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Everyone loves a good turnaround story. This is especially true for investors when it comes to turnaround stocks.
These often-scorned investments can prove a host of doubters wrong and deliver stunning upside as remaining bears turn back into bulls. Yet what happens to a turnaround stock that already has legions of bullish supporters? More importantly, what if a turnaround fails to take root?
Those are the concerns surrounding BlackBerry (BBRY), the maker of smartphones, tablet computers and other communications gear.
In January, with BlackBerry trading at nearly $18, I expressed several concerns about the company.
A few weeks later, after investors had digested a quarterly report, shares quickly moved below $14. But BlackBerry is again rising from the ashes. Instead of falling into single digits as I had feared, shares are back up to the $16 mark.
But it's far too soon to declare mission accomplished for BlackBerry. Serious hurdles remain, and recent sales trends are worrying.
Z10 And Q10: A Mixed Bag
To regain market share, BlackBerry unveiled the Z10 and Q10 smartphones in late January. The Z10 has a similar look and feel to Apple's (AAPL) iPhone and the numerous Android smartphones made by Samsung (OTC:SNNLF) and other competitors.
On the other hand, the G10 comes with a full physical QWERTY keyboard -- a nod to BlackBerry devotees who have found the layout easier to use. The physical keyboard is also a departure from the growing trend of virtual keyboards on most smartphones.
A key concern for BlackBerry had been shelf space, but a variety of wireless carriers, in a bid to usurp the Apple/Android hegemony, now carry BlackBerry's products. However, these carriers have provided little marketing support -- either in terms of advertising or the pricing subsidies like those seen with AT&T (NYSE: T), Verizon (VZ) and T-Mobile (TMUS) for the iPhone. For BlackBerry, that lack of carrier support may now be coming home to roost.
In a May 6 report, Michael Walkley, who covers BlackBerry for Canadian investment firm Canaccord Genuity, surveyed industry contacts and noted weakening sales of the Z10 over the past month. Demand for the G10 appears more solid, he said, adding that supply of the phone has been limited and it's too soon to gauge long-term demand. Walkley slashed his phone sales estimates for the quarter by 500,000 units, to 2.8 million, which appears to be at the low end of Wall Street forecasts.
The already softening sales trends for the all-important G10 led Walkley to conclude that BlackBerry won't be able to move back into profitability. He forecasts the company will lose 44 cents a share in fiscal 2014 and 75 cents a share in fiscal 2015.
Rising losses, in his view, will be the result of falling sales, as BlackBerry's legacy revenue streams shrink faster than the company's smartphone sales can grow. Walkley sees shares falling to just $9, which is roughly the value of the company's existing base of assets. (It's worth noting that others expect BlackBerry will indeed end up on the auction block, though most buyout prices are higher than Walkley's takeout price.)
Other Views
Walkley isn't alone in his concerns. About six weeks ago, upon the release of BlackBerry's fiscal fourth-quarter results, Citigroup's analysts noted that the Z10 was off to a slow start in markets outside the United States. If global sales didn't pick up soon, they said, "we believe BlackBerry could see additional subscriber losses and be forced to do a price cut to its products, both of which would pressure margins and earnings." Citigroup sees shares falling from a recent $16 to $10.
Other analysts aren't quite so bearish. UBS sees more limited downside to around $13, though they "are not convinced yet BB10 will be a viable platform and remain on the sidelines with a cautious stance." BlackBerry is likely to review first-quarter sales results in mid-June, and UBS thinks investors will be keeping a close eye on BlackBerry sell-through rates (i.e. sold at phone stores and not just to the wireless service providers), selling prices, and the average revenue per user generated each month by existing and new customers.
Merrill Lynch, with a price target of just $8, thinks the average revenue per user will be quite weak. They "expect material declines in service revenues, with pressure on BB7 pricing, elimination of consumer service revenues on BB10 and decline in enterprise revenues for email-only clients."
BB7 is the company's legacy operating system. Merrill's analysts see little promise in BB10, the company's newest platform. The operating system itself is good enough in their view, but the more than 100,000 apps tailored to run on them is dwarfed by the roughly 800,000 apps offered by the Apple and Android ecosystems.
Complicating things further for BlackBerry, wireless carriers may soon have more options besides BlackBerry and Microsoft (MSFT) as they seek to broaden the field beyond the Apple and Android ecosystems. A recent Wall Street Journal article suggests that Samsung, Intel (INTC), LG Electronics and others are readying their own mobile operating systems, which would make for a very crowded field -- and make BlackBerry's task of increasing market share even more difficult.
Looking for a bullish take? Well, Goldman Sachs has a $17 price target, noting that shares are only slightly overvalued on the key financial trends -- but perhaps vastly undervalued in the context of a company sale. Goldman's analysts think BlackBerry would fetch a hefty $28 a share in such a scenario. They assign a 15% chance of such an event taking place, so it has only a modest effect on their overall target price.
