Archive for: BlackBerry
Sexy new Blackberry Curve models have been announced. There are three new devices – 9350, 9360 and 9370 – the only difference is the connectivity: the 9350 is CDMA-only, 9360 supports GSM and UMTS while 9370 supports both GSM and CDMA.
All of these Blackberry Curve models have a 2.44 inch display, 480×360 pixel screen, an 800 MHz CPU, 512 MB of RAM, and a 5-megapixel camera.
All of these devices will be launched at the end of August in Canada and then the rest of the world in September.
It seems like the Blackberry Playbook is outperforming most of the tablets currently in the market.
Since its April 19 launch in the U.S., Abramsky thinks RIM has moved about 250,000 PlayBooks. Further, he believes RIM is on track to sell 500,000 PlayBooks by the end of the quarter. [...]
“Checks at 180 Best Buys show 14% of the 16 GB sold out, 71% of the 32 GB sold out, and 84% of the 64 GB sold out; however, 32 GB/64 GB stockouts appear allocation-related,” he wrote. Are many PlayBooks being returned? Not really, he said, calling PlayBook returns “nominal.” (Information Week)
If the Playbook was a little lower in price Im wondering if they could really compete in marketshare with the iPad 2.
It seems like RIM have decided to starting thinking about also adopting other mobile platforms. RIM is now planning on supporting smartphones on other platforms including iOS, Symbian, Windows Phone 7 and Android. RIM feels it’s about time to explore the world beyond Blackberry and see if they can have the same success as competitors such as HTC.
It seems like RIM are accepting that the corporate world will be dominated by iOS and Android.
There is still no word on any of the details, but we will report everything as it comes in.
BabbleOn has just released their free smartphone application for iPhone, Android and Blackberry.
“An application like BabbleOn is the next step in the social media arena, and will certainly revolutionize the way we communicate online,” said Michael Mills, President and founder of BabbleOn. “This application will break down the walls of social media communication and allow users to create voice messages for all to actually hear. For instance, you can sing Happy Birthday to your sister who lives across the country, record your baby’s first words, tell all your friends all at once you just got engaged or just update your status… the possibilities are endless and more efficient and satisfying than typing a message.”
Using the App is just as easy. Simply log on to your Facebook account through the BabbleOn App, press and hold the talk bubble to record then choose to post your message either to your wall or your friend’s wall on Facebook. The BabbleOn App includes:
- Simple and intuitive user interface.
- Ability to listen to your babble (recorded message) to determine whether you delete and start over again before posting to Facebook.
- Provides full access to your friends list on Facebook.
- Add custom text to babbles.
BabbleOn Technologies Inc. plans to expand the BabbleOn App with the upcoming launch of the online BabbleOn Community (www.BabbleOn.com). The website will allow users to follow friends, celebrities or products and see what all the babble is about as well as mingle and voice opinions on various topics via their computer or smartphone.
RIM has started to seed a new application called Blackberry Radio. The aim of Blackberry Radio is to offer streaming internet radio stations, from multiple sources, easier to discover.
Users will find services like Slacker, iHeartRadio and terrestrial sources like Clear Channel and Corus.
Users can organize stations by genre and get links to purchase playing-songs directly from Amazon MP3.
The application is free for Beta Zone users to test; interested parties can can sign up for BlackBerry’s Beta Zone here.
Its been reported that the Blackberry Playbook production is in full swing. Quanta, the China-based manufacturer charged with building the BlackBerry tablets is said to be producing around 150,000 to 200,000 units per month
An earlier report from DigiTimes claims that RIM has 1 million BlackBerry PlayBook tablets on order in the first quarter of 2011. RIM plans to launch a Wi-Fi-only version of its PlayBook tablet in March, while 3G and 4G versions are expected later in the first half of this year.
Verizon Wireless has launched Blackberry’s new Blackberry 6 operating system for the BlackBerry Bold 9650 and BlackBerry Curve 3G smartphones.
