[keithhackneysmullet]

Chen keeps trumpeting a enterprise focus, but I don't see a separation between enterprise and the consumer market anymore. Iphones and Androids were forced into the work place by consumers.

Does John Chen really think the enterprise market wants a leap with 3+ year old hardware and $75 extra tacked on to the price of comparable androids and windows phones?

Posted via CB10

[donnation]

It's not a false argument. There are still many companies that force you to use the mobile device of their choosing and you don't have an option to use anything else. There isn't a debate over it and there is no byod. It's far from being a false argument.

[birdman_38]

Does John Chen really think the enterprise market wants a leap with 3+ year old hardware and $75 extra tacked on to the price of comparable androids and windows phones?

That extra $75 allows them to offer a discount for bulk purchases.

[keithhackneysmullet]

That isn't a big enough market to run a profitable hardware division. It's a double whammy as well because when a worker is forced to use a bad phone it skews the workers perception of that brand i.e " BlackBerry sucks because my 5 year old curve work phone hour glasses constantly ". I am certain that most of the ill will towards BlackBerry in the us is from that situation.

Posted via CB10

[NG888]

I've been asking this forever, does anyone know, or even BlackBerry what is the size of this enterprise segment, and how many devices that represents in sales and revenue, cause it seems awkward to focus your hand set strategy to one vertical, that u don't even know the size of that segment.



Posted via CB10

[conite]

I don't think BlackBerry ultimately cares whether they will end up selling devices or not. They are switching to an enterprise service model. Having devices to peddle simply rounds out the end-to-end offering, particularly for the ultra-secure environments.

The Leap and the Classic function perfectly with that objective.

The Passport and Slider just extend that model a bit to executives, and specialised applications.

Consumer and byod sales are just a bonus.

Z30STA100-5/10.3.2.500

[keithhackneysmullet]

I don't think BlackBerry ultimately cares whether they will end up selling devices or not. They are switching to an enterprise service model. Having devices to peddle simply rounds out the end-to-end offering, particularly for the ultra-secure environments.

The Leap and the Classic function perfectly with that objective.

The Passport and Slider just extend that model a bit to executives, and specialised applications.

Consumer and byod sales are just a bonus.

Z30STA100-5/10.3.2.500

Seem to be losing a lot of money on a simple portfolio rounder outer.

Posted via CB10

[conite]

Seem to be losing a lot of money on a simple portfolio rounder outer.

Posted via CB10

Yup. That's why they offloaded the manufacturing to Foxconn et al for the Leap and Classic. It is a much lower risk, lower cost model for BlackBerry.

Providing a loss leader (device sales) is still worthwhile if it contributes positively to the overall offering.

Z30STA100-5/10.3.2.500

[Madhuchandran]

I don't think BlackBerry can survive on without sporadic release of typical BB devices. It might not bring in significant revenue, but will hold together the fans, the greatest remaining asset BlackBerry posses.

Posted via CB10

[Madhuchandran]

Z3 is a Foxconn product though designed by BlackBerry.

Posted via CB10

[RyanGermann]

The reasons why consumers by-and-large aren't interested in BB10 devices are well documented (mostly on CrackBerry.com): if there is a strategy that would drive consumers in significant numbers to adopt BB10 and then that would encourage their employers to support / favour BB10 devices or BES software in their infrastructures, I bet it would go something like this: "BlackBerry needs to release a powerful full touch device with killer specs like a 14 pentahertz CPU with a 5.5" 8K display and two terabytes of DDR5 memory, and they have to sell it for $300. THEN all the consumers will abandon their iPhones and Android devices and BlackBerry will have 50% marketshare again." I exaggerate to make the point that there is a general notion that the reason why BB devices don't sell is because they're underpowered, and the fact that there is still a consumer app-gap and BlackBerry devices don't run Android / iOS isn't a significant issue. But there is a consensus that as far as consumers are concerned, the app-gap and the OS platform is THE significant issue (BB10 being disrespected for many reasons, but there are reasons) and that such a strategy wouldn't work, for many reasons also well documented. There should be a sticky "why BlackBerry isn't pursuing the consumer market" on CrackBerry, I think.

[donnation]

That isn't a big enough market to run a profitable hardware division. It's a double whammy as well because when a worker is forced to use a bad phone it skews the workers perception of that brand i.e " BlackBerry sucks because my 5 year old curve work phone hour glasses constantly ". I am certain that most of the ill will towards BlackBerry in the us is from that situation.

Posted via CB10

The ill will isn't just in the U.S. As easy as it is the blame the U.S. For Blackberrys problems their global market share is less than 1%, so you can pile on that ill will on everywhere else too, including in Canada.

[dbmalloy]

For me it is the wrong argument. It is not an issue of consumer vs enterprise when the CEO has said that someday BB may take a relook at the consumer market. He admitted the consumer market is dead and any sales to the consumer market is simply gravy.... No. it is an issue of a severely damaged brand in the consumer market and not so much in enterprise. To the consumer market BB is dead and buried. That is why you hear so many people surprised when they see a new BB device. Enterprise has a whole set of needs BB meets... consumer market does not. In the end... where do you put your ad budget. In a market when you are dead and few care or one where you still have some life and potential for growth.

