[playbookster]

I certainly hope so. No more 4 digit numbers please.

Just give each phone a real name and maybe 1 number if it has a sequel.
I think the bb7 phones have been the most confusing with its numbers.

why have a new bold that starts with 97 and one that starts with 99 and ends in 90 or 30 of 00.. lol And all those curves, its even worse!

One name, one phone.

[Roo Zilla]

It's BB10, so it'll probably start with the number "10."

[playbookster]

NO!!!! It should not start with a number 10. There should be no numbers. Number the OS thats fine, but the phones should not have a bunch of numbers.

[amazinglygraceless]

Not only should they ditch the numbers they should also implement all new names.

Few other manufacturer refers to their devices by a number. The names are equally
confusing in the minds of general consumers. How many different Curves are there
in the market? How many different Bolds?

[iankeiththomas]

I've thought for a while that RIM should take a page from the Apple play book and call its next flagship model "the Blackberry."

Blackberry model names and numbers rival Nokia for being needlessly and excessively confusing. Since BB 10 is mercifully launching with a streamlined selection of phones, call the QWERTY model the Blackberry and the touch model the Blackberry Touch or something (alternately, the touchscreen version is the Blackberry and the QWERTY model is the Blackberry Pro). Then, when the next round of devices surfaces, just number them ("Blackberry 2," etc.).

[playbookster]

Not only should they ditch the numbers they should also implement all new names.

Few other manufacturer refers to their devices by a number. The names are equally
confusing in the minds of general consumers. How many different Curves are there
in the market? How many different Bolds?

Too many. Unless you are really familiar with blackberry products you will not know the difference.. I have a feeling that is why many people got the curve and then were disappointed that it was a low end phone with a low res screen and then assume all blackberries must be that way and they go buy an iphone for their next phone simply because they are uninformed.

[crackcookie]

Very true, these 4 digit model numbers are annoying. They just need to release names, and stop fragmenting themselves!

There are so many bolds, even in the same generation...they made the 9900/9930 and 9790. So you could think the 9790 is their best phone....and so many phones, aaarg.

Just call it The Bold.

[Roo Zilla]

The reason for the different model numbers is the different radios in the different versions of the same model. For example, a Verizon Curve will have a different model number than an ATT Curve. They should do what Apple did and unify the radio, stick the same radio in all the versions of the same model. That will reduce confusion significantly. It would also make production easier, as they need to make only 1 Curve, instead of 2-3 depending on carrier. Then they should also unify the naming scheme and go with 10 or "X." For example, Bold X or Torch X, something along those lines.

[BB_Bmore]

From what i read they will have names that start with L and N, hence L series and N series.

[amazinglygraceless]

Just give them quintessentially Canadian names

BlackBerry Toronto
BlackBerry Canuck
BlackBerry Poutine
BlackBerry Moose Jaw

[russellwatters]

I think the whole N-Series and L-Series is a great start, having each series represent a different BB style.

I think they should do it by year. For instance, in 2013 we will have the London and Nevada (assuming they keep those names). Lets assume they will release an updated version of both devices in 2014. They should still just be called the London and Nevada and be differentiated by the year they are released, much like cars are.

So when people are looking at BB phones in 2014, they can decide if they want the 2013 London model or the 2014 model, keeping the London name simple without adding a "2" in front of it.

Sent from my BlackBerry 9330 using Tapatalk

[amazinglygraceless]

I think the whole N-Series and L-Series is a great start, having each series represent a different BB style.

I think they should do it by year. For instance, in 2013 we will have the London and Nevada (assuming they keep those names). Lets assume they will release an updated version of both devices in 2014. They should still just be called the London and Nevada and be differentiated by the year they are released, much like cars are.

So when people are looking at BB phones in 2014, they can decide if they want the 2013 London model or the 2014 model, keeping the London name simple without adding a "2" in front of it.

The only problem I see with this is it compels RIM to produce a new device(s)
every year. This will lead to an Apple like paradigm of making mostly insignificant
upgrades every year but not really advancing from an innovation standpoint.

[lengend]

Ditch the numbers, nuff said.

[aniym]

If RIM continue with their ridiculous numbering sequence, they've shown that they've truly learned nothing about branding. Every single other company has moved on to actual names, a single name that identifies the brand.

Samsung in 2010: Galaxy Vibrant, Captivate, Epic, Fascinate
Samsung in 2011 and 2012: Galaxy SII, Galaxy SIII


HTC in 2010: HTC Desire Z/HTC G2
HTC in 2011: HTC Desire HD/Inspire 4G
HTC in 2012: HTC ONE X, S, V (room for improvement, but you get the picture)

RIM's naming system has been a mess. Just imagine, there is someone in their Marketing department pulling 100K+ per year who thinks there's no problem using essentially region or carrier-specific SKUs as the actual product name (9900, 9930, 9810, 9860).

[lnichols]

They need to. They said they are simplifying the lineup so my bet is they will. I would like to see them just release a Bold, all Touch and slider, and then in a year come out with updates and last years high end is now this years low end. Also I think it was a big mistake not making all OS7 phones be touchscreen. When I have to do something on my kids Curves I get so upset at how inefficient OS7 is without touch input from my Bold 9900.

