Is a BlackBerry really still a smartphone?
- The reason I ask is I just got my DirectTV bill and inside there was a flyer just promoting the different features, one feature was the ability to remotely set shows up to record. They gave an example of all three ways that people can do this. The first showed an iPhone looking phone under the heading of "from your smart phone", and explains that you can download an app (this is an option for both iOS and Android). The one on the opposite side of the page shows a computer mouse under the heading of "from your computer", and explains how you can access your account and the schedule online. The one in the middle show a BlackBerry Bold (word BlackBerry is easly readable) under the heading of "from your mobile phone", and it give a web address for your mobile phone's web browser.
I started thinking that there really aren't dumb phones anymore - just about any device today has both a browser and basic email capabilities, IF you purchase a data plan. From this instruction sheet it is pretty clear that DirectTV is not putting BB's in with the smartphones. And I know a lot of people view a BlackBerry as being old technology and not a real smartphone (when I pull out my 9650, most just smile at me now).
I really wonder if with RIM "reinventing" themselves with new devices and a new OS, if they wouldn't be better served by dropping the BlackBerry brand. I know that the word BlackBerry is very recognized, but I'm not sure that it is in a positive way anymore. And with OS7 devices (& OS6, OS5) being active for years to come, wouldn't it be better to differentiate the new platform from the old?11-09-12 09:36 AMLike 0 - Well, all I know is this stupid thing is way smarter then I am. As for the slights on Blackberry, these things will change when their new phones are out
Personally, however curious, I will be waiting quite a while before I get a BB10 phone, my 9810 is already more then I really need. I certainly will upgrade but for me it will be more of a hobby then anything else.11-09-12 09:49 AMLike 3 - It's only because they don't have a BB specific app like they do for iOS and Android. They are lumping the mobile site access as a catch-all for everything else (it's unfortunate that they picked a BB as a pictoral example)
And, no, I don't think dropping the "BlackBerry" name will help. It would make it that much harder to generate brand recognition. Even if the brand as it is has baggage. It's easier to shed that baggage of a known name - if done right (and that's the trick), as long as it at least had a history of being held in high regard.11-09-12 10:00 AMLike 0 - diegoneiRetired Mod & AmbassadorIt's only because they don't have a BB specific app like they do for iOS and Android. They are lumping the mobile site access as a catch-all for everything else (it's unfortunate that they picked a BB as a pictoral example)
And, no, I don't think dropping the "BlackBerry" name will help. It would make it that much harder to generate brand recognition. Even if the brand as it is has baggage. It's easier to shed that baggage of a known name - if done right (and that's the trick), as long as it at least had a history of being held in high regard.
But then again... We didn't have a CMO... And Mike & Jim were still in command (I love them for the vision, but shun them for the execution)... Thorstein Heins seems to have both feet on the ground and he acknowledges every single issue we've all been so painfully aware off... BB10 as an OS has all the potential they need to not only stay afloat but generate profit long term.
That all said, we have reason to believe RIM has a clear shot at being here for a looong while.
It all comes down to playing their cards right...11-09-12 10:25 AMLike 6 - I don't think it's that it's not a smartphone, I just think BB are kinda in their own little catagory. Before iPhone or Android. You either had a cellphone or you had a blackberry. Not that blackberry wasn't also a phone, but it was a blackberry. Not sure if that makes sense, but I can't really figure out how to word it. LOLrichardat likes this.11-09-12 10:30 AMLike 1
- The reason I ask is I just got my DirectTV bill and inside there was a flyer just promoting the different features, one feature was the ability to remotely set shows up to record. They gave an example of all three ways that people can do this. The first showed an iPhone looking phone under the heading of "from your smart phone", and explains that you can download an app (this is an option for both iOS and Android). The one on the opposite side of the page shows a computer mouse under the heading of "from your computer", and explains how you can access your account and the schedule online. The one in the middle show a BlackBerry Bold (word BlackBerry is easly readable) under the heading of "from your mobile phone", and it give a web address for your mobile phone's web browser.11-09-12 10:30 AMLike 0
-
- I have the newly released Telus PVR Record app for my Torch 9810... just scheduled two shows for recording. List of supported phones from the Telus website:
Compatible Smartphones
Apple�
Android�
HTC One X�, HTC Desire�, HTC Desire HD�, HTC One S�, HTC One X�, Samsung Galaxy S3�, Samsung Galaxy S Fascinate�, Samsung Galaxy Ace�, Samsung Galaxy Note�, Samsung Galaxy Apollo�, Samsung Galaxy SII X�, Samsung Fascinate 4G�, Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1�, LG Optimus LTE�, LG Shine Plus�, LG Optimus One�, LG Optimus Chat�, HTC Hero, Motorola Xoom, Sony S1, Motorola Milestone�, Motorola Backflip�, Motorola Charm�, Samsung Galaxy 10.1, Galaxy 8.9 tablet
BlackBerry�
Torch� 9860, Torch� 9810, Torch� 9800, Bold� 9790, Bold� 9780, Bold� 9700, Tour� 9630, Curve� 9380, Curve� 9320, Curve� 3G 9300, Curve 8530, Curve� 8330, Pearl� 8130, World Edition 8830, Blackberry 9900, Blackberry 9360
Windows phone 7�
HTC 7 Surround�, LG Optimus� 711-09-12 12:05 PMLike 2 -
- I consider any BlackBerry device utilizing OS7 and below as a definite SmartPhone.
I consider any BlackBerry device utilizing BB10 and above as a definite SuperPhone.