[Soulstream]

How many companies still supply phones for their employees? let's say that number is X% out of all companies out there.

Out of X, are there enough high regulated companies that ABSOLUTELY need the best security out there? For most companies Android/iOS with BES is good-enough. Also contrary to what is said around here, enterprises do need apps (that are availble only on Android/iOS); the best example is Microsoft's Office suite. The age of a company phone only be used for email/sms/phone-calls is long gone.

[Originalloverman]

For me it is the wrong argument. It is not an issue of consumer vs enterprise when the CEO has said that someday BB may take a relook at the consumer market. He admitted the consumer market is dead and any sales to the consumer market is simply gravy.... No. it is an issue of a severely damaged brand in the consumer market and not so much in enterprise. To the consumer market BB is dead and buried. That is why you hear so many people surprised when they see a new BB device. Enterprise has a whole set of needs BB meets... consumer market does not. In the end... where do you put your ad budget. In a market when you are dead and few care or one where you still have some life and potential for growth.

Simple common sense you would think they would get that basic concept right but low and behold.

Send from the amazing powers of the  Z30

[Originalloverman]

How many companies still supply phones for their employees? let's say that number is X% out of all companies out there.

Out of X, are there enough high regulated companies that ABSOLUTELY need the best security out there? For most companies Android/iOS with BES is good-enough. Also contrary to what is said around here, enterprises do need apps (that are availble only on Android/iOS); the best example is Microsoft's Office suite. The age of a company phone only be used for email/sms/phone-calls is long gone.

Who ever said apps aren't needed? I'm pretty sure no one included me ever said that around here, what most people say is they don't need a bunch or could survive not having certain app when others does the same thing for instance snap chat. We won't die without it. And most apps that really needed we have access to that. So this app talk is garbage in my opinion. Is there room for improvement hell yes! And BlackBerry is working hard to solve that, do you think it's easy running a business that's second to none when your names been tarnished for years? And your competition have unlimited or near unlimited funds and network. When you have a company that can do less than the often quoted "1%" then you could brag . And yes I said less than people want to harp on the 1 % bit let's put that into perspective most contraceptive are 99% accurate at preventing pregnancies but yet the world is still so called over populated. Or let me alter less than 1% of your dna and let's see what you look like.

Two for 1 here.

Send from the amazing powers of the  Z30

[johnny_bravo72]

It's not a false argument. There are still many companies that force you to use the mobile device of their choosing and you don't have an option to use anything else. There isn't a debate over it and there is no byod. It's far from being a false argument.

So true.

I accidentally smashed my work-issued 9790. I was hoping they'd replace it with a Classic, but was given a 9900. Oh well, at least it's technically still an upgrade, I guess.

[DigitalMadness]

Chen keeps trumpeting a enterprise focus, but I don't see a separation between enterprise and the consumer market anymore. Iphones and Androids were forced into the work place by consumers.

Does John Chen really think the enterprise market wants a leap with 3+ year old hardware and $75 extra tacked on to the price of comparable androids and windows phones?

Posted via CB10

The LEAP makes sense for the Enterprise.
For 90% of the people where I work , who are issued phones have to use $0 phones on contract. (approx. 5000 phones)
The choices are Iphone 5s, Z30 (to be replace by LEAP), Galaxy S4 or a few entry level phones.
So really, you have a choice of either a 1.5-2 year old flagship phone or an entry level phone. The LEAP kind of sits in with the bunch in terms of cost and specs.

But the kicker is that since employees have a choice, in most cases, they choose the phone for personal reasons rather than the best phone for work. For this reason, Blackberry can not ignore the Consumer side of the equation.

[bh7171]

I think patience is in order. John Chen has been tasked with reviving a VERY poorly mismanaged company and brand. I don't think anyone could argue things are not better under John. As a loyal BlackBerry user we have the Passport (best mobile device I have ever used) Classic, Leap and new devices in the pipeline. There is now the Amazon app store now integrated into the OS that allows direct downloading of tons of apps that will run on our devices. (like them or not) BlackBerry 10.3.1, which is an excellent upgrade, with BlackBerry Blend (excellent for corporate clients AND consumers) In addition John Chen has people talking about BlackBerry again. (and I will not even go into QNX) Really in less than a year and a half what more could people want! Again patience!!! And on a last note BlackBerry, once corp clients switch, needs to kill BlackBerry OS7 support and devices as soon as possible. I know some may think this sac religious but the old BlackBerry 7 devices are NOT doing BlackBerry any favors anymore as many people's adverse perception is based on them. BlackBerry 10 is where the present and future lies!

The White Knight-BlackBerry Passport

[bakron1]

As I have said many times in my post that here in the USA the brand is all but dead. This poses a serious problem with any company that's looking to purchase new capital equipment.

