[needforbbx]

At least there will be a soft landing for some

-----

Apple Inc. has all but destroyed BlackBerry Ltd.�s business model and now it�s after the Canadian company�s decimated workforce.

In BlackBerry�s hometown, coming layoffs hardly the economy killing tragedy many might have expected
Since its inception, there has always existed an inextricable link between the legend of Research In Motion and the small Southern Ontario city that plays home to the now struggling Canadian technology company�s global headquarters: Waterloo, Ontario.

Just days after BlackBerry Ltd. revealed plans to lay off 40% of its global workforce amid disastrous financial results, representatives from smartphone rival Apple Inc. hosted a recruitment drive roughly 20 kilometres away from the embattled technology company�s Waterloo, Ont. home base.

In the Cambridge Hotel and Conference Centre on Sept. 26, located in Cambridge, Ont. on the outskirts of the Kitchener-Waterloo region where BlackBerry was born, the iPhone maker invited local talent with the aim of luring them to their Silicon Valley operations.

�Most positions will be based in Cupertino, CA.,� according to a LinkedIn invite sent to certain BlackBerry employees and obtained by the Financial Post. �Relocation and immigration assistance will be provided for candidates that are hired, as needed.�

Six days earlier, BlackBerry had shown it was teetering on the edge of disaster. On Sept. 20, the smartphone maker said it expected to post a nearly US$1-billion loss and would cut 4,500 jobs from their ranks worldwide (in addition to ongoing layoff rounds that had already been underway).

Apple wasn�t the only one positioning themselves to pick up the pieces. Two days later, on Sept. 28 and 29, Intel Corporation held an �information session� at the Holiday Inn Kitchener-Waterloo Hotel & Conference Centre in Kitchener, Ont., as part of their search for engineers to join its Mobile and Communications Group, according to an email invite also received by BlackBerry employees.

�We would like to invite you to �look inside� Intel and meet some of our amazing employees and potentially interview for an opportunity to join our team,� it read.

Apple didn�t respond to a request for comment on the recruitment drive. But an Intel spokesperson said: �We hold recruiting sessions around the world and are always looking for good people. Based in the technology triangle, this recruitment session was designed to engage with engineers.�

Apple and Intel are the latest in a growing queue of international technology giants zeroing in on the Kitchener-Waterloo region as a recruiting hotbed in the wake of BlackBerry�s decline.

.Last month, Twitter Inc. co-founder Jack Dorsey arrived in Waterloo to announce that Square Inc., the San Francisco-based mobile payments company he helped co-found, would be establishing an engineering office in Waterloo to tap into the region�s local talent.

That revelation was followed closely by an announcement from Google Inc. that the search engine giant�s smartphone manufacturer, Motorola Mobility, is in the early stages of setting up an engineering hub in Waterloo, a short drive from BlackBerry�s global headquarters.

.Meanwhile, on Monday, BlackBerry handed out more layoff notices and confirmed 300 employees would be laid off at its Waterloo, Ont. headquarters this week as part of the staff reductions.

The company has said it is planning to reduce the company�s total head count to 7,000 full-time employees worldwide. BlackBerry had 12,700 employees as of the end of March, the last time it has reported the size of its workforce.

BlackBerry�s future overall is in flux as well.

After several years of declining sales and shrinking profits, last month BlackBerry agreed to a tentative deal that would see the company sold to Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd. � its largest single shareholder � and a consortium of investors in a deal worth US$4.7-billion, or $9 per share. Shares rose slightly on Wednesday on the Nasdaq, to close at $8.11.

While the other investors in Fairfax�s consortium remain anonymous, several major pension funds and private equity groups, including the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, are mulling a stake in the company.

The letter of intent BlackBerry has signed with Fairfax does not preclude the company from seeking out a better offer before the Nov. 4 deadline. Over the past several weeks, a number of companies � including Google, Cisco and SAP � have been rumoured to be potentially interested in acquiring all, or part, of BlackBerry.

One Canadian pension fund, Alberta Investment Management Corp., believes the company will probably be broken up into pieces. Its chief executive Leo de Bever told Bloomberg this week there were discussions among investors about valuing particular BlackBerry units, and a split of the company may be in the cards
Apple Inc looks to poach BlackBerry Ltd workers in Waterloo | Financial Post

[GoJaysGo]

Good for those people that can now feed their families again, and look to a brighter future without any worries about their new employer being sold... It's like going from last place and out of the playoffs to first place and into the World Series....

And yes, Apple is #1...
Interbrand - Best Global Brands 2013

Press Release - 2013 U.S. Wireless Smartphone Satisfaction Study--Volume 1 and 2013 U.S. Wireless Traditional Mobile Phone Satisfaction Study--Volume 1 | J.D. Power

[DenverRalphy]

I dunno that recruiting out of work employees would really be considered "poaching". :shrug:

[needforbbx]

The only loss I can think is the brain drain - if they are recruited to leave the country.

