[UKAsh]

Price to be approx US$800 / €650 / �497

I think Vodafone Germany becomes the first European carrier to confirm stocking.

Source: https://uk.news.yahoo.com/blackberry...1.html#QfNOHm8

[bb-addict67]

It's 620€ for Europe and not 560€.

[mttomas]

the price tag is quite high it true. the release date would be amazing...

[UKAsh]

It's 620€ for Europe and not 560€.

Thanks for pointing out my transposition error. Also the value given on the source article is €650.

[Taigatrommel]

First of course release date would be awesome. One week after launch for us here in Europe, launch&release being executed right here. Even mid October for US would still be good, roughly three weeks after launch.

Regarding the price, I am not too surprised. After all, it is a BlackBerry flagship. I haven't seen a single one of those in the recent years which would launch at under �600 retail price. The Z10 started at �620, the Q10 at �630 and I think the Z30 around �600 (even the 9900 was around this pricing).
It also goes in line with starting prices of many other "flagship" phones: Last year the Note 3 debuted at �680, the S5 this year IIRC at �650, the One M8 around �630 and the new iPhones usually starting at �700. The lowest 16gigs variant of the 6 Plus even starts almost at a whopping �800.

Keep in mind those prices are outright off-contract. So while the Passport is, as expected, not a cheap or aggressively priced handset, it isn't surprisingly expensive either. Besides all the past BB10 phones (with the Q5 being the one to exclude) dropped quite fast within the first four to six weeks after launch. The Z10 dropped to under �600 after just more than two weeks, the Q10 to �590 after four. So as usual those who can be a bit more patient will start paying more reasonable prices compared to early birds, who usually have to pay for their "day one" bonus.

[world traveler and former ceo]

Excellent!!! ... ceo Chen making it happen!!

Flagship smartphone 2014!

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[Turnda643]

Awesome! Now if I can get a confirmation for Verizon, everything will be good in the world.

Subscribe to Tri County Catering and Party Idea Channel. Pin #C00123065

[W1ck3D86]

If they sell it for $800 then in Europe they will sell it for 800euro. Cause $800 is without taxes.

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[Case_K]

If they sell it for $800 then in Europe they will sell it for 800euro. Cause $800 is without taxes.

Posted via CB10

And that my friend is really, really not cool!

Posted via CB10

[bakron1]

If it's 800, I will pass, sorry but it's not worth that kind of money. I can get an iPhone 6+ 64 gig for 849.00 US which is the much better buy. I might look at the passport in a couple of months when the price drops because of poor sales.

Sent from my Lovely z30 on T Mobile USA (10.3.0.1154)

[ubizmo]

If it's 800, I will pass, sorry but it's not worth that kind of money. I can get an iPhone 6+ 64 gig for 849.00 US which is the much better buy. I might look at the passport in a couple of months when the price drops because of poor sales.

Sent from my Lovely z30 on T Mobile USA (10.3.0.1154)

Agree. As much as I would like to own this phone, I won't even think about spending that kind of money for it. I'll either stick with my Q10 or look at other platforms.

[saxxman]

If it's 800, I will pass, sorry but it's not worth that kind of money. I can get an iPhone 6+ 64 gig for 849.00 US which is the much better buy. I might look at the passport in a couple of months when the price drops because of poor sales.

Sent from my Lovely z30 on T Mobile USA (10.3.0.1154)

Disagree here, as to better buy.... Not sure how you're calculating phone capabilities/specs per dollar?

[sk8er_tor]

Agree. As much as I would like to own this phone, I won't even think about spending that kind of money for it. I'll either stick with my Q10 or look at other platforms.

No one is saying it's either the Passport or nothing. The Classic is coming out soon thereafter and all rumors indicate it will be priced lower.

Disagree here, as to better buy.... Not sure how you're calculating phone capabilities/specs per dollar?

100% agree with you on that.