Just to add that I cannot stand when TimeWarner or CableVision advertise their services and at the end of each commercial they say...
"Get the app which is available for iPhone or Android"...
With no mention of BlackBerry. At all.
These are very large companies that can afford the technical manpower to create apps for this platform.
I send feedback emails to them all the time about it.bungaboy likes this.11-09-12 12:30 PMLike 1 - 11-09-12 12:33 PMLike 1
- Why does Blackberry get treated like the black sheep when it comes to apps?
You hardly ever see popular apps available for Windows and no one bashes them for it or questions if its an actual smartphone or not.11-09-12 05:00 PMLike 0 - I started thinking that there really aren't dumb phones anymore - just about any device today has both a browser and basic email capabilities, IF you purchase a data plan. From this instruction sheet it is pretty clear that DirectTV is not putting BB's in with the smartphones. And I know a lot of people view a BlackBerry as being old technology and not a real smartphone (when I pull out my 9650, most just smile at me now).11-10-12 08:27 AMLike 0
- Part of the challenge is that no one has a straight definition of what makes a 'smartphone' and what makes a 'superphone' and what makes a 'dumbphone'.pantlesspenguin likes this.11-10-12 08:52 AMLike 1
-
However, Joe Averages phones started to gain more functionality: my first mobile phone, Nokia 7110, already had limited web access through WAP and a calendar. It even had a pretty large screen. The next one, Nokia 7650, was one of the first with a camera, rather large color display and had an improved webbrowser and calendar. Following up later on there was E-Mail, full webbrowsers and support for 3rd party apps on your average phone.
What makes a phone "smart"? The number of available apps? The amount of sensors built in? The best camera? Having the most powerful processing units? Lately a I heard a "smart"phone thinks for you. Location based events tell you what's happening, which person is near you and stuff like that. Everything without actual input from the user himself. However that goes beyond the traditional smartphone line...11-11-12 07:47 AMLike 0 - Even worse, we're now calling some superphones? There used to be dumb and smart phones. Then added features changed some dumb phones to feature phones. So, now we have 4 categories that we mostly don't have a clue what goes in them? I don't feature that idea, it's neither smart nor super.11-11-12 08:27 AMLike 0
- I have read here and there (and I tend to agree with it) that it is location services that set smartphones apart. GPS, etc. that allows the device to know where it is and utilize that information in apps.
So yes I would call BlackBerrys smartphones.11-11-12 09:06 AMLike 0 - diegoneiRetired Mod & AmbassadorI personally like to set them apart on the OS level. If it allows you to do more that what it was meant to, run applications that integrate to the OS' features and help you get things done easier, then it's a smartphone.
Feature phones have some limited capacity, and you can install games on them. Some can install java apps, but those don't integrate to anything. The base software on them is just a random java VM with a skin.
But that's just my take on the question.....
Edit: @southlander, heh, you just kicked the 8520 to the feature phone group. Not fair on them man, they are a heck of a workhorse smartphone, yet entry level.11-11-12 08:36 PMLike 0 - I don't think it's that it's not a smartphone, I just think BB are kinda in their own little catagory. Before iPhone or Android. You either had a cellphone or you had a blackberry. Not that blackberry wasn't also a phone, but it was a blackberry. Not sure if that makes sense, but I can't really figure out how to word it. LOL
Scalemaster: I also think that dropping "BB" is not without merit. I don't think it will be critical either way, but one certain way to get some buzz, to make a cleaner break in perception, and to generate interest would be to completely revamp the name and look. The business world is rife with examples of this done poorly, and well. It often works well in the short term, but in the end the products must, of course, back it up. Problem: it has to be done well....and RIM's track record for marketing is poor.
In any case, with good product, you can fashion a new perception and become a.....I don't know....Acura or Lexus....if you don't deliver the goods you become....Saturn. ;-)11-12-12 01:05 AMLike 0 - Its the user. I'm sure theres millions of androids out there that are used like dumbphones cause people go into a carrier and 90% of what they see is android.
Dropping the BB name is a horrible idea. People know BB, and consumers are fickle, show them something flashy and their opinion can change in an instant.11-12-12 02:25 AMLike 0 - This.
Dropping the BlackBerry name is pointless in the short term as people will still call it a blackberry. It takes a long time to shift the paradigm of calling something what it is called, as opposed to what you know it is called.11-12-12 02:47 AMLike 0
- Forum
- Popular at CrackBerry
- General BlackBerry News, Discussion & Rumors
Is a BlackBerry really still a smartphone?
Similar Threads
-
Is my Blackberry really locked? What can I do?
By bb_september in forum General BlackBerry News, Discussion & RumorsReplies: 0Last Post: 08-27-10, 08:18 AM -
Is a Blackberry Storm like a really bad movie.....
By Keynote in forum BlackBerry Storm SeriesReplies: 25Last Post: 04-28-09, 09:20 AM -
PC Mag says Pearl 8120 is still top smartphone
By matttillotson in forum BlackBerry Pearl SeriesReplies: 1Last Post: 03-15-09, 07:04 PM -
Is the Blackberry PIN still free to use?
By ES1978 in forum General BlackBerry News, Discussion & RumorsReplies: 1Last Post: 03-06-09, 09:53 PM -
Why is the Blackberry still better than iPhone?
By Stang68 in forum BlackBerry Bold SeriesReplies: 69Last Post: 03-03-09, 10:24 AM
LINK TO POST COPIED TO CLIPBOARD