Risks to Consider: As an upside risk, BlackBerry may look to partner more aggressively with specific wireless service providers, which could help to boost market share.
Action to Take --> This remains a popular stock with a hard-core set of retail investors -- but BlackBerry might not have a lot of time to retain their loyalty. If sales trends in the current quarter are as weak as some analysts suggest, then the remaining hopeful bulls in this stock may lose patience, and shares may quickly move toward the $10 mark.
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Good luck to everyone next week. I am going to be out of town for business. Kevin777 will keep you guys posted with BBRY's news.
Research In Motion Ltd : BlackBerry Says Services Restored
05/03/2013| 11:05am US/EasternRecommend:
0
TORONTO Canadian smartphone maker Blackberry on Friday said services have been restored after some of its users experienced service issues Friday. Blackberry didn't providing details of how long the service outages lasted, or which markets were affected.
"As an update, we can confirm that our technical teams have addressed the issue and BlackBerry services are returning to normal levels," a spokeswoman said in a statement. "We apologize to customers for any inconvenience. We take all service issues--no matter how small--very seriously and through constant monitoring and investigation we aim to ensure our network meets customer expectations."
The Waterloo, Ontario-based company had earlier posted a message on its Twitter feed that said it was looking into a problem.
Write to Will Connors at william.connors@wsj.com
CANADA STOCKS-Upbeat U.S. jobs data lifts TSX to 3-week high
Fri May 3, 2013 11:04am EDT
* TSX rises 140.02 points, or 1.13 percent, to 12,519.66
* All of 10 main index sectors advance
* BlackBerry climbs after report of strong Q10 sales
By John Tilak
TORONTO, May 3 (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index rose
more than 1 percent to hit a three-week high on Friday with
gains across all major sectors as investors cheered a
stronger-than-expected U.S. jobs report.
Data showed U.S. employment rose more than expected in
April, pushing the unemployment rate to a four-year low of 7.5
percent and easing concern that the economy faced a sharp
slowdown.
"People seem to have had some of their faith rekindled and
restored," said Fred Ketchen, director of equity trading at
ScotiaMcLeod. "This is the reaction you would expect when you
see those kinds of jobs numbers."
"It indicates economic activity continues to move modestly
higher," he added.
The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index
was up 140.02 points, or 1.13 percent, at 12,519.66.
It was trading at its highest level since April 11, and Friday's
advance pushed it positive on the year. It appeared set for a
gain on the week as well.
All the 10 main sectors on the index were higher.
Energy shares rose 1.3 percent, getting a boost from higher
oil prices. In the group, Suncor Energy Inc,
Canada's largest energy company, rose 1.8 percent to C$31.36.
The materials sector, which includes mining stocks, jumped
2.1 percent, and financials, the index's most heavily weighted
sector, gained 0.6 percent.
BlackBerry shares rose 1.3 percent after an analyst
said its new Q10 smartphone, which comes with the physical
keyboard, is selling well in Canada and Britain.
Fear has no place for in the stock market.
BlackBerry Browsers Grows 21% In The UK At Apple's Expense, Soon To Overtake Samsung
May 3 2013, 11:00 | 2 comments | about: BBRY
Disclosure: I am long BBRY. (More...)
Three months after the launch of the BlackBerry (BBRY) Z10, a BlackBerry with a touch screen has managed to not only stop, but also seriously reverse, years of market share erosion. The stats below show you the BlackBerry's vendor market share based on browser observation.
A few words about methodology: Statcounter Global is a very good 'non-mobile' industry barometer in my opinion. This company is in the business of providing stats, similar to Google analytics, for website owners. They do not sell research to hedge funds or analysts. Using the network of client sites (largely English language) they are able to track browser usages, desktop vs mobile, screen resolutions etc. They can then slice that data up by country and device types. As such, they have no 'skin' in the game and are not fazed about the mobile OS wars and neither the browser wars. They simply report data for their clients.
You may use the links to look at different countries; I stuck to the UK as this is where the Z10 will have the greatest impact as it has been here three months.
The sample size used in the UK is based on 703 Million page views.
http://gs.statcounter.com/#mobile_vendor-GB-monthly-201201-201305
(click to enlarge)
D-Day February 1, 2013
The inflection point is evident: February's launch of the Z10. Since then BlackBerry's mobile vendor market share has risen from a low 14.94% to 18.18%, representing a gain of 21.7% in three months. Did a BlackBerry Z10 without a keyboard reverse a multi-year monthly drop? It would certainly appear so. Would anybody in his or her right mind had foreseen that on Feb 1? No.
A significant part of the loss is coming at Apple's (AAPL) expense, dropping from 49.46% to 46.59%. iPhone is feeling the pain of upgrade fatigue; certain users are burned out with ponying up significant sums for the same experience with only marginally smaller, marginally lighter handsets. The novelty of the iPhone5 is gone (My maid has one) and the OS is worn.