Sent from my BlackBerry 9900 using Crackberry App!

[cgk]

Do people think the bold and curve names will survive? I would think that to show a clean break, those titles will not be used outside of OS7 phones.

[apengue1]

Personally, I have no reason to believe that they will be keeping their model numbers.

[Alex_Hong]

Wrote this back in march for bbthemesx.com. Updated it with some new points.

---

So, I was keeping track of the iPad event on live blogs and iMore live cast. Nothing really surprising was announced other than what everyone had already know. The only thing that was stuck in my head, was the name.

It was not iPad 3, iPad 2S or iPad HD. It was just called, “the new iPad”. I actually really like that. Sort of what we are seeing in the way Apple are naming their Macs. Just MacBook, MacBook Pro…etc. There is no MacBook 5, MacBook Air 3 or anything of sorts.

It is also sort of what you are seeing in certain car makers. The official name for any new Honda Civic Type R, is called Honda Civic Type R. Not Honda Civic Type R 4, 5, 6… etc. Instead it is separated using the year the model was launched, and for petrol heads by their chassis code (EK9, EP3, FD2R… etc). For the tech savvy, they would immediately be able to identify the which generation it is, and what features it has. For the regular consumers, does it really matter which generation it is as long as it is an iPad?

Which brings me to my point.

With BB10 phones coming up soon, RIM has a chance to start anew with their product naming. Instead of using their old naming system of a product line (Bold, Curve, Torch… etc) followed by a number (9900, 9360, 9810… etc). I “boldly” suggest that they simply use the name of the product line, and ditch the numbers. People who really want to classify them, can do it by the year it was launched instead, or for the enthusiast, the code names that they were given during development (London, Nevada, Milan… etc). Or even the model number like the Samsung Galaxy S III for different carriers. People still call it the S3 no matter which carrier it is from, but if you want to be specific you can use their model number (I9300, I747, T999, or I535).

Anyway, RIM typically does not put out more than 1 new device for each product line each year, so it really is not that confusing at all. I know there are still bits and pieces of detail that needs to be worked out, but I think this could help to simplify the BlackBerry brand.

---

Just like when people ask you, “what BlackBerry do you have currently?” You say the Bold 9780. They ask “which one is that?”. You, “Oh, its the one that looks like the 9700 except from the colour of the bezel, with more memory, and better camera". For people not familiar with the BB product line, they will just go "Huh?". You get what I mean. So yeah, i hope they ditch the numbers, at least when marketing it.

[playbookster]

If RIM continue with their ridiculous numbering sequence, they've shown that they've truly learned nothing about branding. Every single other company has moved on to actual names, a single name that identifies the brand.

Samsung in 2010: Galaxy Vibrant, Captivate, Epic, Fascinate
Samsung in 2011 and 2012: Galaxy SII, Galaxy SIII


HTC in 2010: HTC Desire Z/HTC G2
HTC in 2011: HTC Desire HD/Inspire 4G
HTC in 2012: HTC ONE X, S, V (room for improvement, but you get the picture)

RIM's naming system has been a mess. Just imagine, there is someone in their Marketing department pulling 100K+ per year who thinks there's no problem using essentially region or carrier-specific SKUs as the actual product name (9900, 9930, 9810, 9860).

HTC names their phones like car companies do. Desire and Inspire? come on thats just silly.

[jkomo001]

how bout the Me10dy, Lusc10us and the Nat10n, these are just off the top of my head, but could be kinda cool if they just had names with io/lo in it, and make that 10 for blackberry 10. (I did it going along with the L, N, and M series).

[_StephenBB81]

I love Model numbers!

when someone says they have a Bold if I care MORE I can say do you know what type, and more often than not they actually do to a degree. I have a bold 99 something, or 97 something, or a curve 85 something I can help trouble shoot problems so much easier!


I do hope RIM changes the names from Torch , curve, Bold etc

[TheScionicMan]

I don't think the model numbers are as big of an issue to non-techie consumers. Most are just presented the options that their current carrier is offering, which generally falls under the Curve, Bold, Torch names etc. A Verizon customer is going to be presented the Bold. They aren't going to need to differentiate between the 9930 and the 9900.

[blackberry-unlocking710]

I think that they will use the numbers but in some other way..

[playbookster]

I love Model numbers!

when someone says they have a Bold if I care MORE I can say do you know what type, and more often than not they actually do to a degree. I have a bold 99 something, or 97 something, or a curve 85 something I can help trouble shoot problems so much easier!


I do hope RIM changes the names from Torch , curve, Bold etc

there are much easier ways of identifying phones than 4 digit numbers.

[russellwatters]

The only problem I see with this is it compels RIM to produce a new device(s)
every year. This will lead to an Apple like paradigm of making mostly insignificant
upgrades every year but not really advancing from an innovation standpoint.

I see your point but that I was just making a hypothetical situation. It could just as easily work if RIM released phones on a 2 year cycle. You could choose between the 2013 London or the 2015 London. Each phone is a London but one is newer and more improved than the other.

I think consumers can tell which product is the newer one without having a "2" in the name IF RIM keeps their product lines clean.

Sent from my BlackBerry 9330 using Tapatalk