[diogoteixeira87]

You guys probably noticed it when Chen said today that make partnerships with manufacturers would make distribution better. How do you think this could work it? In my experience, I don't see a BlackBerry here in stores since Z10 launch. This new hardware era could help the to distribute phones better?

Posted via CB10

[guygardner73]

If I had to guess, I would say that they could leverage the existing distribution channels of the manufacturer and benefit from their relationships with carriers/stockists. For example, I'm Alcatel and I ship 10 million phones to Best Buy and I say here's your 10m Idol 4's and here's a million D-tek50's for the security conscious. Best Buy then says eeew! BlackBerry! No thanks, they don't sell. I say: same phone numb nuts! With the same OS except this ones super hard to hack. Best Buy then says: oh, ok. We'll take then and see how they fly.

I'm not in retail or anything, but it's a scenario that could work. Distribution has been a pain for BlackBerry since the Z10 debacle.

PassportSQW100-1/10.3.2.2876

[thurask]

I doubt this will be seen outside of Southeast Asia and India.

[Bbnivende]

I doubt this will be seen outside of Southeast Asia and India.

Nigeria and South Africa as well.

[thurask]

Nigeria and South Africa as well.

Right, that too.

Still, nowhere in North America or Europe.

[Bbnivende]

Are these just cheap Androids sold under the BlackBerry banner for those markets where the brand name still has some value?

[thurask]

Are these just cheap Androids sold under the BlackBerry banner for those markets where the brand name still has some value?

In all likelihood.

[keliew]

For the mobile phone industry, outsourcing the hardware part provides leverage and cost cutting.

Not much difference how other brands are doing it, e.g. Apple. Although the key difference is the hardware design, but unconfirmed whether BlackBerry will place more emphasis on how it is designed and built.

Ultimately, as a buyer to an OEM, the buyer does have leverage.

BlackBerry Passport via CB10