Now imagine what the Q10 is going to do to that chart?
What Should Investors Do:
Investors need to see this data as the first very bullish signal of Z10's impact in the UK. BlackBerry does not break up sales by country, but the data here suggests the Z10 is a runaway hit.
At the very least, if this continues with the Q10 in the coming three months we can expect BlackBerry browsers to overtake those of Samsung (SSNLF.PK). In the UK, it is clear to me that BlackBerry is once again rapidly regaining lost market share.
False rumors.
Good start as stores in Toronto are selling Q10 like hot cakes.
Up 30 cents today is going go to be a great day.
Pre-market up .23
NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- BlackBerry has been forgotten about again.
Last fall, everyone had given up on BlackBerry after it dropped to $6 a share. Even when it made a move from $6 to $9 in a few short weeks, people still ridiculed the stock.
It wasn't until the stock went on a run from $9 to $18 that people really sat up and took notice.
That remarkable run was in the lead-up to the January release of the two new BlackBerry phones: the Z10 and the Q10, the all-touch and keyboard phones, respectively.
It's fair to say that most people who were excited by the new phones were eager for the keyboard version. That's the one that people have clung on to their old BlackBerrys for. There are still more than 70 million BlackBerry subscribers out there around the world, after all.
However, since the initial launch in January, BlackBerry's stock has been very hard to trade. First, it dropped swiftly before the January keynote was even over. It's never seen $18 again. In fact, it briefly got down to $12 in the weeks after that keynote.
>>Also see: Instagram Just Took Another Step Toward Making Money >>
There have been several disappointments since the initial product unveil. First, people scratched their heads over why there would be such a delay until the new phones shipped. Then, people wondered why the first phones to ship were going to be the all-touch phones. The all-keyboard phone -- the Q10 -- was not going to start shipping until May.
The initial buzz about sales of the new Z10 phones came and went. There hasn't seemed to be a universal sense that BlackBerry is going to be a runaway success. And this has just fed into the skeptics of the stock.
When a third of a stock's float is held short, it's hard to imagine one with more skeptics.
My view is that most BlackBerry critics are of the opinion that this is a stock that had its fun going from $6 to $18 but that was just a mirage before reality sets in and this stock goes back to becoming a Palm and running out of cash. They are just waiting for the fall from grace.
With so much time passing since the original January product launch and not much to show so far, these critics feel the end is near for BlackBerry. However, I think the critics are forgetting about the importance of the Q10.
The Q10 has only come out in the U.K. so far and -- as of Wednesday -- Canada. Just like we saw when the Z10 was released, there are some intermittent reports of "success" so far on a store-by-store basis. We keep hearing about "sellouts" without any idea of how many phones each of those stores received in the first place.
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However, it would be foolish to underestimate how many executives -- just in North America alone -- are still out there with their 5-year-old clunky BlackBerrys just waiting to upgrade to the Q10. A lot of these people are being supplied with BlackBerrys by their CIOs. Therefore, don't expect to see them in line-ups at Best Buy in Canada this weekend.
The point is that Q10 will inspire the biggest number of upgrades from the existing subscriber base over the next couple of months (especially as the Q10 comes to the U.S. at the end of this month).
Because there's not as much attention on BlackBerry the stock today as there was back in January at the keynote launch, I would expect BlackBerry's stock to do well over the next couple of weeks as we hear more and more about how the Q10 launch is going.
You should also watch out for the possibility of some kind of strategic investment in BlackBerry by some big brother type or some kind of "strategic licensing" deal. My suspicion is that CEO Thorsten Heins wanted to get the launches of both the Z10 and Q10 out of the way before doing those kinds of deals, in order to give himself the most leverage in those discussions.
In any case, don't forget about BlackBerry. We could be about to hear a slew of good news, strategic deals and some positive earnings in the June report. If true, that will give the shorts a bad case of heartburn.
At the time of publication, the author was long BBRY.
Follow @ericjackson
This article was written by an independent contributor, separate from TheStreet's regular news coverage.
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Sorry about spelling errors. Damage my phone
Yes that's for sure I bough again when it was low. I am all In can with BBRY. This company will change the the face of cell phones. They have something up there sleeves.
BlackBerry 10 Smartphones Approved for Use On U.S. Department of Defense Networks
distributed by noodls on 05/02/2013 17:38
0 0 0
May 2, 2013
Waterloo, ON - BlackBerry® (NASDAQ: BBRY; TSX: BB) today announced the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has approved BlackBerry® 10 smartphones and BlackBerry® PlayBook™ tablets with BlackBerry® Enterprise Service 10 to be used on DoD networks. Working with the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA), BlackBerry 10 smartphones and BlackBerry PlayBook tablets have undergone successful testing through DoD labs leading to a subsequent listing on DISA's Unified Communications Approved Product List (UC APL).
