BlackBerry Revamped Plan
- Would you like BB10 on a Different device and on Tablets? Of course you would like to that option!
It's obvious that BlackBerry needs a strategic change.
BB10 was a flop, not because it wasn't good, it just didn't differentiate itself in the market.
iOS and Android are the market (Windows barely)..and BB10 was trying to wedge itself into a crowded space that RIM lost with BBOS..and extreme uphill battle that they've lost.
Hardware-wise, the Z10 didn't give anything new..there are plenty of touchscreens available that have better specs using iOS and Android, even the Z30, which is a great phone doesn't keep up with the Nexus5 or other smartphones in the same market. Q5/10 gave the keyboard people were missing, but the transition for traditional BBOS users was difficult..made even more so with the negative BB sentiment in the marketplace.
So what next...needs to be done FAST so a complete re-invention is out of the question, so how to use what we've already got.
Re-focus on the Business market but with a new spin. I think BB10 still has a place in the market with a different spin. Business like the locked-down nature of BlackBerry, but users like the markets for Apple and Android so combine them. We know BB10 has baked in Android, and you can sideload things and make it a great experience, but 90% people won't do this and that wasn't it's intention anyway.
If you can't beat 'em ...join 'em..but as Steve Jobs mantra said...pick something that someone does poorly and make it better.
- Introducing BlackBerry's Android for Business.
People now have the recognition that of Android (the biggest mobile platform), but the big negative of Android is security..so adding the BlackBerry wrapper get's rid of that risk.
App Developers will need to have their Apps vetted by BlackBerry before they will be available on these "safe for business" devices. (same thing they do now but with a different spin)...If your apps not in BlackBerry world it's because it's not secure enough (it could be but that's the negative tag you would be labelled with if you didn't make the effort to get it approved). BlackBerry 10 specific apps would still be written for those who want to give a better user experience to these users, and preloaded apps would stick to the business users in mind. As you notice, nothing really changes from the current BB10 except the way you spin it, by putting the "Android" front and center. - Licence the OS.
BlackBerry doesn't have the money to keep ahead of the curve on the hardware end, so by licensing it's "Android for Business" customers could have the choice of getting top of the line hardware from other vendors loaded with their "secure" Android. This would also likely help with the App-gap since Developers would see a more globally accepted environment.
People whine about no BB10 tablet...imagine if that would change and you could run BB10 aka "BlackBerry's Android for Business" on a Nexus 7 or Nexus 10?...Sign me up!!
If you look at the new BES 10 servers with cross-plaform support, BB phones can be locked down the most, then Apple, and very limited Android. If I was a CIO with the option of a "secure" Android, I would insist employees use that variation of Android rather than the "open" Android and get the best of both worlds. That gets you more BB10 license sales and more BES deployments. - Keep some of the hardware?
No one does Keyboards like BlackBerry, so if it makes financial sense, I would suggest dropping the full-touchscreen devices (as much as I love them..but you must to do #2 successfully). If the numbers make sense, there could be a option for BlackBerry to keep their QWERTY phones for the pure business consumer who still needs to type on a keyboard and doesn't care about the limitation of apps that would come with the smaller screen.
Basically it comes down to if you could get a BB10 experience in Samsung S4, Google Nexus 5, and the Android Tablets..would you choose that over a standard Android install? As a business I would...and maybe many consumers would as well.Last edited by mcstravi; 11-05-13 at 09:58 AM.
11-05-13 08:37 AMLike 0 - Introducing BlackBerry's Android for Business.
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With the wider availability of the "Android for Business" OS available on hardware like Samsung and on tablets, the market share grows and will result in higher App deployment...again not necessarily "BB10 Apps" but "secured for Business" Android Apps.
People believe (rightly or wrongly) BlackBerry is a dinosaur...so make them relevant again by hanging off of the Android bandwagon.
People may not want a "BlackBerry", but they might want a "Secure" Android...I would
When deciding on my next phone..I look at Apple, which is more secure but I HATE the BS that comes with the locked down ..force you to buy everything Apple crap or Android..great devices but lousy security.
BB is the option but it's not selling because people just assume is the same 'ol legacy stuff.11-05-13 10:45 AMLike 0 - 1. BlackBerry has few apps now and they would have even fewer "vetted" apps. No willing developers means no apps. If you are suggesting that BB10 be eliminated and BB goes Android but with vetted apps from BB world and the availability of apps for the consumer from Google Play then fine.
2. License the software will definitely help BUT it would have to be for free or minimal cost. The key is to interest manufacturers in China ... ZTE etc.
3. Dropping full device ?? Why bother with steps one and two then. Only BlackBerry does QWERTY well but the market is small. To increase the market the screen has to be MUCH bigger and they need a BIS model for Africa etc .kbz1960 likes this.11-05-13 10:45 AMLike 1 - Theres nothing wrong with BB10 or the devices. The other problems need to be sorted out, like brand awareness (marketing and advertising), apps and pricing of the phones. Now is not the time to be commanding premium prices for a phone when you sitting on stockpiles and need to grow the user base. With all the security breaches and NSA spying scandals now is not a good time to be mentioning the word,"Android" either.11-05-13 11:10 AMLike 0
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Market awareness...sure but what are we making them aware of...to most people BB is a phone that offers more drawbacks than pluses
Pricing...so you want to market BB as a lost cost device? You're competing against corporate monsters that will beat you on price every time.
Now is not the time to be commanding premium prices for a phone when you sitting on stockpiles and need to grow the user base.
You need to have a REASON to choose BB...that reason is SECURITY, which businesses care about but most people don't.
People have proven the don't want a "business-only device"..if they did the BBOS phones would be golden.
] With all the security breaches and NSA spying scandals now is not a good time to be mentioning the word,"Android" either.
People/Business want everything Android offers without the drawback of SECURITY....BlackBerry CAN do that.11-05-13 11:26 AMLike 0 - This was a good idea... back in 2010, before RIM bought QNX and started down that path. If BB started trying to do this TODAY, it would be 2015-2016 before they'd have a product ready, and they won't live that long.11-05-13 03:11 PMLike 0
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