[cooleddie]

3 steps for Blackberry to start a turnaround in 3 months. All must complete at same time.

1. Allow controlled licensing of BB10 to other hardware manufacturers that are not doing too well on Android. Specifically, LG for entry level BB10s and Sony for elite level BB10s. The licensing is not a "free for all" licensing - BB must give the final stamp of approval for these hardware that is powerered by Blackberry. Security from a hardware level must continue to meet standards. This ensures wider reach, more options for consumers, and higher distribution. Blackberry cannot keep up on hardware side - need to rely on others - plus this helps alleviate inventory risk and avoid future giant writedowns on bad products.

2. Negotiate with Google to develop a parallel "Google Play" app store for BB10. With 10.2 out, running Android apps have never been smoother. The Google Play app store will help users install android apps - it will do the sideloading and everything for you - it will be a seamless experience. This solves the app issue. Google can take a cut of profits from apps sold on Google Play.

3. Start direct channel sales - over internet and in key flagship stores in the top 30 cities of the world (Toronto, New York, San Fran, London, Paris, Cape Town, etc). Give consumers ability to buy ALL models (including the LG/Sony manufactured BB10s) directly and unlocked, as well as ALL accessories.

[qbnkelt]

Certainly agree with number 3. Being able to buy all devices would have made me happy many times in the past. Right now they opened up the Z10 and the Q for direct purchase. I like that.

[len pothier]

1) if someone wanted to license bb10 that is. You speak as if there is huge demand but bbry won't play ball, unfortunately while I do believe to a certain extent that was there original plan with regard to moving forward, the market reaction to devices running bb10 has likely turned off any potential hardware maker who might have been looking that way.

2) google won't do it since the whole point of android for google is getting more people to use google services, android is not an end unto itself, rather a means to an end. It's the same with bbry as far as I'm concerned, the phones are just a way to push services like bes. Therefor I see no incentive to google doing this, on top of that this would presumably use the sideloading type method and if so would put both parties in a legal grey area.

3) yes but I don't think that will help market uptake much since people seem unwilling to adopt the devices with a carrier subsidy, I don't expect them to do much without.

Posted via CB10

[CrackedBarry]

1. Won't happen. There isn't enough interest from other manufacturers to license BB10. It would cause more problems than advantages for them.

2. Won't happen either. Google has no reason to do this. Zero.
The money involved are miniscule, they already earn profits from BBRY users.

And if Blackberry slowly putters along into oblivion, they'll get a large part of those customers without any effort.

3. Is technically possible, but won't happen either. It would antagonize carriers, and it would be expensive for Blackberry to start up its own retail division. Money they can't afford to spend right now.

And while it might have been a good idea 2-3-5 years ago, today Blackberry is too small of a company for this, with a lineup that's too small for its own store.

[Troy Tiscareno]

1. Allow controlled licensing of BB10 to other hardware manufacturers that are not doing too well on Android. Specifically, LG for entry level BB10s and Sony for elite level BB10s. The licensing is not a "free for all" licensing - BB must give the final stamp of approval for these hardware that is powerered by Blackberry. Security from a hardware level must continue to meet standards. This ensures wider reach, more options for consumers, and higher distribution. Blackberry cannot keep up on hardware side - need to rely on others - plus this helps alleviate inventory risk and avoid future giant writedowns on bad products.

2. Negotiate with Google to develop a parallel "Google Play" app store for BB10. With 10.2 out, running Android apps have never been smoother. The Google Play app store will help users install android apps - it will do the sideloading and everything for you - it will be a seamless experience. This solves the app issue. Google can take a cut of profits from apps sold on Google Play.

Both of these points rely on BB's *competition* to help out BB at their own expense. Sure, that would be great for BB, but why would it help the competition?

Android manufacturers that aren't selling millions of phones aren't going to solve that problem by switching to a more obscure OS, because the OS isn't what is preventing them from selling phones in the first place: competition and advertising dollars are the big reasons they are struggling. Samsung spends more on advertising than all other Android manufacturers combined, so of course they sell more. Samsung also manufacturers the bulk of the components that go into smartphones, so they can make phones for less than anyone else.