The approval allows all DoD customers to use the BlackBerry® Z10 and BlackBerry® Q10 smartphones, and BlackBerry PlayBook tablets on DoD networks.
"IDC research shows that mobile security continues to be of utmost importance to government agencies around the globe," said Stephen D. Drake, Program Vice President, Mobility & Telecom at IDC. "The U.S. Department of Defense's strict security requirements are amongst the highest in the world, and this allows other government bodies to follow suit. The role of BlackBerry including devices and BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 continues to be important and relevant for security conscious organizations."
"BlackBerry 10 is ideal for our government customers because it offers a rich, highly responsive mobile computing experience, along with BlackBerry's proven and validated security model - a combination that's unmatched in the industry," said Scott Totzke, SVP, BlackBerry Security at BlackBerry. "This approval will enable DoD customers to connect their BlackBerry Z10 or BlackBerry Q10 smartphones to DoD networks and securely access assets from work, while enjoying the wealth of consumer-oriented functionality that BlackBerry 10 brings to market."
For more information about BlackBerry 10, please visit: www.blackberry.com/BB10
About BlackBerry
A global leader in wireless innovation, BlackBerry® revolutionized the mobile industry when it was introduced in 1999. Today, BlackBerry aims to inspire the success of our millions of customers around the world by continuously pushing the boundaries of mobile experiences. Founded in 1984 and based in Waterloo, Ontario, BlackBerry operates offices in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America. BlackBerry is listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market (NASDAQ: BBRY) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: BB). For more information, visit www.blackberry.com
Media Contact:
Kim Geiger
BlackBerry
+1-289-261-5642
kgeiger@blackberry.com
Investor Contact
BlackBerry Investor Relations
+1-519-888-7465
investor_relations@blackberry.com
###
Forward-looking statements in this news release are made pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. When used herein, words such as "expect", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "should", "intend", "believe", and similar expressions, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and assumptions made by Research In Motion Limited (BlackBerry) in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that BlackBerry believes are appropriate in the circumstances. Many factors could cause BlackBerry's actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including those described in the "Risk Factors" section of BlackBerry's Annual Information Form, which is included in its Annual Report on Form 40-F (copies of which filings may be obtained at www.sedar.com or www.sec.gov). These factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on BlackBerry's forward-looking statements. BlackBerry has no intention and undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
BlackBerry and related trademarks, names and logos are the property of Research In Motion Limited and are registered and/or used in the U.S. and countries around the world. All other marks are the property of their respective owners. BlackBerry is not responsible for any third-party products or service.
If we close over 16 today the get set for a green ride
BlackBerry, which Donville doesn’t own and has no plans to buy, once dominated the cellphone landscape with its line of e- mail enabled smartphones. The Waterloo, Ontario-based company fell behind as Apple Inc. and Google Inc. entered the market with new smartphone and tablet technologies. The stock has plunged 88 percent in the past five years, the second-worst performing stock in the S&P/TSX in that period.
BlackBerry has soared 35 percent this year as some investors bet on strong sales of the new Q10 device, which CEO Thorsten Heins said this week could be in the ‘tens of millions.’’
Rebecca Freiburger, a spokeswoman with BlackBerry, declined to comment on the company’s strategy.
Now we going for a ride up north
Keep on dreaming for bbry to hit 13 lol
The BlackBerry Q10 has come to North America, and the first stop is in Toronto. BlackBerry (BBRY) was launched on May 1st only in Toronto to ensure that supply is available for the expected high demand. The rest of Canada is expected to start selling the new physical keyboard smartphone over the next couple of days.
With many carriers and retail locations selling the BlackBerry Q10, the only way to gauge sales was to pick up the phone and hit the streets, talking directly to front line sales staff.
Rogers Wireless selling thousands
I contacted many stores in the downtown Toronto core, and the trend was that most stores were sold out in the first couple of hours before lunch. All the stores I contacted were sold out of the Black model and some stores had the odd white Q10 phone available.
I decided to get away from the business section in the downtown Toronto core, and go to a non-trendy mall in Toronto's west end to properly gauge acceptance. I was told by the Rogers sales staff,
"We had a lineup before the store opened. We sold out even turning away someone who wanted to buy 20 BlackBerry Q10's for his company"
Many Roger stores only received a quantity of 10 smartphones, and would be receiving continuous restocking shipments. With over 200 stores in Toronto alone, it is estimated that more than 2,000 BlackBerry Q10's were sold in a short period of time through one carrier alone.
Bell Canada reported strong sales
In the west end Toronto mall, Bell mobility staff eluded that they received close to 100 units and sold nearly half by mid-afternoon. While the staff member wouldn't give me exact numbers he reassured me that it was a significant amount, and not just a few units.
While Rogers has made it clear the Q10 would be available May 1st, Bell was not as clear. I asked Bell which stores had units around Toronto and was told it would be over the next two days. If this was a common theme then sales through Bell will be even stronger by the weekend. Below is the text of my conversation with the Bell agent:
Tara: Hello, thanks for visiting bell.ca. How can I help you today?
