[Bfalcon1]

With John Chen coming in as the interim CEO, how long before there will be decision of the future direction of the hardware business? Everything I read states his expertise is software and the hardware business should not be part of the equation. Thoughts...

[kevinnugent]

He's quoted as saying he wants to find a CEO that's a software specialist too. So, hardware is probably ready for the high jump anyway.

[cbvinh]

He stated that he sees the direction of BlackBerry as a software/services company... AND hardware was the way to deliver those services.

Whether BlackBerry will keep hardware going will be dependent on whether they can integrate high security into just any device, like iOS or Android. Chances are, they won't be able to. Building hardware may be a necessity to deliver secure services.

[kevinnugent]

He stated that he sees the direction of BlackBerry as a software/services company... AND hardware was the way to deliver those services.

Whether BlackBerry will keep hardware going will be dependent on whether they can integrate high security into just any device, like iOS or Android. Chances are, they won't be able to. Building hardware may be a necessity to deliver secure services.

Or having someone competent at it do it for you, like Sony or HTC.

[fedakd]

They need to sell the HW division ASAP. Still have "BlackBerry" hardware, but have someone else make it for them.

[m1a1mg]

They need to sell the HW division ASAP. Still have "BlackBerry" hardware, but have someone else make it for them.

Yes, the companies should just be lining up to produce hardware that doesn't sell.

[danprown]

Does anyone have a link to a clear picture of what the "HW division" looks like, such as how many employees, who are the designers, what they do, what is outsourced?

They need to sell the HW division ASAP. Still have "BlackBerry" hardware, but have someone else make it for them.

[cbvinh]

They need to sell the HW division ASAP. Still have "BlackBerry" hardware, but have someone else make it for them.

It's not like BlackBerry has a bunch of factories they own that produce the hardware. They outsource the work. "Building their own hardware" means that they release their own hardware, i.e. under the BlackBerry name, to the specs that their software and services need.

The current burden they have with hardware is that they have to guess how many units to build. If they guess wrong, as with the case with the Z10, they lose money. They have to make commitments to contract manufacturers. Even if they outsource the design to someone else, like Sony, HTC, etc., this will be the issue they will still have to contend with.

[Dunt Dunt Dunt]

BlackBerry's hardware business is worthless... they aren't going to sell it to anyone.

The problem is, I'm not sure what their Software business is worth without hardware. Is BES10 the best at managing other platforms - from what I have seen it is not? Would BES10 be more secure at managing other platforms - from what I've seen they are missing several capabilities that other MDM have? What advantage would BES10 have - is it cheaper, is it easier to setup and use?

Building hardware could be outsourced more than what BB has been doing - ie PlayBook was built by someone else. But does that save them money? Does it make them more competitive on hardware? I don't see them being able to license BB10 to other manufacturers - at least not until they can prove that it is a money maker.

Not really sure what a software and service company would be without hardware. I know that the is a LOT of "hope" being placed on BBMX.... but it's got more competition that BB10 does and is quickly falling off anyone radar. And little QNX might appear to cast a big shadow, but that's just because of the spot light everyone keeps putting on them.

If you look at what BlackBerry has been bringing in each quarter on Software and Services.... it isn't enough to support a big company like BlackBerry. Hardware IS their business!

[pbfan]

They need to stop making devices and provide technologies for other device makers to produce devices that the market needs. They will make money from their technologies.
They should focus on what they are good at: BES, secure networks, BBM (or any secure messaging), and embedded software.

Unfortunately, this can cause massive lay off! But this is necessary for it to survive.

[mastermike87]

They need to sell the HW division ASAP. Still have "BlackBerry" hardware, but have someone else make it for them.

Don't you get tired of looking foolish on CB?

Posted via CB10

[ElGusta]

They will just drag it out until the decision is ultimately made for them. By either the media, their manufacturing partners, or by a lack of funds.

BB is not a proactive company, they are passive and reactionary.

The interim CEO seems just as clueless as his predecessor. From his interview he hasn't even used recent BB products.