[birdman_38]

I've been following BlackBerry for the past 5 years and have physically tried nearly every device during that time frame. On the business side of things, BlackBerry has seen the following challenges:

• the rise of iPhone and Android in the consumer market
• a major service outage which lead to a hit in their image
• rapidly declining stock value, from the peak of $230 to a low of $6
• a hardware drought prior to the launch of OS7
• their failed tablet experiment
• commonly unstable software (OS 4-7, Link)
• a co-CEO who thought RIM was invincible
• the other co-CEO who became preoccupied with an outside business venture
• living too high off the hog, including having their own corporate jet
• taking five years to release a true multimedia touchscreen device
• having to cut back a billion dollars in expenses
• massive layoffs
• never having the scope of apps of their competitors
• ineffectively marketing their new platform
• little public relations efforts
• constant bad press
• the departure of high level managers
• plunging market share
• losing dominance in the enterprise space
• unmotivated front line salespeople
• indifference by US carriers who delay software updates and release dates
• a current CEO with business sense but nothing else

And you know what? Amazingly, BlackBerry is still here. All of that being said, it's nothing short of amazing.

[theRock1975]

They're still here and their ambitious plans and hard work was realized.

They chose a proven, fast and stable true multitasking microkernel. They chose one of the most renowned UI design teams from Europe to develop the UI and tools. They went a step further than the competition and baked the most popular apps into the OS.

They brought a lot of new concepts like the work/personal perimeters, mobile screen sharing, and were one of the first to introduce time shift.

They also built one of the best mobile browsers.

In a couple of weeks, we'll be receiving wifi direct, an updated android player with hardware support and many more features. BBM is going cross platform too so we can all use the best messenger as well.

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[treaker]

They still have a problem with getting things done when they need to be done, and are too slow updating the OS.

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[dusdal]

Plus they have been nailing their launch dates, which is very encouraging.

Looking forward to bbm-x, public launch of channels, 10.2 and the Z30 all in September/October.

Chuffed!

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[darkehawke]

However they are still led by people who can't see that they are minor players. This will lead them onto a downward spiral.
They need to price their devices a lot more aggressively and stop thinking that they are the equal of Samsung and apple

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[Jerale Hoard]

However they are still led by people who can't see that they are minor players. This will lead them onto a downward spiral.
They need to price their devices a lot more aggressively and stop thinking that they are the equal of Samsung and apple

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Actually according to CNNMoney they are equal to the competition if not better





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[notfanboy]

"Re: Believe it or not, BlackBerry is still here"

You can make a similar case for any number of companies. Perfect example is Nokia.

[darkehawke]

Actually according to CNNMoney they are equal to the competition if not better





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What about the general public? Which is who I refer to.

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[sinsin07]

They still have a problem with getting things done when they need to be done, and are too slow updating the OS.

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Apple is the king of slow.

[eldricho]

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[merv69]

Apple is the king of slow.

+1.

Via my Zormtrooper - v.10.2.0.1047

[BBUniq01]

However they are still led by people who can't see that they are minor players. This will lead them onto a downward spiral.
They need to price their devices a lot more aggressively and stop thinking that they are the equal of Samsung and apple

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I have to agree with this post. I do feel that my Z10 is a quality device and worth the price I had paid for it. But a lower price point will make this device more accessible to the general mass who might be resistant in trying out a perceived "dying " brand, unless it is a good deal. Marketing in the form of education is also necessary. This is not the typical device and has so much to offer. But it can be intimidating to some users. My iPhone friends are impressed with the phone but also slightly intimidated because it is not as simplistic as their phones.

Curve 8320, Bold 9780, Bold 9900, PB 64gb, Z10

[Speedygi]

Plus they pretty much must price the lower end model Q5, so that it fits the budget BB10 target. People will be more apt to try it for themselves if they are available cheap and sim-free, nothing can beat using a phone for a few days if you wanna learn about an operating system, which is what Blackberry wants.

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[scorpiodsu]

They are still here because of the size of their user base and enterprise presence. Even with all those challenges anyone that expected the company to fold so soon does not live in reality. It takes a lot to bring a company down with the presence of Blackberry. So while some might think it's amazing they are still here, others (those living in reality) aren't surprised. At this point, the amazing thing would be in they somehow reclaimed a bit of the past glory. Now that would shock people.

[scorpiodsu]

However they are still led by people who can't see that they are minor players. This will lead them onto a downward spiral.
They need to price their devices a lot more aggressively and stop thinking that they are the equal of Samsung and apple

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Agreed. Inferior hardware and lacking ecosystem but priced the same. Come on man. The new platform doesn't even do somethings as well as the old one. A lot of work to be done.

[mandony]

The OP has a lot of good observations.

One new point:

Blackberry has done a terrible job to make their app store known. The iOS apple app store is well advertised, as is the Google store. Blackberry store is almost never promoted by app devs or their clients. Apps promotions sell the devices on which they are available. So, average folk are not drawn-in to BB phones, their favorite apps are not there (true or not).

[Speedygi]

Agreed. Inferior hardware and lacking ecosystem but priced the same. Come on man. The new platform doesn't even do somethings as well as the old one. A lot of work to be done.

The Q10 is not inferior hardware, not by any metric...

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[Chris Gan]

Crackberry might as well shut all negative thread!

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[bekkay]

The Q10 is not inferior hardware, not by any metric...

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It is given the price.

[Speedygi]

It is given the price.

Yup, fair enough.

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[earlym]

At this stage of the game, BB is relying on it's knowledge and experience to sustain them as they tread waters carefully. If they believe that their plan under TH has not worked YET, they will wait for the results WHILE they seek other avenues for sustainability and growth. I truly believe that Heins "believes" in BB10 and the future of BB and is willing to do whatever it takes to promote.

There are boardroom decisions being made that we obviously aren't a part of, so starts our speculation. If they didn't believe in the platform, they would not have continued to funnel money into, and still do.

BB is in a very favorable position here. They have money, patents, technology and the manufacturing know how to continue the current and future lines. Also, they know it's time to reach outside of themselves not only for additional resources, financing, outright selling but also to seek a better position and insight into the industry and what the consumer's want in a phone. Grant it, they are well versed in what corporations want in a secure platform. Now it's time to explore the "consumer experience" on this great platform. If they can get there within the next 1 1/2 years, there is a chance that they can offer successors to Z10, Q10 and BB10 that would definately play a major factor in where smartphones are going tomorrow.

Go BB!

[Dave Bourque]

It is given the price.

You know a better qwerty physical keyboard device?

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[darkehawke]

You know a better qwerty physical keyboard device?

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9900

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[dusdal]

Haha

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[Speedygi]

9900

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Well, I would second that if the 9900 had better battery life and camera...

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