You: hi I was looking to pick up the Q10 in Toronto, are you carrying it yet?
Tara: It will be released within 2 days
You: Oh, where in 2 days would I be able to buy it.
Tara: You can purchase it online
You: Can I just get it at the store as I don't want to wait to get it shipped?
Tara: Sure you can
You: cool, I heard that Toronto was getting it today and the rest of Canada is in two days, or is bell waiting for 2 days
Tara: Yes it was about to launch today.
Tara: However, there is no information about it right now. So it may take 2 days to get launched
You: okay thanks I will wait for two days
Tara: You are most welcome
Tara: Thanks for choosing Bell and using bell.ca for self-serve solutions.
Meanwhile, at the west end Bell store sales were strong with prominent displays. The Q10 and Z10 BlackBerry phones were displayed next to the iPhone 5 and the Samsung Galaxy lineup, as a major competitor.
(click to enlarge)
The BlackBerry Q10 is being sold for $699 without a contract, and $199 with a three year contract. Pricing appears to be similar across all major carriers. The Z10 is being sold for $649 without a contract, and $99 with a three year contract.
(click to enlarge)
Wireless Wave
The Wireless Wave is a reseller for the major carriers and instructed staff not to sell any Q10 smartphones until May 2nd. They did confirm they received stock on May 1st, but were waiting for their launch date.
In February, Wireless Wave was the reseller that reported very strong Z10 sales:
"We are delighted with strong customer acceptance and customer experience within our stores of the new BlackBerry Z10 smartphone," stated David Hartman, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of WIRELESSWAVE Group, GLENTEL Inc.
"We are thrilled with the launch success of the BlackBerry Z10 smartphone in Canada," stated Andrew MacLeod, Managing Director of Canada at BlackBerry. "In fact, it was more than 50% better than any other launch day in our history in Canada. GLENTEL has been a strong partner of BlackBerry and the success of the BlackBerry Z10 in their Canadian retail locations is exceptional."
Other Carriers in Canada
The "Big 3" in Canada are Rogers, Bell and TELUS; which comprise a large segment of the market. The other carriers contribute significantly and appear to be carrying the full line of BlackBerry products.
TELUS Mobility
Virgin
Fido
Chatr
MTS
SakTel
VideoTron
Mobilicity
Public Mobile
With many retail locations in different time zones across Canada, rolling out the Q10 is no small feat. Over the next two days and the upcoming weekend, the Q10 should be available in most Canadian cities. This will also include the Greater Toronto area, as the May 1st launch only included the City of Toronto itself.
The first day was a significant success with sales in the thousands overall. This trend should continue as it has with the UK launch, with strong financial quarter results.
BBRY
BlackBerry
$15.80-0.49(-3.01%)
Think about it if HTC n BBRY join together with be a threat to Apple n Samsung. Compare the shape..
Pentagon may soon clear use of Apple, Samsung, BlackBerry devices
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Wed May 1, 2013 7:26pm EDT
* Decision would clear use of devices on defense networks
* Move will intensify struggle for Pentagon customers
* Department has some 600,000 users of smart phones, tablets
By David Alexander
WASHINGTON, May 1 (Reuters) - The Pentagon is expected to clear Apple, Samsung and BlackBerry mobile devices for use on Defense Department networks in the next few weeks, part of an effort to ensure the military has access to the latest communications technology, a spokesman said on Wednesday.
The decision will set the stage for an intensified struggle for Pentagon customers among BlackBerry devices, Apple's iPhones or iPads and units using Google's Android platform such as Samsung Electronics' phones. The Pentagon currently has some 600,000 users of smart phones, computer tablets and other mobile devices.
The Pentagon unveiled a plan in February aimed at giving the military services a much broader range of choices among mobile devices. The department currently has 470,000 BlackBerry users, 41,000 Apple users and 8,700 people with Android devices. Most Apple and Android systems are in pilot or test programs.
"We are working towards establishing a multi-vendor environment that supports a variety of devices and operating systems, to include Samsung, Apple and BlackBerry," said Lieutenant Colonel Damien Pickart, a Pentagon spokesman.
"A key objective of the plan is to establish a department-wide mobile enterprise solution that permits the use of the latest commercial technology such, as smart phones and tablets," he added.
Several mobile devices and operating systems are currently going through a security review and approval process with the Defense Information Systems Agency, Pickart said.
Once the devices have cleared the process for creating a STIG - for Security Technical Implementation Guide - Pentagon organizations will be able to order them knowing that they have the necessary security configuration to be used on the Defense Department's internal networks, he said.
Pickart said Samsung's Knox version of Android currently is going through the security review process, with a decision expected in the next two weeks.
