BlackBerry Gains as Ford Said to Pick QNX Over Microsoft

BlackBerry Ltd. shares surged after its QNX software was said to be favored by Ford Motor Co. for its next-generation Sync system.

Ford, struggling with in-car technology flaws, will no longer use Microsoft Corp.’s Windows for Sync, instead basing the system on QNX, according to people briefed on the matter. Using QNX will be less expensive than licensing Microsoft technology and will improve the flexibility and speed of the next Sync system, the people, who asked not to be identified because the decision hasn’t been made public, said Feb. 22.