The corporate purchasing folks now want devices that are value added and by a companies who are going to be able to provide long term support and stability.

I afraid that with the bad publicity that the Blackberry brand has suffered over the last few years have put them on the outside looking in when it comes to being considered for new hardware.

Like it or not, Apple and Samsung are the new Titans on the block and have the resources and capital to back up their products and will be able to provide the long term support that is required by the corporate folks when purchasing capital equipment.

It's sad to see what's happened, but a lot of this was self induced by Blackberry themselves from complacency and not focusing on what the consumer was asking for.

In today's highly competitive market, I think it's a lot harder to rebuild a tarnished brand then it would be to start over under a different name? Just my two cents.

[RickTrout]

The flaw that I see in the current enterprise strategy is simple, enterprise decision makers are also consumers.

The enterprise decision makers also have repeatedly heard that BlackBerry is dead, out of business, etc.

IMHO, the main strategy right now should be rebuilding the brand reputation and more public relations focused.

Without rebuilding brand reputation I don't think an enterprise or niche strategy can work in the long run.

As hard as it is to do, this needs to be done before BlackBerry can move forward with any significant growth.

Posted with my Z30 on CrackBerry 10

[thymaster]

Which is why they need to change the perception of the old BlackBerry to new BlackBerry that runs BB10. You're right when people see my phone, they see the hour glass days because some people are stuck in the past. It's time BlackBerry spend a little more on marketing and change all that.

It's not just about hardware but their BES and BIS software is affected by perceptions as well. People think they were complicated to set up, having to deal with network downtime, slow internet connectivity and requires certain data plans. People aren't willing to change their plan for BIS or BES plan anymore and that's what people keeps thinking when they see BlackBerry.

I know, you know and every active CrackBerry forum members knows the new BlackBerry isn't like before but the vast majority of old BlackBerry users don't know that. BlackBerry fails to inform their customers about the new BlackBerry is what's keeping their sales down.

That isn't a big enough market to run a profitable hardware division. It's a double whammy as well because when a worker is forced to use a bad phone it skews the workers perception of that brand i.e " BlackBerry sucks because my 5 year old curve work phone hour glasses constantly ". I am certain that most of the ill will towards BlackBerry in the us is from that situation.

Posted via CB10

[conite]

The flaw that I see in the current enterprise strategy is simple, enterprise decision makers are also consumers.

The enterprise decision makers also have repeatedly heard that BlackBerry is dead, out of business, etc.

IMHO, the main strategy right now should be rebuilding the brand reputation and more public relations focused.

Without rebuilding brand reputation I don't think an enterprise or niche strategy can work in the long run.

As hard as it is to do, this needs to be done before BlackBerry can move forward with any significant growth.

Posted with my Z30 on CrackBerry 10

They can do that with providing solid enterprise solutions, and staying on top of the EMM world (in terms of product and reviews). They will not be able to do that by throwing millions of dollars at marketing campaigns - that ship has sailed.

Z30STA100-5/10.3.2.500

[Prem WatsApp]

I think patience is in order. John Chen has been tasked with reviving a VERY poorly mismanaged company and brand. I don't think anyone could argue things are not better under John. As a loyal BlackBerry user we have the Passport (best mobile device I have ever used) Classic, Leap and new devices in the pipeline. There is now the Amazon app store now integrated into the OS that allows direct downloading of tons of apps that will run on our devices. (like them or not) BlackBerry 10.3.1, which is an excellent upgrade, with BlackBerry Blend (excellent for corporate clients AND consumers) In addition John Chen has people talking about BlackBerry again. (and I will not even go into QNX) Really in less than a year and a half what more could people want! Again patience!!! And on a last note BlackBerry, once corp clients switch, needs to kill BlackBerry OS7 support and devices as soon as possible. I know some may think this sac religious but the old BlackBerry 7 devices are NOT doing BlackBerry any favors anymore as many people's adverse perception is based on them. BlackBerry 10 is where the present and future lies!

The White Knight-BlackBerry Passport

Sac religious.... that's some funny, almost sacrilegious spelling... ;-)

Thanks for the laugh, it's not on you, it's on the spelling, ok... ? :-D

�   Passposted while waiting for the Z-lider....   �

[RickTrout]

They can do that with providing solid enterprise solutions, and staying on top of the EMM world (in terms of product and reviews). They will not be able to do that by throwing millions of dollars at marketing campaigns - that ship has sailed.

Z30STA100-5/10.3.2.500

I wasn't suggesting expensive marketing campaigns. Really I wish I could give them the magic bullet to fix public opinion.

I agree with you completely that they need to execute EMM and the other things that they are doing perfectly.

There are things other than expensive marketing that they could be doing to change public opinion but other than Mr. Chen's interviews, I am not seeing it.

Properly executed social media and placements could do more than a big marketing budget if coupled with products and services that really work.

Posted with my Z30 on CrackBerry 10