Blackberry (aka RIM) Were they really ready?

**nchesh** · 02-03-2013, 12:20 AM

Does anyone get the feeling that Blackberry really weren't quite ready to release bb10? To release it without the keyboard version, no Skype, Netflix or lovefilm app, no date for playbook update and no phone release for the USA? (I'm in the UK) Does feel like they didn't quite get this right. I love my 9900 and playbook but do feel as thought Blackberry have missed some really important opportunities here.
I do feel as well as though they haven't pushed the advertising enough, Blackberry should have bought big page adds out in all the papers and magazines but I haven't really seen massive advertising anywhere?
I'm hoping that they can quicken the final stages of release and pull some of this back soon.
Anybody else agree with these comments????

Neil

**rjkolo** · 02-03-2013, 12:42 AM

They stated over 6 months ago that the Q wouldn't be rleased until later....the rest...every new phone and OS and even OS update has errors that need to be worked out, look at iOS 6.0, the data leak issue that was charging people a ton who went over with data, and the really bad maps...what will define it is how fast they can fix issues with updates, if they take their sweet time like they do with the PlayBook to fix tbings BlackBerry is done...if they fix 1-2 things a week with many updates people will see they are trying very hard and be happy overall. It is ln the sholders of RIM now...as far as apps go...they gried their hardest with devs, and are still trying. Selling out I. the UK ane hopefuly in Canada will sho devs that people WANT Blackaberry 10 and the apps will get there fast and just in time for the US launch! *fingers crossed*

**maam** · 02-03-2013, 12:42 AM

There's going to be a blackberry commercial during the super bowl!!! First time in BlackBerry history!!!! Enough said

**raremage** · 02-03-2013, 12:54 AM

Originally Posted by maam

There's going to be a blackberry commercial during the super bowl!!! First time in BlackBerry history!!!! Enough said

It does seem a bit odd that they're running a Super Bowl ad, but then phone availability will lag in the US market by a month or more. If they had a US release on Monday, the day after, a great commercial could have pushed sales way up. Instead, people may begin to forget whatever ad they run tonight by the time the phones are available.

**montyl** · 02-03-2013, 12:58 AM

Well take a look at this story:

BlackBerry announces Limited Edition device availability for Verizon Wireless developers

BlackBerry announces Limited Edition device availability for Verizon Wireless developers | CrackBerry.com

From the looks of this article they do not have all of the production issues worked out.

**S180** · 02-03-2013, 01:10 AM

Originally Posted by nchesh

To release it without the keyboard version,

That's something they always intended on doing. Keyboard version is more as easy to develop, and they don't have as many apps for the keyboard version to start off.

no Skype, Netflix or lovefilm app,

App ecosystem is decent at start, it'll be interesting to see what happens in two months.

no date for playbook update and no phone release for the USA?

I don't see how that relates to the phones being ready or not. Obviously playbook release date has no relation. US phone release in March is something they had to do. US carriers have lengthy testing cycles, and it's not worth delaying the release to the rest of the world because of that.

**DuexNoir** · 02-03-2013, 01:11 AM

Originally Posted by montyl

Well take a look at this story:
http://cdn.crackberry.com/themes/cra...rk-generic.png

BlackBerry announces Limited Edition device availability for Verizon Wireless developers

BlackBerry announces Limited Edition device availability for Verizon Wireless developers | CrackBerry.com

From the looks of this article they do not have all of the production issues worked out.

They said it was an issue 'beyond their control"; in other words, something went wrong on the Verizon end. There isn't such an issue with Devs on other wireless carriers. In fact, BB gave an option for Devs currently on Verizon to get the Limited Edition to another carrier. So it appears to be something faulty with Verizon and not with BB.

**Thunderbuck** · 02-03-2013, 01:19 AM

A launch like this has a great many moving parts. At some point they had to ship, and at some point they had to decide what would be "good enough". It was a gutsy move to pre-announce this launch back in November, but they've launched a reasonable product.

Early sales should be decent, as it's on sale in two friendly major markets, and BB has time to sort out teething problems before US sales starts.

Not trying to pretend that it's perfect, but it is what it is.