As per poaching, I would be surprised if they go after existing talent. I'm sure many are skittish.

[eldricho]

Most big players are looking to snatch some lost talent up from BlackBerry
Google being one of them

Posted via CB10

[rotorwrench]

Good for those people that can now feed their families again, and look to a brighter future without any worries about their new employer being sold... It's like going from last place and out of the playoffs to first place and into the World Series....

And yes, Apple is #1...
Interbrand - Best Global Brands 2013

Press Release - 2013 U.S. Wireless Smartphone Satisfaction Study--Volume 1 and 2013 U.S. Wireless Traditional Mobile Phone Satisfaction Study--Volume 1 | J.D. Power

They are in brands, but not in phone sales, phone market nor phone revenue. Samsung is, again, as of the 2nd Q numbers. Apple was actually down again in sales and market share from a year ago, 18.8% down to 14.2% whereas Samsung almost doubled sales from last year.

Just sayin, since you brought it up. Gartner Says Smartphone Sales Grew 46.5 Percent in Second Quarter of 2013 and Exceeded Feature Phone Sales for First Time

[jay_men]

I'm glad that the ex-BlackBerry employees will have many options. It goes to show the level of talent and in demand skills they have despite being let go by their former employers. This also negates concerns that the ex-employees would have a tougher time finding work due to the market perception of a failed BlackBerry.

[ganjaman420]

They should do it again next week after the reported 300+ they will let go this week. 300+ families out of income. I wonder who is "happier" now?
I

[heymaggie]

This is a pretty sure sign that Blackberry isn't coming back. A brain-drain like this isn't something you recover from. If Apple is going to Waterloo for talent then imagine where Blackberry would have to go if they ever wanted get it back.

[zee3p0]

Well. Does this really have anything to do with BlackBerry? Kitchener waterloo has over 800 technology companies and 30 billion in research investment. There are 1000 jobs open in technology in the area and the universities and other research facilities have many people. Most tech companies recruit in the area. But put the spin on it to look like BlackBerry is getting poached. Just another bs media spin.

Posted via CB10

[nothingworks]

Well. Does this really have anything to do with BlackBerry? Kitchener waterloo has over 800 technology companies and 30 billion in research investment. There are 1000 jobs open in technology in the area and the universities and other research facilities have many people. Most tech companies recruit in the area. But put the spin on it to look like BlackBerry is getting poached. Just another bs media spin.

Posted via CB10

I agree there is a lot of media spin regarding BlackBerry but think this has everything to do with the layoffs. The best time to convince people to join your organization is when they are looking for work. KW has a huge tech industry and Apple, Google or whoever will want to get the best before they are picked up by another local company, I think it's a good strategy.

I love my BlackBerry and hope they survive but
like the OP said, I want these people and their families to have a soft landing from the fallout.

Posted via CB10

[finallybb]

Well. Does this really have anything to do with BlackBerry? Kitchener waterloo has over 800 technology companies and 30 billion in research investment. There are 1000 jobs open in technology in the area and the universities and other research facilities have many people. Most tech companies recruit in the area. But put the spin on it to look like BlackBerry is getting poached. Just another bs media spin.

Posted via CB10

What zee said.

[zee3p0]

Would this be headline news without the BlackBerry slandering? No. These companies hire in KW all the time but that won't sell the news. Classic story of throwing BlackBerry under the bus.
I do hope all the people get more jobs though no offense.

Posted via CB10

[njblackberry]

Do you know what slander is?
The action or crime of making a false spoken statement damaging to a person's reputation

False Spoken Statement.

Look, I realize you want to look for someone to blame for BlackBerry's failure. It isn't slanderous.

[lnichols]

I dunno that recruiting out of work employees would really be considered "poaching". :shrug:

I bet a lot of people that aren't layed off yet or might not even be on the block took a vacation day to visit. We know how poorly BlackBerry treats customers, can't imagine that the workforce is treated with much more respect.

[Dunt Dunt Dunt]

I bet a lot of people that aren't layed off yet or might not even be on the block took a vacation day to visit. We know how poorly BlackBerry treats customers, can't imagine that the workforce is treated with much more respect.

Unfortunately anyone with talent and enough vision to see where this is headed... is not going to wait to see a "pink" termination email show up in their Inbox. I think the whole TAT group leaving is just an example of what is taking place company wide.

[qwerty4ever]

Unfortunately anyone with talent and enough vision to see where this is headed... is not going to wait to see a "pink" termination email show up in their Inbox. I think the whole TAT group leaving is just an example of what is taking place company wide.

BlackBerry doesn't send an email to notify employees of their layoff. The SOP is to meet individually with the affected employees and then escort the employee out of the building; do not return to your workstation nor collect personal effects.