A full security review for Apple's iOS 6 system is expected in early May, and BlackBerry has submitted security plans for its BlackBerry 10, BlackBerry PlayBook and BlackBerry Device Service, with a decision expected in two weeks.
The security reviews are part of the Commercial Mobile Device Implementation Plan unveiled by the Pentagon in February.
Major General Robert Wheeler, deputy chief information officer, told reporters at the time that the effort aimed to ensure the Pentagon's mobile devices, wireless infrastructure and mobile applications remain "reliable, secure and flexible enough to keep up with the fast-changing technologies of today."
I am predicting Bbry has new concept device in building and will knock out every devices out there. New generation of cell phones. A powerful workstation in your hand.
You guys can agree or disagree with my prediction.
Thanks Kevin for the post.
BlackBerry Q10 Goes on Sale in Toronto, At Least in Some Stores
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By Will Connors
Bloomberg News
Research In Motion Ltd. BB.T -3.70%’s newest BlackBerry, the Q10, went on sale in Toronto Wednesday, a day before other markets in Canada, giving the residents of the country’s largest city the first chance to snap up the keyboard-equipped device.
The Q10, which has a physical keyboard and a small touchscreen, is the second smartphone Waterloo, Ontario-based RIM has launched this year. The all-touchscreen Z10 was released in Canada in February, and has trickled out in other markets, including the U.S., more recently.
While sales of the Z10 appeared to be decent in some of the markets–like Canada and the U.K.–where the phones hit first, analysts have higher expectations for the Q10, fed by forecasts that diehard fans of the iconic BlackBerry keyboard have been holding out for it.
But first they have to find the phone. If shoppers didn’t pre-order a Q10 online, it was tough to find one in stores in central Toronto.
Only two of eight downtown retail stores visited by Canada Real Time had the Q10 in stock as of midday Wednesday. A RIM spokeswoman said some Toronto locations have sold out, and other stores were still being stocked Wednesday afternoon.
“Later today or tomorrow, there should be stock in many Toronto locations, and over the next few days, they will be available across the country,” the spokeswoman said.
At a mall outlet of Canadian carrier Telus Corp. T.T -0.41%, a BlackBerry representative showed up at lunchtime and started helping staff set up Q10 banner displays and showing off the phone to prospective buyers. That store said it had more than 20 Q10s in stock and was seeing strong demand.
A nearby Rogers Communications Inc. RCI.B.T +0.12% store had sold two Q10s and had less than 10 in stock, according to staff there. At the Source, an electronics retailer, an employee said they didn’t have any Q10s but were expecting some later in the day. Many customers had come into the store asking about the phone, the employee said.
Other retailers said they weren’t expecting any Q10s until later in the month.
blackberry, blackberry 10, q10, research in motion, z10
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What Should Apple Do With Its Cash? Buy BlackBerry
By Sean Udall May 01, 2013 2:48 pm
The next generation of tech products should combine the two companies' best attributes.
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The more I look at the evolution of the smartphone space and what will surely be a highly disruptive (and awesome) wearable entry in Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) Glass, the more I think a simply brilliant move by Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) would be to buy BlackBerry (NASDAQ:BBRY).
This would create a nearly unassailable device entry in the enterprise segment: Apple's ease of use with Blackberry's security.
Now, the minute I saw Google Glass, I loved it, and I predicted that it would be huge, while most others were skeptical, if not outright negative. In fact, now I'm nearly convinced that this will be the next huge consumer tech product and category.
But here's the rub: How does Google Glass and all the data that is going to flow through the product stay secure? Sure, there are plenty of ways, but the enterprise customer is never the early adopter. In fact, many times enterprise buyers are the last to arrive following a huge consumer wave. After all, it took nearly two years before most companies completely gave up and joined the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) craze, which Apple iPhones and iPads ushered in. And, really, the iPad was the key device in turning the tide.
Thus, if Apple were to combine iPhone/iPad products with the vaunted RIM -- oh, I mean BlackBerry -- security, they would secure an already steady revenue stream and possibly even grow it. This would then buy them time to bring forth their next slate of iSomethings for consumer and enterprise use. Then, whatever huge amounts of future data/bandwidth was generated would already be riding on the highly secure network and deemed safe for enterprise users.
Now do I think this is probable? Not at all. But I do think that it's possible and as stated above, I think this would be a master stroke for Apple.
Deparment of Justice concerns? None, as Apple doesn't even have 50% of US market share anymore.
Canadian government concerns? I don't think so since Apple is a US company, and it already has customer service call centers in Canada. Also, Apple could easily agree to keep the BlackBerry workers, R&D, and facilities in Canada.
Too high a deal price? Here again, I think Apple would have a huge advantage. First, the company could offer a lower price than most others and grant BlackBerry employees Apple stock options at a much cheaper price now that the stock has come down so much. Also, Apple can easily afford to pay a deal price that most other companies would balk at. In fact, Apple could pay a 70-80% premium, or a $13.5-14.0 billion market cap, and hardly dent its own balance sheet!
