RIM death watch

[rockyct]

Enterprise software + mobile phones. Their affordable low-end phones sell like hotcakes in developing nations and their BES software now works with Android and iOS devices. They have also been trying to get QNX/BBOS into the auto industry and have expanded Blackberry Messenger over to iOS and Android.

People see their phones selling poorly in the U.S. and just assume that since they don't have a good selling high-end phone in a 1st world market that they're doomed.

Haven't owned a BB myself in several years and have no real desire to own one now or in the future.

They may have had success with low-end phones if they had moved to that market a few years ago, but it's another missed opportunity right now. Apple isn't going to compete in that market, but Android is and even Windows Phone is moving aggressively into that market. Microsoft has a slew of under $200 no contract phones even some with dual sims. Here's a brand new phone they announced for $135: http://www.engadget.com/2014/11/10/microsoft-lumia-535/ and the dual sim Lumia 630 is about the same price. There are other Lumia phones that start at around $60.

I can't see BBM being relevant at any part of the consumer phone space even in developing countries. Business was their bread and butter, and they need to focus on that.

 

[Imp]

I can't see BBM being relevant at any part of the consumer phone space even in developing countries. Business was their bread and butter, and they need to focus on that.

Don't worry, tools not toys, yo.

 

[rockyct]

Don't worry, tools not toys, yo.

There is definitely room in the business market for them if they don't screw up again and I wouldn't be surprised if they give up completely on the consumer phone market within a year. They lost the consumer space, and they aren't going to get it back at this point.

 

[lothar]

So I think they should have become a software company like whatsapp

BBM should have been spined off from the parent company many years ago. If they had done that and released BBM on Android, iOS, and Windows Phone 3-5 years ago rather than making it a BlackBerry exclusive until last year; they would have been worth more than WhatsApp today.

What the heck does WhatsApp do that they're worth $20 billion?

 

[zerocool84]

There is definitely room in the business market for them if they don't screw up again and I wouldn't be surprised if they give up completely on the consumer phone market within a year. They lost the consumer space, and they aren't going to get it back at this point.

They lost a ton of the business market already. They were the defacto standard for businesses but they lost a ton of it. If they want to gain it back they have a hell of a lot of making up to do. I just don't see them being big in either market anymore, they've taken too long to try and be competitive again.

 

[rockyct]

They lost a ton of the business market already. They were the defacto standard for businesses but they lost a ton of it. If they want to gain it back they have a hell of a lot of making up to do. I just don't see them being big in either market anymore, they've taken too long to try and be competitive again.

I agree. They never are going to lead a market ever again but right now the survival of their company is key. They need to carve out a niche somewhere. They're trying phones in developing countries, turning BBM into a messaging service, car computing, and business security. The first is basically dead, the second and third may give them some success but not much revenue, and I really don't seem people switch to BBM messaging. The last is really the best hope.

 

[darkewaffle]

Samsung reportedly offering to purchase Blackberry for 7.5B

Blackberry stock soars nearly 30% at the news.

 

[Ns1]

Samsung reportedly offering to purchase Blackberry for 7.5B

Blackberry stock soars nearly 30% at the news.

I guess IHateMyJob might win the thread after all :awe:

 

[Ichinisan]

I guess IHateMyJob might win the thread after all :awe:

???

Getting purchased was the only end most of us ever imagined. I'm sure that includes the OP.

 

[Imp]

Don't forget that we've had rumors about IBM and MSFT buying it before. At least one of those rumors sent the stock up a substantial amount. Then it dumped everything within days or a few weeks.

Real or not this time?

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

I guess IHateMyJob might win the thread after all :awe:

Jokes still on me. I think BBRY will be worth a lot more as a standalone company in 2-5 years. I'm also not sure if Canada would allow a sale to Samsung since it is in South Korea. If there is any partial truth, I'd bet that it is a partial sale. Perhaps some unwanted patents. Or the in car tech that runs off QNX.

 

[Imp]

Oh look, it's down 14% aftermarket because BB denied the buyout reports.

http://money.cnn.com/quote/quote.html?symb=BBRY

How is this shit legal? I don't believe someone didn't get rich off that little pump and dump.

 

[AznAnarchy99]

Oh look, it's down 14% aftermarket because BB denied the buyout reports.

http://money.cnn.com/quote/quote.html?symb=BBRY

How is this shit legal? I don't believe someone didn't get rich off that little pump and dump.