Posted via CB10 from the BlackBerry Z10

[sixpacker]

bbry publicly announced future massive redundancies. Obviously they knew this would leave to a flood of top talent leaving the company (saving them payoffs). Good on Apple et al and great news for all bbry employees. Get out before they kick you out.

[zee3p0]

Do you know what slander is?
The action or crime of making a false spoken statement damaging to a person's reputation

False Spoken Statement.

Look, I realize you want to look for someone to blame for BlackBerry's failure. It isn't slanderous.

They take the event of companies looking to hire people in the area (that happens all the time) and turn it into a false and misleading statement like poaching BlackBerry employees.
Poaching is an illegal act of hunting, so that headline is irrelevant to invitations to hire, it is meant to create a negative reaction on the BlackBerry situation to drive negative views towards the company.


Then they continue to emphasize the downturn of BlackBerry Business.


Implying that Apple and intel are poaching employees from othets is slander against the reputation of those companies as well.


More bs news reports


Posted via CB10

[ElGusta]

They take the event of companies looking to hire people in the area (that happens all the time) and turn it into a false and misleading statement like poaching BlackBerry employees.
Poaching is an illegal act of hunting, so that headline is irrelevant to invitations to hire, it is meant to create a negative reaction on the BlackBerry situation to drive negative views towards the company.


Then they continue to emphasize the downturn of BlackBerry Business.


Implying that Apple and intel are poaching employees from othets is slander against the reputation of those companies as well.


More bs news reports


Posted via CB10

Did you even read the article?

Apple sent LinkedIn invites to certain blackberry employees.

If you don't think recruiters strategically target talented employees in companies experiencing slowdowns or toxic work environments you are out to lunch.

[Bold_until_Hybrid_Comes]

I dunno that recruiting out of work employees would really be considered "poaching". :shrug:

I would agree if the article explicitly said out of work (or those told they would be laid off) employees were approached.

The article simply states: "the iPhone maker invited local talent with the aim of luring them to their Silicon Valley operations"

"Local talent" could, and likely did include those that were still working and have not been specifically told they will be laid off. Not every one is going to be laid off.

I think that this is a practice of instilling fear in those working for a very unstable company. Often a company doing layoffs will hire a third party to aid in finding new work for those laid off (RIM is one of them). I think the more ethical approach from Apple would have been to get in touch with such companies in the region.

I know it is not illegal what has been done here and thus my argument is purely based on my personal ethical stance. And that's fine.

I have no problem if it was people that were already out of work or those told they would be out of work but I do not see that being said here unless I am missing it.

[ibpluto]

Be nice if apple set up offices here like Google and Motorola, but I doubt that will be the case.

CB10'n it.....via my Z

[kbz1960]

Okay, don't shoot me I'm just having a little fun.

So those companies want late products that are buggy?

[Wiki Cydia]

They are in brands, but not in phone sales, phone market nor phone revenue. Samsung is, again, as of the 2nd Q numbers. Apple was actually down again in sales and market share from a year ago, 18.8% down to 14.2% whereas Samsung almost doubled sales from last year.

Just sayin, since you brought it up. Gartner Says Smartphone Sales Grew 46.5 Percent in Second Quarter of 2013 and Exceeded Feature Phone Sales for First Time

Don't forget profit, where they landed well behind (I assume if Samsung's net profit were ahead of Apple's, they'd say so) :

Samsung Profit Versus Apple Profit Q2 2013 - Business Insider

In other words, despite having the Galaxy S4 on sale against no new devices from Apple, they still couldn't jump ahead in profit. They aren't likely to have done any better in the quarter ending last month (new iPhones) the current quarter (new iPhones and iPads) or even the quarter after that. Maybe they'll catch them in Q3 2014? Time will tell.

Back on topic, hopefully all BBRY employees will do what works for them, especially if it's sticking it out and seeing what the future holds for them with the company. They certainly could use a break.

[Rickroller]

Don't forget profit, where they landed well behind (I assume if Samsung's net profit were ahead of Apple's, they'd say so) :

Samsung Profit Versus Apple Profit Q2 2013 - Business Insider

In other words, despite having the Galaxy S4 on sale against no new devices from Apple, they still couldn't jump ahead in profit. They aren't likely to have done any better in the quarter ending last month (new iPhones) the current quarter (new iPhones and iPads) or even the quarter after that. Maybe they'll catch them in Q3 2014? Time will tell.

Back on topic, hopefully all BBRY employees will do what works for them, especially if it's sticking it out and seeing what the future holds for them with the company. They certainly could use a break.

Not to get into a pissing match over profit (because I could care less)..but Apple and Samsung seemingly have VERY different operating strategies. Samsung builds and tries a multitude of devices, some for very specific markets (Chinese versions or Japanese versions only) not only on the phone front but tablet and other tech front as well. Basically..they make a pile of stuff and see what sticks in the market. A strategy like this will eat into your net profits as not everything is going to make you a return on your dollar.

Sent from my Nexus 4 now Free