Bottom line: The more I look, the more I think this deal would be insanely great!
Also see:
Google Has Destroyed Apple's Walled Garden From Within
Should Apple Be More Worried About Samsung or Google?
Don't Stop Believing in US Equities: This Time Might Be Different
Twitter: @UdallTechStrat
This story is an excerpt from Sean's TechStrat Report, a tech focused newsletter. Take a free trial!
New! The TechStrat Report by Sean Udall. Sean provides in-depth analysis, strategies and trades across the technology sector. Take a FREE 14 day trial.
Disclosure: Minyanville Studios, a division of Minyanville Media, has a business relationship with BlackBerry.
Read more: http://www.minyanville.com/sectors/technology/articles/What-Should-Apple-Do-With-Its/5/1/2013/id/49579#ixzz2S4Qvz4oC
Way back in 2007 -- in what now feels like ancient history -- Steve Jobs gave what many consider his best product unveiling ever: the iPhone. The Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) co-founder started off by assessing the current state of the smartphone market and displayed a handful of current smartphones of the day.
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)'s Jobs showed the Motorola Q, Research In Motion Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY) Pearl, Palm Treo, and Nokia Corporation (ADR) (NYSE:NOK) E62 as examples of not-so-smart smartphones.
Source: Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL).
The biggest flaw that they all shared was in what he called the "bottom 40%," referring to the lower 40% of their form factors being dedicated to hardware keyboards with fixed physical keys that couldn't accommodate new software features that may be subsequently released.
Source: Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL).
It's worth noting that of the four smartphone makers that Jobs highlighted, two are currently fighting for their lives while the other two are no longer stand-alone entities: Motorola was split up with Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) snapping up the mobile side and Hewlett-Packard Company (NYSE:HPQ) will never live down its acquisition of Palm.
Three of them -- along with virtually every other major smartphone manufacturer in the world -- have abandoned prominent hardware keyboards in high-end devices. Almost no one offers flagship devices with a full QWERTY keyboard intended for portrait usage. To be fair, some companies like Nokia Corporation (ADR) (NYSE:NOK) and Samsung offer QWERTY keyboards, but only in models that are clearly targeted at the low end.
For all intents and purposes, Research In Motion Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY) is the only one left standing in the high end of that niche. Can Research In Motion Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY)'s new Q10 single-handedly prove Steve Jobs wrong?
BlackBerry's final stronghold That device is very much expected to price at the high end when it launches in the U.S.: $250 on contract. That's a premium relative to the Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) iPhone, flagship Androids, and Research In Motion Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY)'s own Z10. That's a bold bet on QWERTY. However, many of Research In Motion Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY)'s most loyal fans are hardware keyboard enthusiasts and have been patiently waiting for the new generation.
Research In Motion Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY) has tried defending itself over the years, only to see iOS and Android continue their siege. QWERTY keyboards may be its last stronghold, particularly since iOS and Android have no interest whatsoever in pursuing that segment.
The Q10 has launched in the U.K., and anecdotal evidence suggests a strong start. CEO Thorsten Heins told Bloomberg that he expects unit sales in the "tens of millions." The device's Canadian launch is imminent, but specific details regarding U.S. availability remain elusive.
Early reviews have begun to hit the web with an overall lukewarm reception. The Q10 is undoubtedly the best QWERTY hardware device now, but that's partially due to a lack of meaningful competition. There's nothing about it that will win touchscreen users back to hardware keyboards, though.
The device is very clearly positioned toward die-hard keyboard enthusiasts, which is a declining subset of the broader market. Flagship QWERTY keyboards will never be mainstream again.
The article Can BlackBerry Single-Handedly Prove Steve Jobs Wrong? originally appeared on Fool.com.
Fool contributor Evan Niu, CFA, owns shares of Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL). The Motley Fool recommends Apple and Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG). The Motley Fool owns shares of Apple and Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG).
Copyright © 1995 - 2013 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Read more at http://www.insidermonkey.com/blog/apple-inc-aapls-legend-can-research-in-motion-ltd-bbry-prove-him-wrong-131570/?singlepage=1#9sRZL2RUUrcLFz6i.99
AT&T Offers $100 Off Trade-In Promotion
AT&T Inc. (T) will offer at least $100 off new smartphones for customers who trade in their current phones, in a promotion beginning Wednesday.
The company said customers who take their current phones to retail stores or dealers will receive the credit to use on any smartphone AT&T sells, including the new Samsung Electronics Co. (SSNHY, 005930.SE) flagship Galaxy S 4, or the Research In Motion Ltd. (BBRY) (BB.T) Blackberry Z10, which normally cost around $200 with a two-year contract.
The promotion can be used to trade in current phones that are no more than three years old.
"This offer is a great opportunity for AT&T customers to get their hands on the newest smartphones in our portfolio at an outstanding price," said Eric Goldfeld, assistant vice president for marketing management at AT&T.
