[antonrr]

Samsung made PKB QWERTY phones. I know this because I owned one. The keyboard was nice. One of my Coworkers had a Samsung PKB QWERTY Android phone. As Troy pointed out you can't copy the shape of the BlackBerry keys, but this leaves many options to build a PKB phone without licensing anything from BlackBerry.

Never said BlackBerry owned ALL PKBs.
Remember the "Blackjack" ? I believe that was Samsung. Total garbage PKB. Typo got sued because it was a ripoff of the BlackBerry keyboard. BlackBerry users know the Pkb is far superior to others.

[Dunt Dunt Dunt]

Never said BlackBerry owned ALL PKBs.
Remember the "Blackjack" ? I believe that was Samsung. Total garbage PKB. Typo got sued because it was a ripoff of the BlackBerry keyboard. BlackBerry users know the Pkb is far superior to others.

Thing is PKB users are a picky bunch, even with BlackBerry designs folks have varied on what was great and what wasn't. Q10 had it's lovers and haters, as has most every PKB phone since. I don't think any one phone will every meet everyone's needs, really need an OEM willing to offer five or six PKB phones....

Right now.... every PKB lover needs to buy a couple of Titan phones. As it stands I don't see them being impressed with sales, but if suddenly they sold 20K units, they'd jump on copying something else.

[cgk]

Wrong.
The BB ergonomic QWERTY keyboard is unique and can't just be ripped off. There's a reason why there's millions of BB devices worldwide still in use and not T-Mobile Sidekicks.

https://www.theverge.com/2015/6/1/86...uit-settlement

Actually motorola and (then) rim settled a patent case way back in 2008 and back of that was Motorola could use RIM's patents around keyboards.

However more straightforwardly than that - the big reason nobody is trying to fight it out in this space is that BBRY lost billions here and it would be quicker and more effective to throw money directly into a blast furnace than waste time on actually building a keyboard phone.

So people should forgot fantasies where successful companies like Samsung suddenly decide it would be great to get in bed with a mobile failure.

[cgk]

but if suddenly they sold 20K units, they'd jump on copying something else.

And the owners would have some really garage on their hands - the keyboard is absolutely terrible - just shocking.

[antonrr]

Actually motorola and (then) rim settled a patent case way back in 2008 and back of that was Motorola could use RIM's patents around keyboards.

However more straightforwardly than that - the big reason nobody is trying to fight it out in this space is that BBRY lost billions here and it would be quicker and more effective to throw money directly into a blast furnace than waste time on actually building a keyboard phone.

So people should forgot fantasies where successful companies like Samsung suddenly decide it would be great to get in bed with a mobile failure.

Highly doubt they can rip off the exact BlackBerry keyboard or Typo would not have been forced to entirely shut down.

There are many niche mobile devices that do not sell millions of units. Apple even still sells the iPod Touch. There are dozens of tablets on the market besides the iPad, and many niche phones for construction workers or specific geo markets.

The idea nobody in the world would want to make a $999 high-end keyboard BlackBerry-stle android phone would shock me.

I'll bet anyone $1000 we will see someone license the BlackBerry name or key board by Dec 31, 2020. It. Has. Value.

[Dunt Dunt Dunt]

And the owners would have some really garage on their hands - the keyboard is absolutely terrible - just shocking.

I wouldn't use one... just pointing out that's there best hope at this point. If they want to see more PKB phones, they have to support whoever is willing to give them one. Give them feed back on what needs to be changed, but 1st they have to make sure that Unihertz has a reason to build another one.

[cgk]

Highly doubt they can rip off the exact BlackBerry keyboard or Typo would not have been forced to entirely shut down.

What does Motorola's contractual disputes and settlements have to do with Typo? As far as I can see it's not related to motorola in any way so it's irrelevant what typo can do or not do.

There are many niche mobile devices that do not sell millions of units. Apple even still sells the iPod Touch. There are dozens of tablets on the market besides the iPad, and many niche phones for construction workers or specific geo markets.

Niche tablets cost a lot of money - the evidence is that nobody will pay more extra for a tarnished brand like blackberry that offers limited added value.

The ipod touch is a product people actually want.

The idea nobody in the world would want to make a $999 high-end keyboard BlackBerry-stle android phone would shock me.

It shouldn't shock you because nobody is doing it - there is no market for it.

