Is Dtek60 really coming out?
Originally Posted by
jakie55 I will wade in on this conversation, with my limited knowledge (much like the others here) I was of the understanding that the DTek 50 and 60 were designed and built by others. The PassPort, Priv et al were designed in house, but still not built expressly by BlackBerry, but by companies like Foxconn, Wiscon, etc, for BlackBerry. If I understood what Chen said, and that is a huge gamble, the potential next physical Keyboard device will still be designed in house (the last one from what we can surmise), and of course, built by others, much like all the other recent devices.
Yes.
Currently BB takes all the risks. Regardless of who designs it, BB tells their chosen manufacturer (Foxconn, TCL, etc) to build x phones and pays the manufacturer $$$ for those phones. If those phones don't sell, BB alone is on the hook for the entire cost... TCL aren't liable in any way, they built the number BB asked them for and have already been paid.
Which is why the Mercury prototype is on Chen's desk awaiting his decision on whether to build it. If BB decide to ask TCL to build a million of them, but only sell 100k, then BB (not TCL) will lose a lot of money.
It's also why BB are done with this production model and want to move to licencing. Currently there is one licensee, in Indonesia. The Indonesian company will pay BB for as much of its IPR as it wants, and will build as many phones as it thinks it can sell. BB won't be involved at all in the production and marketing of that licenced phone, and Chen has made clear that BB won't pay a penny towards the 3rd party's costs. So, there is zero risk to BB under the licence, and BB stands to make money from the licence the 3rd party buys, and a per phone royalty on every phone the 3rd party sells. If the phone doesn't sell, the 3rd party (not BB) will lose money.
Chen is smart. :)
But, I'm OK if you don't believe me either. ;)