BlackBerry said on Wednesday it is buying AtHoc, a provider of secure, networked crisis communications. AtHoc's services are used by a number of top clients including the U.S. Department of Defense, Homeland Security and a host of blue-chip companies, to provide software that allows them to securely reach staff via their smartphones during business continuity and rescue efforts.

The terms of the transaction, which is expected to close by November, were not disclosed.

"AtHoc is an alerts system, but it also needs richer content and that can be provided by BlackBerry Messenger (BBM), which offers not just text, but voice, picture and video sharing, so we can provide a much richer experience to their clients," said BlackBerry Chief Executive John Chen.

Blackberry has been trying to focus more on software and turn around its faded fortunes.

Earlier this year, Chen said he saw a part of the company's targeted software revenue growth in the current fiscal year coming from acquisitions of companies that will allow it to sell more value-added services.

The Waterloo, Ontario-based BlackBerry has already acquired software maker WatchDox, which secures files; German firm Secusmart (voice and data encryption) and Movirtu, whose software allows users to have two phone numbers on the same device with a single SIM card.