If you think a company like LG (which actually does pretty good and makes a healthy profit, even if they don't come near Samsung's numbers) would do BETTER with BB10 than with Android on their entry-level phones (which would have to be more expensive due to the 2GB RAM requirement, when current phones run great on 512MB of RAM), you're delusional. The app situation would kill those sales, PLUS, LG would have to pay licensing fees which would raise their costs and thus raise the costs of the phones, allowing the competition to crush them on price too.

Today, the Z10 is a cheap, but decent built-quality BB10 phone, AND it is backed by BlackBerry, the company who designed and built it. If that's what tons of people wanted, BB wouldn't be sitting on $1B of unsold Z10 inventory. Clearly, it's NOT what the masses want, and if you don't think other manufacturers know that, you aren't paying attention.

Also, part of the agreement for being in the Android Alliance is that these companies cannot sell non-Google-certified versions of Android, nor make phones for other companies that use non-certified Android. BB10 would fall under that prohibition, so any Android manufacturer who wanted to make or sell BB10 phones would have to give up Android altogether. Think that's going to happen anytime soon?

[ranzabar]

Any negotiation begins with willing partners. Google has no incentive to strengthen BlackBerry by engaging as a willing partner. BBM exists on Android begrudgingly.

Posted via my BlackBerry Z10

[birdman_38]

Also, part of the agreement for being in the Android Alliance is that these companies cannot sell non-Google-certified versions of Android, nor make phones for other companies that use non-certified Android. BB10 would fall under that prohibition, so any Android manufacturer who wanted to make or sell BB10 phones would have to give up Android altogether.

What about the manufacturers who have released models for Firefox OS?

[Troy Tiscareno]

What about the manufacturers who have released models for Firefox OS?

Firefox isn't Android-based, so it isn't prohibited. If Firefox was an Android fork, an Android Alliance partner could not make the phones.

This is why Samsung and HTC can make Windows phones, and why Android manufacturers could also make Sailfish (Meego) or WebOS phones. Google is just saying that you can't take Android and fork it and use it to compete against Google-certified Android while you are a member of the Android Alliance.

[hasa77]

Also, part of the agreement for being in the Android Alliance is that these companies cannot sell non-Google-certified versions of Android, nor make phones for other companies that use non-certified Android. BB10 would fall under that prohibition, so any Android manufacturer who wanted to make or sell BB10 phones would have to give up Android altogether. Think that's going to happen anytime soon?

correct me if im wrong but didnt HTC release a phone with windows on it along with nokia. oh wait nevermind it seems thats permissible

[Troy Tiscareno]

correct me if im wrong but didnt HTC release a phone with windows on it along with nokia. oh wait nevermind it seems thats permissible

Windows phone isn't an Android fork. Google isn't saying you can't use another OS, just that you can't use THEIR OS against them.

[southlander]

Well one things for sure. Licensing BlackBerry 10 is only feasible if BlackBerry ceases making its own hardware.

Z10STL100-4/10.2.0.1767

[birdman_38]

Licensing BlackBerry 10 is only feasible if BlackBerry ceases making its own hardware.

And if they licence it for free.

[Phi Nguyen]

Firefox isn't Android-based, so it isn't prohibited. If Firefox was an Android fork, an Android Alliance partner could not make the phones.

This is why Samsung and HTC can make Windows phones, and why Android manufacturers could also make Sailfish (Meego) or WebOS phones. Google is just saying that you can't take Android and fork it and use it to compete against Google-certified Android while you are a member of the Android Alliance.

firefox os is linux based not android based

[FFR]

Well one things for sure. Licensing BlackBerry 10 is only feasible if BlackBerry ceases making its own hardware.

Z10STL100-4/10.2.0.1767

Actually your wrong southlander.

bb has been actively looking for bb10 licensees since August 2012?

"RIM Will License Out BB10 To Anyone, Says CEO"

http://www.tomshardware.com/news/RIM...ung,16856.html




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2