BlackBerry CEO forgets the push for emerging markets, says there won't be any budget BlackBerry handsets

2. roscuthiii posted on 08 Mar 2013, 12:39 3

Uphill battle in established markets and zero presence in emerging markets? There is a saying from the 1980's that comes to mind: Smooth move Ex-Lax!

3. EXkurogane posted on 08 Mar 2013, 12:41 11

Blackberry seems to have forgotten the deeds of the asian market that helped them to stay alive. Their phones which are highly popular in Indonesia, South Africa, India and so on is all due to the availability of budget models and BBM.

I dont like to see any company fail unlike some tyrants here asking Nokia and BB to die, but Blackberry might be shooting themselves in their foot with this reckless decision.

5. RiseAgainst94 posted on 08 Mar 2013, 12:43 4

Blackberry is one the few companies that people have looked at for reliable low cost handset, im surprised and confused by this. Nokia figured it out, why doesn't Blackberry?

8. jfuente11 posted on 08 Mar 2013, 13:19 1

Weird...

9. rustyimtiaz posted on 08 Mar 2013, 13:37 1

the most successful BB was the curve 8520 and it was a budget BB and still ppl buy and use it!! Its popular in developing countries and in Middle East Teens!!! If they stop budget BB then they r losing almost 25%-40% users!!

11. apiskula posted on 08 Mar 2013, 15:12 1

Thorsten your an idiot just like your product. I cannot wait until your company goes bankrupt and we never have to hear about blackberry again. It's a pure garbage platform that will die soon!

12. Stuntman posted on 08 Mar 2013, 16:07 0

Did BB really rise to prominence by making phones costing around $50? My knowledge of smartphone history is pretty week before 2010. That seems to be a rather low price point to try to hit.

13. rusticguy posted on 08 Mar 2013, 16:07 0

But they never had any 60 bucks (INR 3000) phone in India .. did they?

16. jroc74 posted on 08 Mar 2013, 17:14 2

Part of Samsung's rise was them offering more low end and mid range phones.

Moto thought it was a good move to do like black berry. BB needs to ask Moto how's that working....

17. etuoyo posted on 08 Mar 2013, 19:02 2

Cheapest Blackberry as far as I am aware is the Curve and that used to go for around £120. So not sure they really ever had any super budget phone. In fact for me their failure was in large part due to how overpriced their products are. You are doomed to failure if you are selling a Blackberry Bold at around same price as a high end Android phone when all the device is useful for is BB Messenger.

19. anirudhshirsat97 posted on 08 Mar 2013, 22:18 1

cheapest blackberry phone was the curve. It was sold for around 6k Indian rupees. What 60$ phone are they talking about? In India most people put 10k or 200$ cap on their budget for a phone. They could introduce new phones in that segment.

21. platformwars posted on 09 Mar 2013, 01:43 1

BB Curve in India sells under 10k($180) and is the best phone in that segment.. by best i dont mean it has the best features.. but it is the best at what it is capable off.. People are buying BB because at this price point all androids are laggy and unattractive.. WP and Nokia are yet to release a handset in this point in India(510 is there.. but we are looking for WP8 handsets).

So if BB wants to continue selling Curve and not release a newer model with the latest OS.. he will drive alot of people of BB for good.. and keep in mind.. BB just doesnt make money on selling phones but also services and plans that are exclusive to BB like BBM n other stuff..

So if they leave out this segment.. they dont only leave out the potential phone sales but also lose on alot of accounts..

I'm related to the Indian Smart Phone Industry so not commenting about other countries but it will be disaster for BB in India if they dont release a budget friendly phone with BB10.

22. taikucing posted on 09 Mar 2013, 04:08 0

That's a very bad move from RIM.. Here in southeast Asia, BB is still the most popular phone than android & iphone.. But people here can only afford to buy a $150 - $300 range phone.

23. verty posted on 09 Mar 2013, 22:07 1

I don't think people understand what the CEO said. He simply said we will not release 50 dollar phones. Come on guys has BB ever released a 50 dollar phone. So why are you guys so trgger happy and ready to crucify BB. Sometimes I think many guys on this forum don't think. A company with 80million subscribers should die you advocate!!!! Senseless moron!!! Will you feed the families that have employment with BB. What about the other numerous businesses that derive from BB. Also I want you to know that BB did a good job with the 10. I have it and i like it. Pls give some credit Micheal H and don't rubbish or downgrade the effort that went into this creative effort. Why must we be limited to a duopoly of ios and andriod. Why would you even suggest that these are the only good operating systems. It's crap and your attitude adequately describes bulls..it. Let's have more os's and more for people to enjoy and choose from. Not this highly polarized situation we are in. Sometimes it is so so annoying.