Whenever I've read an article on BB, I always think back when Stevo introduced the orig. iPhone the BB executive staff and engineers did not believe the iPhone could do what Stevo said it would.
Complacency.
Complacency indeed. But the story about BB being in denial about the capabilities of iPhone has been overhyped. BB in fact reacted quite quickly. Too quickly with the Storm. Then they took too long before recognizing the need for a revamped OS. If they had recognized the importance of software earlier ... If they had bought QNX earlier ...
BB blew it. Underestimated Apple. They could have been making Android phones and copying Apple like Samsung, but instead insisted that it's OS was the best for Enterprise and that people wanted keyboards. They could have hedged their bets and made both, but instead just sat there and kept doing what they were doing. In the end, they were passed up. By the time they saw it, it was too late.
FairFax is making an offer, but it still needs bank loans for the transaction to go forward. They're discussing financing the purchase with JP Morgan and BMO Financial, from the reports I've seen.
What does BBRY have that would be worth purchasing for $9/share? I suppose FairFax has a plan, otherwise they wouldn't have made the offer? Maybe they're planning some kind of pyramid scheme to quickly recoup their investment by selling it off as part of CDOs?
Is BBRY worth the parts? Are the patents worth much? Cash?
FairFax doesn't produce anything, they don't run companies; they make their money on financial transactions. BBRY as a phone company is dead, and these guys are simply going to try to make a couple of percent on their investments by playing tax and market games. That's all the suits know.
They have 2 billion in cash. Other than that I'm not sure how you value their patents.
I for one hope Microsoft or someone else becomes a successful alternative to Android. I don't like the idea of only a single major platform in the market. I much prefer 3 platforms actively competing against one another. It's good for Apple to have to compete.
On the criticism front I haven't used a Surface RT or PRO; but for those of you that don't like it, it would be interesting to hear why you don't like it rather than simply Microsoft sucks. Personally I'll be sticking with Apple for the foreseeable future... they keep on producing products that I want to use.
From top to absolute bottom within 6 years, you don't get to see that everyday, especially on such a large corporate scale. Blackberry shareholders must be cursing Apple, hahaha. It is sad though to see more than 4000 job lay offs.
I for one hope Microsoft or someone else becomes a successful alternative to Android. I don't like the idea of only a single major platform in the market. I much prefer 3 platforms actively competing against one another. It's good for Apple to have to compete.
On the criticism front I haven't used a Surface RT or PRO; but for those of you that don't like it, it would be interesting to hear why you don't like it rather than simply Microsoft sucks. Personally I'll be sticking with Apple for the foreseeable future... they keep on producing products that I want to use.
I wrote a post aboit my experiences with the surface tablet in another thread (the one about MS being fully commited to surface). Basically, the form factor is flawed, as is the OS. It does not work well as a tablet without the leyboard cover, but it is too limited to function as a laptop replacement. The OS lacks the polish and the consistency of iOS, and while nothing about Surface makes it unusable, I got the impression that its designers lack the understanding of how to make a product work elegantly the way that Apple's do. 16:9 is great for TV, but not for a tablet. I am pretty savvy, but it actually took some effort to figure out how to quit full screen apps as all of the windowing controls are hidden and you are expected to know the gestures to reveal that functionality.
Comments
Blackberry "cleaning up in the consumer market". Wasn't true even in 2009?.
The pioneered the business smartphone industry, bring your own device as a growing trend ran them over.
What did you pioneer that qualifies you to mock Blackberry?
Blackberry did not have the ability to compete with Apple. Once Apple set their sights on the smartphone market, Blackberry was dead.
Easy to say but impossible to prove. What's to say that Blackberry couldn't be where Android or Samsung is today?
Whenever I've read an article on BB, I always think back when Stevo introduced the orig. iPhone the BB executive staff and engineers did not believe the iPhone could do what Stevo said it would.
Complacency.
Complacency indeed. But the story about BB being in denial about the capabilities of iPhone has been overhyped. BB in fact reacted quite quickly. Too quickly with the Storm. Then they took too long before recognizing the need for a revamped OS. If they had recognized the importance of software earlier ... If they had bought QNX earlier ...
BB blew it. Underestimated Apple. They could have been making Android phones and copying Apple like Samsung, but instead insisted that it's OS was the best for Enterprise and that people wanted keyboards. They could have hedged their bets and made both, but instead just sat there and kept doing what they were doing. In the end, they were passed up. By the time they saw it, it was too late.
Seriously so you only want one smartphone supplier then?
If it's Apple, yes. Unambiguously.
Easy to say but impossible to prove. What's to say that Blackberry couldn't be where Android or Samsung is today?
Good point. Perhaps I was harsh.
I for one hope Microsoft or someone else becomes a successful alternative to Android. I don't like the idea of only a single major platform in the market. I much prefer 3 platforms actively competing against one another. It's good for Apple to have to compete.
On the criticism front I haven't used a Surface RT or PRO; but for those of you that don't like it, it would be interesting to hear why you don't like it rather than simply Microsoft sucks. Personally I'll be sticking with Apple for the foreseeable future... they keep on producing products that I want to use.
From top to absolute bottom within 6 years, you don't get to see that everyday, especially on such a large corporate scale. Blackberry shareholders must be cursing Apple, hahaha. It is sad though to see more than 4000 job lay offs.
I wrote a post aboit my experiences with the surface tablet in another thread (the one about MS being fully commited to surface). Basically, the form factor is flawed, as is the OS. It does not work well as a tablet without the leyboard cover, but it is too limited to function as a laptop replacement. The OS lacks the polish and the consistency of iOS, and while nothing about Surface makes it unusable, I got the impression that its designers lack the understanding of how to make a product work elegantly the way that Apple's do. 16:9 is great for TV, but not for a tablet. I am pretty savvy, but it actually took some effort to figure out how to quit full screen apps as all of the windowing controls are hidden and you are expected to know the gestures to reveal that functionality.
What are they going to do with the remains, theres no coming back from this type of failure I don't think.
I wouldn't be surprised if Fairfax Financial looks into "monetizing" Blackberry's IP portfolio.
Anyone want to bet that the holding company only wants the patents so they can become a patent troll?
What are they going to do with the remains, theres no coming back from this type of failure I don't think.
Perhaps a purely enterprise service for those corporations who demand total obedience to the IT department?