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from the blackberry-sends-a-'raspberry' dept.
BlackBerry is done with internal hardware development:
BlackBerry says it plans to end all internal hardware development — signalling a strategic shift for a company that built its reputation on innovative smartphone technology created at its base in Waterloo, Ont. [...] The company reported a net loss of $372 million US, or 71 cents a share, on revenue of $334 million.
BlackBerry will "outsource that function to partners":
The Canadian company said on Wednesday that it will shut down its own phone business after the failure of its latest bid to use Google's Android software to stimulate interest. Instead, it will rely on others to design and build the devices to save on capital. "The company plans to end all internal hardware development and will outsource that function to partners," CEO John Chen said in a statement.
The decision closes a significant chapter in one of the most storied franchises in phone history. BlackBerry was among the high flyers in the early days of the mobile phones. Legions of "CrackBerry" addicts in the white-collar work force tapped away at its trademark physical keys in the early 2000s.
[...] In 2013, CEO John Chen came into BlackBerry with a mission to transform the company, focusing more on software and services. At the same time, he had to keep a foot in the phone business, which still generated a significant chunk of the company's revenue. Even in the most recent quarter, it accounted for 30 percent of its revenue. But Chen has always been lukewarm about the phone business. He has said on multiple occasions that he would drop out of phones if that business couldn't generate a profit, which many took as a warning. He also never felt entirely comfortable as a pitchman for the devices. In July, he didn't bother to show up at the unveiling of its Android-powered DTEK 50 phone.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday September 28 2016, @07:22PM
Move most R&D to SV and hire refugees from Apple's design team.
(Score: 4, Interesting) by Subsentient on Wednesday September 28 2016, @08:03PM
I'll miss you.
I liked their handsets, with the full keyboards, trackballs and trackpads, etc.
Felt like a real tiny PC. Honestly that's kinda what I look for in a phone.
Only thing I hated was them being boot locked.
I only owned one blackberry in my lifetime though, and it wasn't half bad.
Goodbye blackberry.
"It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society." -Jiddu Krishnamurti
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday September 28 2016, @08:21PM
This comes to mind for some odd reason https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFQyib5ZQZY [youtube.com]
(Score: 2) by bob_super on Wednesday September 28 2016, @08:50PM
Where am I going to find a phone with a decent physical keyboard now?
I love my Priv for the touch-sensitive real keyboard, 5-day battery, and lack of bloatware...
(Score: 2) by Kilo110 on Thursday September 29 2016, @12:10PM
"5 day battery"
We're talking about the same Priv?
(Score: 2) by bob_super on Thursday September 29 2016, @04:06PM
I do spend my day facing a 40" screen, which reduces the strain on the phone. Previous job had me doing e-mails on the road a lot (hence that phone), but I was still getting a no-stress 3 days.
I'm an antisocial bastard, so I don't have any of the wasteful apps.
(Score: 2) by Techwolf on Wednesday September 28 2016, @10:06PM
Wow...the CEO literally killed the company and no-one can do a thing about it.
(Score: 2) by PizzaRollPlinkett on Wednesday September 28 2016, @10:14PM
Well, when Barnes and Noble stopped making their own hardware and slapped their logo on a Samsung tablet, it sure saved their Nook business. Um, no. Maybe things will end better for BB.
(E-mail me if you want a pizza roll!)
(Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday September 28 2016, @10:25PM
geeez die already. they are about as bad as SCO...
(Score: 5, Insightful) by RamiK on Wednesday September 28 2016, @11:24PM
Exits is for profitable companies that can see what's coming and leave the market in time.
And John Chen wasn't to blame. By the time he became CEO in November 2013, it was 6 month after Snowden leaked how Blackberry's master keys were in possession of the US government. Politicians and CEOs were already visibly avoiding Blackberry's phone and non-US companies and governments were canceling contracts.
Just this year, it was revealed the Canadian government had the golden keys since at least 2010*. So, that''s under Thorsten Heins. Blame him.
* https://news.vice.com/article/exclusive-canada-police-obtained-blackberrys-global-decryption-key-how [vice.com]
compiling...
(Score: 1) by stretch611 on Thursday September 29 2016, @01:38AM
Now blackberry is set for new revenue... as a patent troll.
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2016/08/blackberry-enters-a-new-era-files-105-page-patent-lawsuit-against-avaya/ [arstechnica.com]
Now with 5 covid vaccine shots/boosters altering my DNA :P
(Score: 3, Interesting) by GungnirSniper on Thursday September 29 2016, @02:37AM
I wish they'd make an external keyboard that would integrate with a per-device pass through block at the bottom of the device, like a longer Bold. Their side button audio controls were better too than the stock Android. Oh well, I'm getting old.
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