BlackBerry Really Struggling In Android Market (cnet.com)

Once an icon in the smartphone business, BlackBerry is having a hard time transitioning to Android. According to a report on CNET, the company's BlackBerry Priv Android smartphone, citing a high-level executive at AT&T, is really struggling. From the report: AT&T offered a more detailed account of why the Priv has disappointed. BlackBerry and the carrier expected to see demand for an Android phone with a physical keyboard. Instead, most of the buyers were BlackBerry loyalists, the executive said. Those faithful, however, struggled with the transition from the BlackBerry operating system to the Android operating system, leading to a higher-than-expected rate of return. BlackBerry's decision to market the phone as a high-end device also hurt its prospects, the executive said. The Priv initially sold unlocked for $699, above the starting price of the iPhone 6S, which sells for $650. Few premium phones have fared well beyond devices from Apple and Samsung.

Comments

Re:That headline is three words too long

[Archangel Michael]

No it isn't. They thought they had the market, acted like Android/iPhone wasn't a threat, created bloated server based software and charged a fortune for it, and expected to thrive.

I had a Blackberry, and as a customer, I couldn't have been more insulted in the nickel and dime approach Blackberry took to me.

"You want access to GPS built into your phone? Great pay us $5 month"

The moment iPhones came out, they were in trouble. The moment Android got mainstream, they were doomed. They failed to adjust to the marketplace and rested on their laurels. THEN after they became an afterthought, they tried to re-invent themselves while maintaining proprietary control of their phones (Like Apple), without any of the things Apple had going for them.

At one point, it was BB or Palm for "smart" phones. They both failed to innovate and got caught with their pants down.

Their biggest failure with Android.

[wjcofkc]

As a Classic owner, I don't get BlackBerry releasing the Priv without a keyboard that has the distinct BB textured keyboard and the all mighty tool belt. Granted, for the toolbelt they would need to bring more BB10 features over to Android then just the hub (which is cool). These things should have their top driving motivations. If you are going make it or break it, you don't make a device that is the same old same old, slap a substandard keyboard on, and then try to sell it for way too fucking much. They had the chance to build an innovative phone based with a launcher taking heavily from BB10 without totally ignoring the Google Now launcher interface. It could have been awesome.

People who see me with a Classic ask why I don't just get Priv or any other Android phone. They just don't get my kind of nerd. I have no allegiance to the BlackBerry brand past BB10. It's one of the greatest operating systems\interface I have ever had the pleasure of using.

I get that their **dying, but I will use my Classic until it is no longer supported.

**Still buying their cheap ass stock just in case : )