We certainly saw this coming, but while BlackBerry is focused on its new BlackBerry 10 mobile operating system, the Waterloo-based company is still working on BlackBerry 7. Case in point: they just officially announced the 9720, a BB7.1-equipped QWERTY smartphone with a 2.8-inch display -- a new phone for those wanting an older BlackBerry experience.
It was rumored a few days ago that BlackBerry was pondering the idea of going private, which led to a lot of chatter about what the company could be up to. However, BlackBerry has officially come out and confirmed that they're pursuing "strategic alternatives," although the company said that nothing is set in stone just yet.
Yesterday, we feasted our eyes on a leaked BlackBerry 9720 handset running BlackBerry 7. It was a little odd to see, considering that the company is going all-in with BlackBerry 10, but it seems Heins and company wants to see BlackBerry 7 continue slightly. Heins told shareholders today that there will be a BlackBerry 7 device released later this year.
It's finally time to take a peek at BlackBerry 10's first big smartphone presentation here in the United States with the Verizon iteration of the BlackBerry Z10. This device is an all-touch smartphone - that feature a given on most other mobile operating systems, but a relatively new concept for BlackBerry - and works with Verizon's rather speedy 4G LTE network. What we're looking at here on day 1 are just the basics: what's different from the international edition?
BlackBerry released its quarterly earnings for its Q4 2013 fiscal quarter, and the company brought in $2.7 billion in revenue, with $94 million of that being cold-hard profit. This is up from $14 million during the last quarter. Furthermore, BlackBerry founder Mike Lazaridis -- who was the company's co-CEO until January 2012 -- has announced that he's leaving the company.
The BlackBerry Z10 is BlackBerry's newest attempt at chiseling away at market share, and while the device is out now in several countries, including the US, it could take some time to find out if the Z10 is indeed stealing the hearts of iOS, Android, And Windows Phone users around the world. In the meantime, the curious minds at iFixit have gotten a hold of the device and did what they do best.
After a couple of months of Canada and the UK already enjoying their BlackBerry Z10, the device has finally hit the US and is available on AT&T's network starting today, making them the first US carrier to make the new phone available to customers. You can now grab the BlackBerry 10-equipped device for $200 after signing a new two-year contract.
The BlackBerry Z10 and Q10 are getting ready for their full launch later this month, but in order to have a great mobile platform, you have to have an ample selection of apps to choose from. Luckily, BlackBerry is making strides in its BlackBerry World app store, where there are now 100,000 BlackBerry 10 apps available for download.
Last month, BlackBerry (formerly known as RIM) unveiled the BlackBerry Z10, the company's latest smartphone that looks to take on the flagship devices of other major mobile platforms. We already know that the new device will be making its way to Verizon, but we weren't sure of the exact date. However, Verizon has come out and said that the Z10 will be available starting on March 28, with pre-orders beginning tomorrow morning at 8 am ET.
Remember back in January when Lenovo CFO Wong Wai Ming hinted at a possible acquisition of BlackBerry (formerly known as RIM)? After discrediting those rumors shortly after they surfaced, Lenovo is back with more chatter of the possibility of a BlackBerry buyout. Lenovo CEO Yang Yuanqing says that a BlackBerry acquisition "could possibly make sense."
BlackBerry is willing to try new things. Take BlackBerry 10 for example; it's a completely new platform for the company and they're willing to take risks in order to attempt to gain more market share. However, one thing they won't do is sell phones under $50. BlackBerry CEO Thorsten Heins says that this would be out of the ordinary for the company.
Many government agencies and companies around the world may be ditching BlackBerry for iOS and Android, but the German government is thinking quite the contrary. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and other agencies in the country have been announced to be using the new BlackBerry Z10 as a daily driver because of its security features.