**nchesh** · 02-03-2013, 01:37 AM

I know they had to release and i know that there would be bugs but they have lost so much market share and their existing customer base is nearly all keyboard users I just thought it would be a good move to ensure that this version was available, as for the Superbowl ad, its one way but doesn't reach nearly enough people (in the USA maybe).
The playbook, I realise this doesn't relate to the phone release but the tablet market is becoming incredibly large and important and I believe an early release would be critical.
Lets get this clear i support blackberry, ive used it for years and think it is the best phone system around, the bold 9900 was and still is a brilliant release BUT they need to push the BB10 hard and fast. The majority of the users are easily swayed and need to be convinced that this is the phone of the future.

**Skeevecr** · 02-03-2013, 09:04 AM

Originally Posted by nchesh

Does anyone get the feeling that Blackberry really weren't quite ready to release bb10? To release it without the keyboard version, no Skype, Netflix or lovefilm app, no date for playbook update and no phone release for the USA? (I'm in the UK) Does feel like they didn't quite get this right. I love my 9900 and playbook but do feel as thought Blackberry have missed some really important opportunities here.
I do feel as well as though they haven't pushed the advertising enough, Blackberry should have bought big page adds out in all the papers and magazines but I haven't really seen massive advertising anywhere?
I'm hoping that they can quicken the final stages of release and pull some of this back soon.
Anybody else agree with these comments????

Going through your points, the keyboard version was always planned to come later presumably to allow time for the z10 to have the spotlight on its own, as far as the apps you can hardly fault rim for the efforts they have put in to get the apps on there and they could not have done much more beyond putting a gun to the head of these companies. The playbook update was never going to be there for the launch because their priority is on selling new phones and the playbook update will come as soon as it can without delaying those.

The phone release in the USA comes down to the simple fact that the lab period for most of the carriers is far longer than that of carriers everywhere else in the world, there is little that Rim could do other than delay release everywhere which would seem fairly idiotic when you see the sales they are producing in the UK, the pre-orders in Canada etc. This is not like Apple's situation where the american carriers would have probably been happy to rush through the testing and apple would have been happy to delay everywhere else for a few weeks to cover for what time couldn't be reduced.

As far as the advertising, I think that they are going to ramp that up steadily to keep the momentum going rather than trying to blow it in a burst that gets forgotten, the initial rush in the uk seems to have pretty much wiped out pre-order stocks so going too heavy on advertising would just get people going into the stores and not having stock to sell them.

While I am sure they might have preferred to have launched in even more countries at once, the idea that this was a bad release that needs them to pull back some of this soon just seems out of touch with the reality they were in.

**spencerdl** · 02-03-2013, 09:46 AM

Short answer .......NOPE.....IMHO.....PERIOD

**DX9** · 02-03-2013, 09:50 AM

I know many people talk about Apps but I have had my GS3 since launch day last June and honestly I hardly use apps. I use Facebook, Twitter, TSN, Weather and all couple others. I Web browse constantly all day as I feel it is a much better experience on my Galaxy. I know there are apps that aren't there yet on BB 10 as some people use them. All depends on your daily routine is guess. After reading through reviews and researching more over the weekend I will pick up a Z10 this week. Web browsing is great on my S3 and all I hear are great things about the Z10 so I am very interested.

**GTiLeo** · 02-03-2013, 09:52 AM

Originally Posted by raremage

It does seem a bit odd that they're running a Super Bowl ad, but then phone availability will lag in the US market by a month or more. If they had a US release on Monday, the day after, a great commercial could have pushed sales way up. Instead, people may begin to forget whatever ad they run tonight by the time the phones are available.

americans are nto the onyl ones that watch the superbowl, here in canada come super bowl weekend everyone goes nuts

**cgk** · 02-03-2013, 09:55 AM

Originally Posted by GTiLeo

americans are nto the onyl ones that watch the superbowl, here in canada come super bowl weekend everyone goes nuts

They will not see the ad unless they are watching an american station or Blackberry pays for it to be shown - they will see local ads - same here in the UK, we don't see american ads when we watch the superbowl.

**GTiLeo** · 02-03-2013, 09:57 AM

Originally Posted by Thunderbuck

A launch like this has a great many moving parts. At some point they had to ship, and at some point they had to decide what would be "good enough". It was a gutsy move to pre-announce this launch back in November, but they've launched a reasonable product.

Early sales should be decent, as it's on sale in two friendly major markets, and BB has time to sort out teething problems before US sales starts.

