The BlackBerry Z10 may be launching at the end of the week, but that hasn't stopped the U.S. military from seeking alternative devices and potentially exiting as one of BlackBerry's largest customers.
Electronista reports that as part of the mobile device testing program at the U.S. Department of Defense, 650,000 Apple devices will be ordered.
Based on the publication's "well-placed sources," once the government's sequester is over, the DoD will be ordering 120,000 iPads, 100,000 iPad minis, 200,000 iPod touches and approximately 210,000 iPhones, although specific models "were not shared."
I'm honestly thinking about getting one too. From what I've read it seems the only major detriments are the lack of quality apps, shitty maps (worse than Apple maps), and the shitty Facebook and twitter apps.Anyone have one of the new BB? How are they? I'm gonna need to upgrade soon -and I'm Canadian so it's a serious question.
It is pretty good (used to own one) but if you want to use any modern apps or games at all you're pretty much boned. When I had one it felt like a smartphone-lite. The internet browser was surprisingly good though.if you don't have the 9900, consider it. GREAT device.
Z10 is out, does anyone care?
Most people are waiting for the Keyboard version before declaring it a dud.
I think my Aunt really liked the Z10 she saw and she's a big blackberry fan. Likely when the keyboard version hits TMobile she will jump aboard.
I'm using the Z10 as we speak. Had it for about a month now (Canada).Anyone have one of the new BBs? How are they? I'm gonna need to upgrade soon -and I'm Canadian so that's a serious question.
via BUSINESS INSIDERWSJ reports several AT&T retail locations in Manhattan and San Francisco were empty on Friday and some stores didn't even have the Z10 on display yet.
BlackBerry's stock took a dive Friday too. It was down nearly 8 percent when the market closed.
Hudson Square Research analyst Daniel Ernst told Reuters, "This morning we visited and called stores to survey early demand for the BlackBerry Z10. We found no lines, no signage announcing the launch, and clerks told us they had very few pre-orders.
UPDATE: Despite its high-profile launch in New York and a TV advertising blitz during March Madness for the company's new smartphone, BlackBerry's shares tumbled 8%, to $14.91, Friday. The dip came amid some reports of lackluster consumer reaction at retail stores to the new phone.
Think having physical buttons on your smartphone isn't a big deal? Ask any longtime supporter of BlackBerry.
BB is done. This was obvious years ago. They don't have the vision required to keep up with Apple/Google.
Africa says no. Big, fat, no. Blackberry is huge in a lot of african countries.
Blackberry deathwatch is not a bad idea given its health in Europe and America, but the brand is far, very far from being finished.
Africa says no. Big, fat, no. Blackberry is huge in a lot of african countries.
Blackberry deathwatch is not a bad idea given its health in Europe and America, but the brand is far, very far from being finished.
Wireless distribution company Brightstar has been named as the purchaser behind BlackBerry's recently-announced one million BlackBerry 10 order.
Earlier this month BlackBerry announced that an unnamed partner had purchased one million BlackBerry 10 devices — its largest single order in history — which sparked speculation that a carrier, bullish on the new device's prospects, had signed on the dotted line.
However, research house Detwiler Fenton has pegged the mystery "partner" as Brightstar, according to All Things D. The one million purchase could be to share some of the inventory risk with the distributor, according to Detwiler Fenton, which notes that Brightstar handles Verizon's distribution for megastore retailers and its dealer agent channels.
"[The arrangement] suggests Verizon doesn't believe this will be a strong seller, since it normally tries to allocate hot product on its own," Detwiler Fenton managing director Mark Gerber told All Things D.
Analysts who were bullish on the stock before, only to see it get battered for years, are reluctant to start lifting their ratings and price targets now, said Richard Moroney, chief investment officer at Horizon Investment Services.
A Goldman Sachs analyst now gives the device just a 20% chance of being a sales success. BlackBerry reports its quarterly earnings on Thursday, though they won't include sales from the U.S. launch of the Z10. But take note: shares have moved an average of 16% the last three times the company reported.
Africa says no. Big, fat, no. Blackberry is huge in a lot of african countries.
Blackberry deathwatch is not a bad idea given its health in Europe and America, but the brand is far, very far from being finished.
What could be worse for BlackBerry-maker Research in Motion Ltd. than weak early sales of its new flagship phone? The possibility that people who did buy the phone are returning it.
In two separate reports Thursday morning, analysts noted a weak launch of the BlackBerry Z10 in the U.S.
ITG analyst analyst Joe Fersedi writes that the Z10 launch started poorly and weakened significantly as the days passed, and that Z10 sales are in line-to marginally ahead of anemic sales of older BlackBerry models and the Nokia NOK1V.HE -1.35% Lumia 822.
Fersedi said that initially the Z10′s share of sales was 4% at Verizon stores and 7% at AT&T T +0.14% stores, but those numbers have fallen to about 1% to 2%.
Perhaps worse, according to a report from Detwiler Fenton, customer returns of the Z10 are actually outnumbering sales.
We believe key retail partners have seen a significant increase in Z10 returns to the point where, in several cases, returns are now exceeding sales, a phenomenon we have never seen before, Detwiler analyst Jeff Johnston writes in the report.
In response to the reports, the company issued the following statement: BlackBerry wishes to respond to media coverage today regarding speculation that there have been abnormally high levels of returns of BlackBerry Z10 devices. This is absolutely false. Our data shows that return rates for BlackBerry Z10 devices both in the U.S. and on a global basis are in line with or better than our expectations and are consistent with return rates for other premium smartphones in the market today.
In its most recent earnings call, RIM said it sold 1 million Z10s, but the quarter did not include U.S. sales.
If there is a silver lining for RIM, its that Mr. Johnston and many other analysts expect the forthcoming, keyboard-equipped BlackBerry Q10 to sell much better. The Q10 just became available for pre-order in the U.K. and Canada this week and is expected to ship at the end of April. The Q10 should arrive in the U.S. in May or June.
But for the Z10, which RIM expects to compete head-to-head with the iPhone 5 and the latest Samsung Galaxy, these early indicators do not bode well.
In response to the reports, the company issued the following statement: BlackBerry wishes to respond to media coverage today regarding speculation that there have been abnormally high levels of returns of BlackBerry Z10 devices. This is absolutely false. Our data shows that return rates for BlackBerry Z10 devices both in the U.S. and on a global basis are in line with or better than our expectations and are consistent with return rates for other premium smartphones in the market today.
Oh lawd. Somebody check Crackberry.
Whats really going on with Detwilers false accusations, and how BlackBerry is handling it beautifully
By Chris Umiastowski on 12 Apr 2013 10:44 am
