Except that it is and widely recognized as such (
here,
here and
here for instance). Care to support that argument?
I'll do my best!
Link #1: does not actually say anywhere except for one paragraph that BBM is more secure than iOS. The entire article basically says "Blackberry because IT depts like it better" but admits that iPhones have largely caught up on security.
Here's the paragraph in question: "iOS and Android now support encryption, forced PIN entry, remote wipes and other security capabilities, but Croft says RIM security is simply more robust and easier to implement. BlackBerry messages are routed through RIM’s Network Operations Center, and while this produces an extra point of failure, it also adds extra layers of encryption, Croft says. Moreover, he argues that it requires far more planning to set up a proper security system around consumer devices like iPhone and Android than it does with BlackBerry Enterprise Server.
i. So BBM adds "extra layers" of security. Except that they no longer do:
BlackBerry messenger service no more secure now
Plus there's that "extra point of failure" thing, which bit them pretty hard a while back.
And if you think for one second that the US government has less access than the Indian government -- well ...
ii. I will accept the argument that it takes more planning (not "far" more, but more) to learn how to deploy Mac OS X Server (and possibly new equipment) or iPhone Configurator than it does to sign up with BBES. It's a one-time thing, but it's an extra step. Granted.
Second link:
Rates BB 7 higher than iOS 5, but mentions no reasons why. All the factors mentioned (built-in security, application security, authentication, device wipe, device firewall and virtualization) are present in iOS 5. But they DID rate it higher, so I would give a point to you on this -- EXCEPT that iOS 5.1 came out with extra security features and iOS 6 will be out this fall with even more. BBX isn't scheduled until sometime next year.
iOS 5.1 Adds Unannounced Security And Management Features | Cult of Mac
Apple iOS 6 Tightens iPhone, iPad App Security - Technology & science - Security - msnbc.com
I'm calling that a wash unless you have a newer link that tests it against the CURRENT iOS version.
Third link is hopelessly out of date (it's from two years ago) -- RIM capitulated to various governments and now allows monitoring of BBM traffic:
http://crackberry.com/indian-government-now-able-tap-bbm-messages
So at the end of this, I think it's fair to say that BBM doesn't have the advantages you imagined it did, but it still hangs on to the slightest of slight ease-of-setup (maybe), more layers, and the hearts of IT bullies. That's a (small but palpable) advantage, so I grant you that the blanket statement "BBM is more secure than iOS" is inaccurate but not incorrect.
But I think it's also fair to say that whatever headstart RIM had in this area is fading fast, and not just due to improvements in iOS -- Windows Phone is likely working on improvements in this regard as well. And I'm not even factoring that RIM is in real trouble and could possibly be bought out, taken over or just go under into this.
IMO, by this fall there will be no real difference in the quality of corporate security features on the two operating systems, and I doubt there's a whole lot of difference (other than bias/personal preference) for any company this side of the NSA right now.
To put this another way, the President of the United States still has his Blackberry -- but he also has an iPad, just like most other government leaders in the civilised world. If you couldn't secure the iPad, he (and they) simply wouldn't be allowed to have one.