Not trying to pretend that it's perfect, but it is what it is.

that might be a reason why the US market wasn't included on the first wave, gives them a month to work out the kinks, to see how everyday users feel abotu some of the features and where they can fix it to make it that much better.

it also may be the carrier testing takign to long but either way i think its a good thing, although with negative talk it may come back to bite them in the ***

**GTiLeo** · 02-03-2013, 09:58 AM

Originally Posted by cgk

They will not see the ad unless they are watching an american station or Blackberry pays for it to be shown - they will see local ads - same here in the UK, we don't see american ads when we watch the superbowl.

understand but we still get american stations here where it is played on

**JeepBB** · 02-03-2013, 10:01 AM

Originally Posted by GTiLeo

americans are nto the onyl ones that watch the superbowl, here in canada come super bowl weekend everyone goes nuts

Forgive my ignorance, but do many Canadians watch US TV?

If not, wouldn't the US adverts be replaced with local adverts during the breaks, so all that RIM PR wouldn't get seen? I know that's what happens over here during the SuperBowl showing. (I record it... happens overnight UK time).

**Lehomer** · 02-03-2013, 10:02 AM

But yet "you" know there is a superbowl commercial don't you ? See how that works?

Originally Posted by cgk

They will not see the ad unless they are watching an american station or Blackberry pays for it to be shown - they will see local ads - same here in the UK, we don't see american ads when we watch the superbowl.

**GTiLeo** · 02-03-2013, 10:08 AM

Originally Posted by JeepBB

Forgive my ignorance, but do many Canadians watch US TV?

If not, wouldn't the US adverts be replaced with local adverts during the breaks, so all that RIM PR wouldn't get seen? I know that's what happens over here during the SuperBowl showing. (I record it... happens overnight UK time).

sure we do, we are also canadian and BlackBerry is a canadian company, i don't see why our stations wouldn't show the BB10 ad

**JeepBB** · 02-03-2013, 10:11 AM

Originally Posted by Lehomer

But yet "you" know there is a superbowl commercial don't you ? See how that works?

Erm, I see your point, but no. That isn't how it works for me.

Knowing of the existence of a Ford Ad, but seeing nothing in the way of detail of what that Ad said, wouldn't persuade me to rush down to my local Ford dealer to find out more. Ditto with the knowledge that BB10 will be advertised during the SB.

**Lehomer** · 02-03-2013, 10:17 AM

Youtube is only one click away...............
of course ymmv
Cheers

Originally Posted by JeepBB

Erm, I see your point, but no. That isn't how it works for me.

Knowing of the existence of a Ford Ad, but seeing nothing in the way of detail of what that Ad said, wouldn't persuade me to rush down to my local Ford dealer to find out more. Ditto with the knowledge that BB10 will be advertised during the SB.

**raremage** · 02-03-2013, 10:29 AM

Originally Posted by Skeevecr

The phone release in the USA comes down to the simple fact that the lab period for most of the carriers is far longer than that of carriers everywhere else in the world, there is little that Rim could do other than delay release everywhere which would seem fairly idiotic when you see the sales they are producing in the UK, the pre-orders in Canada etc. This is not like Apple's situation where the american carriers would have probably been happy to rush through the testing and apple would have been happy to delay everywhere else for a few weeks to cover for what time couldn't be reduced.

While your premise is probably true - it takes longer to get approval with US carriers than others - let's be honest, this isn't RIM/BlackBerry's first time through this rodeo. They've been working with US carriers for a long, long time and should have all the timing worked out by now. Something unexpected had to happen to push the US release out, or it was just poor planning on their part. Blaming the carriers is fine, but it's not like they haven't worked with these carriers before and shouldn't have known the timing issues.

**DuexNoir** · 02-03-2013, 11:38 AM

The only major delay in BBRY's release of the Z10 is in the US market, elsewhere in the world the release of the phone was pretty much on time. If I recall correctly, this makes BB launch better than WP8 and Nokia launch, which didn't give a pricing or any date to availability anywhere, until a month or more later. The Lumia and WP8 for Nokia last year was equally as important for them as the Z10 and BB10 is for BBRY. I'm not giving an excuse for this delay in the US market, as any handicap is a handicap, but I do want to put this in a bit of a perspective with regards to other launches. Although Heins said March for the US market, I am hoping that both consumer and BBRY push those American carriers faster and bump up the release to mid-Feb, which will be great.