BlackBerry 6 is now available for both devices and will be pushed to customers as an over-the-air update beginning Tuesday evening at 8:00PM Eastern Time. Customers may also update their smartphones using the BlackBerry Desktop Manager software. Updates compared to version 5 of the BlackBerry OS include a redesigned UI, universal search functionality and RIM’s highly anticipated HTML-capable browser.
BGR has been leaked the specs on RIMs phones for 2011. Here are three handsets RIM will release in 2011 and their specs.
BlackBerry Dakota Specs and Features:
1. 4GB of storage, 768 MB of RAM
2. 3G mobile hotspot function and Wi-Fi capabilities
3. MicroUSB port
4. Bluetooth
5. 10.5mm thin
6. BlackBerry OS 6.1
7. 2.8-inch screen; 640×480 resolution
8. Full Qwerty keyboard and touchscreen
Furthermore, BGR reported on an upcoming BlackBerry Curve look-alike, tagged as BlackBerry Apollo. While the smartphone is not as smart and powerful as the Dakota, it might be able to attract customers with a pocket-friendly price.
BlackBerry Apollo Specs and Features:
1. BlackBerry OS 6.1
2. Wi-Fi and GPS capabilities
3. 5-megapixel camera with flash
4. 512MB of storage and 512MB of RAM
5. 480 x 360 resolution screen
6. Bluetooth 2.1
7. 11mm thin
RIM made the BlackBerry Torch official, marking it as the first-ever smartphone with full QWERTY keyboard as well as touchscreen on board. Certain voices confirm that the upcoming device would be called the Torch 2
BlackBerry Torch 2 Specs and Features:
1. Tri-band HSPA 14.1 Mbps
2. 3.2-inch VGA; 640×480 display
3. 8 GB memory
4. 512 MB RAM
5. Bluetooth 2.1; GPS
6. 5 megapixel camera with flash
7. BlackBerry OS 6.1
8. 14.6 mm thin
There’s no doubt that recent reports of RIM’s recent launches and positioning as a company shows the struggle it has to maintain relevancy in a world dominated by Apple and seeing large segments of market share also get eaten up by Google. In both cases, the competition is offering more than what RIM currently has on its side and it aims to make changes, but is it too late?
After Google acquired AdMob, and Apple acquared Quattro, now known as the iAd platform, RIM is actively seeking a company to add to its arsenal of offerings to make their Blackberry platform seem more appealing to users. Unfortuately, according to AppleInsider, Millenial, the company they are looking at, looks to remain independent, not wanting to be exclusive to RIM and lose out on its offerings to the Apple platform. It’s a tough place to be no doubt, and while RIM may have scoffed at Millenial’s request of 400-500 million as the price of acquisition, they are only looking to cover their costs in possible lost revenue from no longer being able to offer anything to Apple’s products.
At this point, RIM needs a hail mary play to stay in the game it seems. They’ve been unable to match Apple’s extensive growth and Google’s Android phones have taken over as Verizon’s flagship phones, a spot once held by Blackberry. The BlackBerry Storm, Storm2, and the recent debut of the BlackBerry Torch, which reportedly shipped just 150,000 units at launch, all consistent failures in terms of sales. Globally RIM has suffered a slip in market share from 19.1 to 17.8 percent.
It will be interesting to see where things go. I don’t wish RIM to fall off the planet; I’m a firm believer in the spirit of competition and understand that it’s the only way to keep companies innovating. If you’re a Blackberry user, I’d love to hear why you switched or why you stay loyal. Leave a comment below.
Nielsen Wire created a complete report about the current smartphone share. Where we can find some discernible results like: iPhone is the most desired device, but with other not so much expected saying that Android is the OS with the most expansion.
Some of the most important remarks we can find in this report:
Smartphones represent 25% of the US mobile market- The prediction says that by the end of 2011, smartphones will overtake feature phones.
- Android represents the OS with the highest growth in the market.
- In the last 6 months, Android took 27% of the new smartphone users; iPhone “only” had 23%.
- iPhone users are the most loyal: 89% say that the their next device will be an iPhone as well.
- 29% of BlackBerry owners want an iPhone next.
Here are some of the graphs about this report:
