http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/09/r...ill-arrive-in/
i can't even begin to describe how horrid this idea is
Sent from my BlackBerry 9900 using Tapatalk
Printable View
http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/09/r...ill-arrive-in/
i can't even begin to describe how horrid this idea is
Sent from my BlackBerry 9900 using Tapatalk
Please do, as I fail to share your horror. Besides, this is well known news to us. QWERTY and All-Touch for the mid, low and high end respectively.
Keep in mind alleged specs of the high end touch device have leaked (as the Aristo), and alleged pics of the low end QWERTY have leaked. So assuming that the phones debuting this month (X10, Z10) are the mid range it doesn't seem like a bad strategy. High end devices probably in time for the holiday season and low end devices somewhere in between.
I fail to share your horror either. Frank didn't say how he's defining those devices but:
1. RIM sells a lot of 'upper end' QWERTY devices today (Bold 9900) and that device needs to be replaced. (N Series)
2. The majority of the market is on a touch screen, and RIM has not had much success cracking into this high growth area in the past and needs to gain a foothold there. (L Series)
3. RIM sells a lot of Curves and the existing models will need to be replaced (Curve 10)
For fun, let's say that Frank could mean variations on the same skus (ie. white or black; CDMA vs. GSM).
Or, let's take this further:
4. The 7" PlayBook gets a relaunch when BlackBerry 10 hits it, with newer, updated hardware.
5. RIM has never released a 10" form factor despite the fact that most of their tablet competitors have and a 10" PlayBook sporting BlackBerry 10 is released.
So that begs the final question of ... what is the sixth device? Is it a new Slider? The first Torch sold quite well. Is it an updated version of the iconic Pearl? Is it a new high-end phone designed for Christmas 2013 to counteract the iPhone 6?
I can see quite quickly how they'd get to six. And in reality, that's a lot fewer skus than RIM used to have.
...high end
apples market share is waning to a compeditor with multiple price points. Seems realistic that RIM chose this method. One size does not fit all!
Could be. The only reason I say midrange is because of the supposed Aristo specs, which would position that as the high end device
Z10 (Bold line)
X10 (Bold line)
Low end Z10 (Curve line)
Low end X10 (Curve line)
Playbook (7 or 10 inch)
Aristo (high end)
6 devices.
It would look strange to put all this effort into the new BB10 OS only to put out 2 or 3 phones. I think it's a great idea as long as it is done correctly.
Apple themselves has multiple price points
I'm not sure I agree with the OP. Would be nice to have some clarification on why you think this way. 6 devices is a lot but Apple has been the only one to think like you. Samsung, HTC, essentially everybody produces a mix of phones to hit the various price points. Not everyone can afford the best, why not offer a cheaper version if it performs well? The bad reputation the low end phones had will essentially be gone with the new OS so I don't see a problem really.
It could very well be CDMA and GSM variants of the Z10, X10 and whatever they choose to call the new Curve line. Time will tell
This seems like the most likely scenario for 6 devices at this time, with the playbook and the aristo being right at the end of the year before next Xmas, so there still being a 9 month gap between l-series and that model.
You probably should at least try since it seems a fairly restrained and logical plan since it is to cover the whole of 2013.
I have no problem with this. It makes sense to try and target different markets.
As long as the OS is consistent and any app will work on all the devices.
I just hope RIM doesn't release the N-series (or whatever it's called) on the same day as the L (Z) series. The N series will make people think it's the same old BB, and RIM needs to concentrate on the L/Z as the full touchscreen is where the market is and where RIM needs to get caught up on. The least amount of confusion the better. RIM cant afford to limp off the starting line. The N series can be shown on Jan 30th, but hold the release back and let the L/Z have the spotlight for itself. This may be what RIM is going to do anyway.
N-series will be officially announced on Jan 30th, but they have always said it would not go on sale right away, so you should be getting your wish.