Lol.

Step 1. Own a ton of Blackberry stock.
Step 2. Leak some fake info.
Step 3. PROFIT!

 

[KeithTalent]

I got a Passport from work and I really like it. It's a bit heavy, but otherwise I find it very useful for work. Way better than the S4 I was using.

KT

 

[Printer Bandit]

how does it work with small girl hands?

 

[Sooon]

Oh look, it's down 14% aftermarket because BB denied the buyout reports.

http://money.cnn.com/quote/quote.html?symb=BBRY

How is this shit legal? I don't believe someone didn't get rich off that little pump and dump.

lol just yesterday GoPro's stock dropped 12%, losing a billion in market cap, because of a report that Apple had been granted a patent for a portable digital camera and sites were reporting that Apple has been working on a GoPro competitor. In reality, the patent was acquired by Kodak in 2012 and was just one of 1100 patents that were sold off during their bankruptcy. The patent that was reassigned to Apple yesterday had no notable changes from the original patent that Kodak acquired in 2012, so yesterday's news was a total non-event.

 

[KeithTalent]

how does it work with small girl hands?

Haha, I wouldn't know. I carry around my Passport and Note 3 all day, every day with no issues.

KT

 

[ultimatebob]

Don't forget that we've had rumors about IBM and MSFT buying it before. At least one of those rumors sent the stock up a substantial amount. Then it dumped everything within days or a few weeks.

Real or not this time?

IBM didn't make any sense, though. They're trying to unload their hardware business and focus on software and services. Lenovo would make a good fit, though.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

Lol.

Step 1. Own a ton of Blackberry stock options.
Step 2. Leak some fake info.
Step 3. PROFIT!

Corrected ;-)

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

I got a Passport from work and I really like it. It's a bit heavy, but otherwise I find it very useful for work. Way better than the S4 I was using.

KT

What country? Can you divulge what company or industry?

I'd get one to replace my Z10 but I need my phone because I use it to track my running activity and can't imagine having that in an arm band. I did read that it would work in a fanny pack (they make some good ones for runners that hold things in place and don't bounce around).

So I am basically waiting for the next full screen touch. Which sadly is somewhere between a Z10 and Z30 hardware wise from rumors I am hearing. It has to do with the target market of enterprise though. Someone doing communications and not playing games doesn't need fast CPUs and GPUs. They need long battery life which a slower CPU probably provides while still giving the same user experience. RUmor now is Snapdragon 400, 2-3 GB of RAM and 1080 but with a HUGE battery.

 

[rockyct]

Looks like Samsung figured BBM wasn't worth buying, or investors tried to pump and dump. The CEO officially denies they are going to buy BBM but they are going to partner more.

http://www.wsj.com/articles/samsung-isnt-planning-blackberry-acquisition-co-ceo-says-1421665607

 

[TallBill]

IBM didn't make any sense, though. They're trying to unload their hardware business and focus on software and services. Lenovo would make a good fit, though.

RIM encryption patents. One particular encryption method was expected to be taken over by the banking industry in the very near future. IBM would most definitely want this.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

RIM encryption patents. One particular encryption method was expected to be taken over by the banking industry in the very near future. IBM would most definitely want this.

The algorithm is not a patent of RIMs. What is patented is the way they use the algorithm. I'm not sure if they optimized it for speed for things like voice or if it is a more general patent that covers more.

One branch of the US gov't (military?) already said that the encryption methods in use today will not work in 5 more years and they'll have to move to something newer ... ECC

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elliptic_curve_cryptography

That's what BBRY has used for a long time.

 

[yllus]

I've been using a BlackBerry Passport for about a week now (on loan). It's a pretty good phone! Love the OS, has the vast majority of apps you'd want (their own app store plus the Amazon app store covers most everything), fast as hell browsing the Web or being on Twitter / Facebook.

Give it a try if you miss physical keyboards.

 

[corwin]

I've been using a BlackBerry Passport for about a week now (on loan). It's a pretty good phone! Love the OS, has the vast majority of apps you'd want (their own app store plus the Amazon app store covers most everything), fast as hell browsing the Web or being on Twitter / Facebook.

Give it a try if you miss physical keyboards.

I don't miss physical keyboards, I'll keep my Z30 thank you