I'll bet anyone $1000 we will see someone license the BlackBerry name or key board by Dec 31, 2020. It. Has. Value.

Starting to run out of bottom-feeders at this point - if TCL with their lean operations cannot make money - does not leave a lot of options - who is likely to take this license (forgot successful big companies as that sort of fantasy not worth discussing).

[Dunt Dunt Dunt]

Starting to run out of bottom-feeders at this point - if TCL with their lean operations cannot make money - does not leave a lot of options - who is likely to take this license (forgot successful big companies as that sort of fantasy not worth discussing).

Bullitt Group....

They already signed up with BlackBerry for software - that seems to have fallen through. But I could see a ruggedized CAT-KEY device with a industrial FLR Camera and Air Sensor. And $1,000+ price tag....

[Chuck Finley69]

Bullitt Group....

They already signed up with BlackBerry for software - that seems to have fallen through. But I could see a ruggedized CAT-KEY device with a industrial FLR Camera and Air Sensor. And $1,000+ price tag....

It would sell more than Unihertz Titan and less than Key2 and the forum would be CATberry or better, More Kitty with escort ads....

[fop518]

im not sure if this has been pointed out a million times but doesnt it seem like the cost of developing a phone in todays climate has plummeted significantly? companies like unihertz can do it for 1M dollars with 10ppl in china. not that they would do this, but blackberry could easily roll out some mid to high tier phones at a really low cost. sigh.

[Chuck Finley69]

im not sure if this has been pointed out a million times but doesnt it seem like the cost of developing a phone in todays climate has plummeted significantly? companies like unihertz can do it for 1M dollars with 10ppl in china. not that they would do this, but blackberry could easily roll out some mid to high tier phones at a really low cost. sigh.

That’s been possible for some time. But, it does involve off the shelf generic components and BlackBerry Limited has no interests that market. It chose to leave mobile business years ago.

[Dunt Dunt Dunt]

im not sure if this has been pointed out a million times but doesnt it seem like the cost of developing a phone in todays climate has plummeted significantly? companies like unihertz can do it for 1M dollars with 10ppl in china. not that they would do this, but blackberry could easily roll out some mid to high tier phones at a really low cost. sigh.

Design and production is only one part of the game... if they could do it cheaply, they would have.

[fop518]

I dont think they could do it cheaply before. the field has changed significantly. but yes, I do not see this as a likely future for myriad reasons. sigh.

[cgk]

im not sure if this has been pointed out a million times but doesnt it seem like the cost of developing a phone in todays climate has plummeted significantly? companies like unihertz can do it for 1M dollars with 10ppl in china. not that they would do this, but blackberry could easily roll out some mid to high tier phones at a really low cost. sigh.

Well except the Titan is absolutely dire and has sold about 300 units.

Sure you can knock out cheap junk that nobody buys on the internet but:

* Solid design and reliability = money
* Getting into the channel = money
* Standing behind your devices = money

Why would Blackberry want to get sucked back into a market where they cannot make money?

[Troy Tiscareno]

im not sure if this has been pointed out a million times but doesnt it seem like the cost of developing a phone in todays climate has plummeted significantly? companies like unihertz can do it for 1M dollars with 10ppl in china. not that they would do this, but blackberry could easily roll out some mid to high tier phones at a really low cost. sigh.

UniHertz is likely to sell a total of 4-5,000 devices. A company like BB isn't interested in that kind of business, just like Lipton Ice Tea isn't interested in 2 ten-year-olds selling ice tea on the corner of their street. It's not worth their time. People buying phones from UniHertz, with known Chinese spyware/malware on them, know full well that UniHertz isn't going to be able to provide anything like the support that BB provided. If you break a screen or wear out a keyboard, you may be able to pay UniHertz to fix it (if they still have spare parts), but otherwise it's dead - there's no 3rd-party market of spare parts because UniHertz doesn't have that kind of scale. How many cases will be available? How long will UniHertz keep working on the apps before they move on to their next project? Etc.

UniHertz is a tiny company with outsourced design and manufacturing and with an extremely limited sales and support infrastructure, and people have very limited expectations of them. BB has been a global company with global support and global sales, and people expect FAR more from them - and if they provided UniHertz-level support, lots of people would be furious. BB doesn't need that kind of hassle. BB has never really been a consumer-focused company, and they've wisely chosen to leave the consumer market and go back to making products for large companies that they're more comfortable working with, and can support more efficiently.