[RodolfoAP]

The price for the Passport isn't going to drop like it did with the Z10 and Q10. BlackBerry are going to handle inventory a lot better, the days of BlackBerry fire-sales are over

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[jevinzac]

Screw BlackBerry and their pricing! When will they ever learn?!

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[bakron1]

Disagree here, as to better buy.... Not sure how you're calculating phone capabilities/specs per dollar?

I look at value, customer support, app ecosystem, resale value and so on. Here in the USA there is no support for the BlackBerry brand. I am the exception here and probably the only one in my area with a z30.

My carrier T Mobile no longer is licensed to carry BlackBerry products and I am not changing my carrier just to support BlackBerry, sorry but it should be the other way around. If BlackBerry wants my business, then let them and T-Mobile kiss and make up.

Apple has two stores in my area and if I have an issue, it's a 20 minutes ride and I can get the device serviced or get a new one on the spot. Not have to worry about sending it back to digital river and be without a device until they repair it.

I posted many times about BlackBerry needing to improve their customer service and support and so far in haven't seen anything to change my opinion. I really wanted a passport, not at 800 dollars US, sorry but they should have priced it to attract new users, not scaring them away. Just my two cents.

Sent from my Lovely z30 on T Mobile USA (10.3.0.1154)

[tlegend2012]

If it's 800, I will pass, sorry but it's not worth that kind of money. I can get an iPhone 6+ 64 gig for 849.00 US which is the much better buy. I might look at the passport in a couple of months when the price drops because of poor sales.

Sent from my Lovely z30 on T Mobile USA (10.3.0.1154)

Both phones are expensive.. But How did you figure out that the Iphone is a better buy?

[JLErwin3]

Until I hear that one of the US carriers is offering it I can only assume it won't be available here. I swear US business is in a race to the bottom.

[bb-addict67]

800€ is too expensive for a Passport in Europe. Many people won't buy the Passport if it is true. For 800€ they will buy an iPhone 6

[tomsobon]

I buy it, eyes closed

[saxxman]

As far as customer service and app ecosystem, I agree with you. As for "value", you really have to define? I sell high end watches and jewelry, so I define value as what you get for your money. If boiled down to that, then please check out this early comparison.
Apple iPhone 6 Plus vs BlackBerry Passport vs BlackBerry Z30 - Phone specs comparison
Regarding resale value, I'll put my thoughts this way. Rolex has the best resale value overall in watches, does that make it the best watch? No! Resale value is created with supply vs demand. (Advertising!) Honda, as a car brand, has the best resale value. Get the idea?
With the $800 price, I'll get a Passport over the 6.

[dejanh]

Both phones are expensive.. But How did you figure out that the Iphone is a better buy?

Are you guys serious? At $800, yeah, the iPhone is a way better buy because you get the following...

1. The best available ecosystem out there. Every imaginable productivity app, tool, or add-on is available for the iPhone. BlackBerry Passport has none if this.
2. BBM is available for the iPhone so no loss there by moving away from BlackBerry.
3. Apple Pay. This will become the de-facto standard for contact-less payments over the next year or two and it won't be supported on BlackBerry despite the NFC capability.
4. Premium device with exceptional build quality, that unlike BlackBerry has a consistent record of high quality.
5. The most fluid OS experience out there, excluding the BlackBerry 10 OS peak and flow, which unfortunately is just one feature that you would somewhat lose by going with the iPhone (note I say somewhat because the iPhone is moving towards gesture control as of iOS 7).
6. The best camera out there for a smartphone, bar-none.
7. The best after sales support for any smartphone company out there, bar-none.
8. Incredible resale value even after two years. The iPhone will fetch at least 65% to 75% of its value even used. The Passport will be basically unsellable.
9. Readily available service parts in case the phone breaks. The Passport will likely have a handful of repair parts suppliers with very high prices.

Now on the flip side, here is what you lose.

