian firm has revealed it is now considering making a bacteria-free smartphone for use in the health-care industry.

BlackBerry CEO John Chen revealed the plans, but added that BlackBerry is not making the smartphone as of yet. The plans were disclosed during the announcement that BlackBerry is teaming-up with ThoughtWire and Cisco Systems to offer doctors and nurses of the Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital BlackBerry units with a portable messaging and alert system. The company's role there would be of providing both the software and devices, as reported by Bloomberg.

"Health-care workers have to be worried about one less thing to wipe down," said Chen taking about the proposed bacteria-free smartphone plans alongside the company's new clinical alerts pilot project on Wednesday. According to Aviv Gladman, Chief Medical Information Officer at Mackenzie Health, the doctors and nurses are supposed to wipe their handsets with alcohol every time they enter and exit a hospital room. In a study published by Journal of Applied Microbiology, it has been found out that almost 20 percent to 30 percent germs transfer between the phone and the fingertip. BlackBerry has not yet given details on how much it is spending on the project.

Chen on Tuesday following the company's earnings results cleared the air detailing the company's plans to make an Android smartphone, saying the company will create an Android smartphone only it can be made secure enough. The Canadian smartphone maker already offers Android app compatibility on BlackBerry 10 OS, as well as access to the Amazon Appstore for Android.