If BB cared about keeping BB-branded smartphones alive, they'd have kept them in-house. But they really don't - they only cared about the profits that licensing could bring, and now it's bringing in nothing, so their concern is finished.

[Dunt Dunt Dunt]

Well except the Titan is absolutely dire and has sold about 300 units.

Sure you can knock out cheap junk that nobody buys on the internet but:

* Solid design and reliability = money
* Getting into the channel = money
* Standing behind your devices = money

Why would Blackberry want to get sucked back into a market where they cannot make money?

The 300 is in addition to the 3,000 sold during the fundraising phase....

[jacobacevedog]

Highly doubt they can rip off the exact BlackBerry keyboard or Typo would not have been forced to entirely shut down.

There are many niche mobile devices that do not sell millions of units. Apple even still sells the iPod Touch. There are dozens of tablets on the market besides the iPad, and many niche phones for construction workers or specific geo markets.

The idea nobody in the world would want to make a $999 high-end keyboard BlackBerry-stle android phone would shock me.

I'll bet anyone $1000 we will see someone license the BlackBerry name or key board by Dec 31, 2020. It. Has. Value.

Sharp, wise forecast of what comes next . Great @antonrr

[Tsepz_GP]

Love the optimism in this thread people literally think that another Android OEM should pick up BlackBerry Licenses and make a PKB device when TCL literally just showed how much of a failure that is.

Many of the Android OEMs are barely making any money from phones as is, Apple take a huge chunk followed by Samsung and the scraps for the rest, and now they must invest in something that has failed TWICE!? Naaaaaahhhh fam!

[cgk]

The 300 is in addition to the 3,000 sold during the fundraising phase....

So from an OEM perspective - both 300 and 3300 are as near to zero to make no different.

[Chuck Finley69]

So from an OEM perspective - both 300 and 3300 are as near to zero to make no different.

Yes but this is CrackBerry math and statistical analysis. ;-D

[Dunt Dunt Dunt]

So from an OEM perspective - both 300 and 3300 are as near to zero to make no different.

Unless your an OEM interested in those kinds of number.... yes.

Most the OEMs today that are profitable, are selling millions of each model that they produce. While I'm sure Samsung isn't expecting to sell millions of this years FOLD, and Moto probably won't sell millions of this years Razer... these devices are meant to showcase what they can do.

Even someone small like BLU tends to order devices in large bulk orders that far exceed 4K or 5K units.

Again I hope someone will offer a "good" PKB option going forward... just don't see much evidence of why anyone would.

[cgk]

Yes but this is CrackBerry math and statistical analysis. ;-D

I saw on the front page someone seriously suggest that apple should drop iOS and adopt Blackberry android...

[jacobacevedog]

Love the optimism in this thread people literally think that another Android OEM should pick up BlackBerry Licenses and make a PKB device when TCL literally just showed how much of a failure that is.

Many of the Android OEMs are barely making any money from phones as is, Apple take a huge chunk followed by Samsung and the scraps for the rest, and now they must invest in something that has failed TWICE!? Naaaaaahhhh fam!

[IMG=480x436]https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200204/b551bbcf17e5217ea9c38db767827654.jpg[/url]

All BlackBerry fans are in some extent too much optimism.

But the point is that the willingnees to pay is God in bussines.
And qwerty fans are ready to pay premiun for low-specs + enough Security + nice PKB is equal to profit.

[Tsepz_GP]

All BlackBerry fans are in some extent too much optimism.

But the point is that the willingnees to pay is God in bussines.
And qwerty fans are ready to pay premiun for low-specs + enough Security + nice PKB is equal to profit.

If the above was true, TCL would have extended their partnership/license agreement.

[the_boon]

Love the optimism in this thread people literally think that another Android OEM should pick up BlackBerry Licenses and make a PKB device when TCL literally just showed how much of a failure that is.

Many of the Android OEMs are barely making any money from phones as is, Apple take a huge chunk followed by Samsung and the scraps for the rest, and now they must invest in something that has failed TWICE!? Naaaaaahhhh fam!

[IMG=480x436]https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200204/b551bbcf17e5217ea9c38db767827654.jpg[/url]

What you said is true, but it doesn't mean the PKB HAS to die