1. The HUB. Awesome feature, but not enough to differentiate the platform.
2. Battery life. The iPhone will require more charging, albeit the 6 plus will likely last about as good as a Z30.
3. The best virtual keyboard in the business. This is somewhat compensated by availability of third party keyboards on iOS with the arrival of iOS 8.
4. If you are on BES, possibly some security. Otherwise, for consumers the iPhone actually offers more protection.

The only unknown value add for the Passport is the new keyboard. However, I have a pretty good idea how it will work since the LG G3 virtual keyboard actually functions almost exactly the same as the Passport physical keyboard. It's OK at best.

Now, on a personal note, if this is the price I will wait out the Passport on Craigslist. In the meantime, BlackBerry will lose at least two sales, my wife and I. Neither of us is dumb to spend this kind of money on a dying platform, even though we both full well could and fall into the "professional" target market BlackBerry is after. Sadly, this kind of pricing misses the boat entirely. My colleague who is also a BlackBerry fan is also going to dump his Z30 if this ends up being the Passport pricing.

Finally, this is a repost, of a repost, of a repost, of an unsubstantiated claim by a website that they have info. No source, no proof. Nothing.

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[wincyUt]

I look at value, customer support, app ecosystem, resale value and so on. Here in the USA there is no support for the BlackBerry brand. I am the exception here and probably the only one in my area with a z30.

My carrier T Mobile no longer is licensed to carry BlackBerry products and I am not changing my carrier just to support BlackBerry, sorry but it should be the other way around. If BlackBerry wants my business, then let them and T-Mobile kiss and make up.

Apple has two stores in my area and if I have an issue, it's a 20 minutes ride and I can get the device serviced or get a new one on the spot. Not have to worry about sending it back to digital river and be without a device until they repair it.

I posted many times about BlackBerry needing to improve their customer service and support and so far in haven't seen anything to change my opinion. I really wanted a passport, not at 800 dollars US, sorry but they should have priced it to attract new users, not scaring them away. Just my two cents.

Sent from my Lovely z30 on T Mobile USA (10.3.0.1154)

With all your reasoning, I'm very much surprised that you still own a BlackBerry. Do you actually buy phones because of its resale value? You seriously think that iPhone 6+ is actually better than the Passport, pound for pound? IMHO both phones seems equally good on paper, therefore I don't understand any rational justification for being willing to pay more an iPhone 6+ than one would for a Passport, except for wanting to own a recognizable status symbol or an "in thing".

I hope BlackBerry does not devalue this beast "Passport" just to appease those who truly don't appreciate its value.

[bakron1]

As far as customer service and app ecosystem, I agree with you. As for "value", you really have to define? I sell high end watches and jewelry, so I define value as what you get for your money. If boiled down to that, then please check out this early comparison.
Apple iPhone 6 Plus vs BlackBerry Passport vs BlackBerry Z30 - Phone specs comparison
Regarding resale value, I'll put my thoughts this way. Rolex has the best resale value overall in watches, does that make it the best watch? No! Resale value is created with supply vs demand. (Advertising!) Honda, as a car brand, has the best resale value. Get the idea?
With the $800 price, I'll get a Passport over the 6.

I know about value and speaking of high end jewelry, I have wore a Rolex since 1976 when I bought my first Red Letter Sea Dweller for under 600 US at the military PX will stationed in Germany and sold it a a watch show for a small fortune a couple of years back.

Apple is the Rolex of the smartphone market and you don't sell 10's of millions of them a quarter if there is no demand.

Sent from my Lovely z30 on T Mobile USA (10.3.0.1154)

[neoberry99]

If it's 800, I will pass, sorry but it's not worth that kind of money. I can get an iPhone 6+ 64 gig for 849.00 US which is the much better buy. I might look at the passport in a couple of months when the price drops because of poor sales.

Sent from my Lovely z30 on T Mobile USA (10.3.0.1154)

Funny thing....

When I saw this thread I was hoping you would respond. You're right...8 stacks is a bit high but if Sprint offers the phone on a payment plan I think I'm gonna do it. Plus with Sprint you can pay it off early if you choose to.

Not Fours Years But A Lifetime