The move comes amid stiff competition among wireless carriers like AT&T and rival Verizon Wireless for contract smartphone customers.
AT&T reported last week that its first-quarter earnings grew 3.2% as a seasonal decline in smartphone sales helped raise the profitability of its wireless service business, even as total revenue had a larger-than-expected drop.
Shares were up 26 cents in recent trading to $37.56. The stock is up 11% since the start of the year.
Write to Kristin Jones at kristin.jones@dowjones.com
Subscribe to WSJ: http://online.wsj.com?mod=djnwires
Going back up now
The whole stock market is down. Doesn't make sense to me to to sell and go in loss.
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What does BYOD mean to you? If you are not aware, this means “bring your own device” and it is something more and more employers are considering. This could have an impact on both Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) and Research In Motion Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY) in the future.
As you know, both Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) and Research In Motion Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY) BlackBerry are popular in the workplace. This holds true in regions all over the world. A growing number of companies are turning to the iPhone, including Home Depot, and Research In Motion Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY) is attempting to make a corporate comeback with its new operating system coupled with its Z10 and Q10 devices.
Image: Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) MacBook
Gartner is predicting by 2017 that half of employers will require employees to supply their own device for work purposes.
What would this mean to the future of Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) and Research In Motion Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY)?
One thing is this: employees are going to have their choice of which smartphone they rely on. For this reason, corporate accounts, such as those that BlackBerry has relied upon so heavily in the past, will not mean nearly as much.
In a global survey of CIOs by Gartner, Inc.'s Executive Programs, data shows that “38 percent of companies expect to stop providing devices to workers by 2016.”
While this may not sound like a big deal from the outside looking in, others realize just how big of a game changer this really is.
David Willis, vice president and distinguished analyst at Gartner, explained the change like this:
“BYOD strategies are the most radical change to the economics and the culture of client computing in business in decades. The benefits of BYOD include creating new mobile workforce opportunities, increasing employee satisfaction, and reducing or avoiding costs."
With BYOD becoming more and more common, employees will have the ability to select their own device, including those from Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) and Research In Motion Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY), for use at the office.
The research goes on to show that while this is a common change across companies of all sizes, it is the midsize and large organizations - $500 million to $5 billion in revenue, with 2,500 to 5,000 employees) - that are really looking to mix things up.
Of course, BYOD makes it easier for smaller companies with less money to invest in technology to take advantage of what this offers. In other words, they can request employees to use their own smartphone as opposed to supplying them with one.
Willis went on to add the following:
“We're finally reaching the point where IT officially recognizes what has always been going on: People use their business device for nonwork purposes.”
As this trend continues, it may change the approach of companies such as Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) and Research In Motion Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY).
Both Apple and BlackBerry have a strong corporate presence. This will continue into the future, to 2017 and beyond, but the approach may be a bit different.
As times change, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) and Research In Motion Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY) may be forced to increase direct appeal to consumers as opposed to selling to the corporation itself.
UPDATE--12:50pm EDT
Longboard Asset Management also released a presentation comparing Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) with tech giant Apple. Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
Read more at http://www.insidermonkey.com/blog/prediction-could-impact-apple-inc-aapl-research-in-motion-ltd-bbry-131817/#kki0WFhrFBZoexQP.99
Tech Recap: Research In Motion Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY), Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG)
Posted by Dustin Coleman on May 1, 20130 Comment
Research In Motion Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY) has now launched 10.1 Operating System update for all of its touchscreen devices and hence the Z10 owners will soon get it. Skype is now available in BlackBerry Q10 and in the app all of the standard Skype features are included such as free face to face video and voice calls, IM, as well as low cost voice calls and SMS to landlines and mobiles over Wi-Fi or 3G/4G.
Company is also trying hard to make BlackBerry 10 device successful in the market. People now must be waiting for few of the apps of getting being released which will include the “real” Ever note client, Hoot Suite and some other social networking apps. While other users may also be glad to know that the apps they have been using on their previous phone are also available on BlackBerry smartphones.
Tim Stevens is now implementing the life through the Google Inc(NASDAQ:GOOG) Glass. Developers are going highly above and working hard to scratch the surface to fiddle with what is there inside. By publicly releasing the kernel source, Google has actually thrown out a bone on them which devs, hot on the heels of Jay Freeman rooting Glass, will be pleased to know.
Is GOOG a Buy After The Recent Gain? Find Out Here
Interestingly, the Geek Centre of Karthik has spotted info within the file that actually points to Glass being potentially equipped for the NFC support. If anyone is looking up for the tinkering than it will actually find the temporary location of the tar.zx file itself at the source link.
I also called best buy and future shop to find out if I can get Q10 and the said everything is on reservations.
We already hit the bottom going up afternoon
BlackBerry's Oxymoronic Opinion of Tablets
By Evan Niu, CFA | More Articles | Save For Later
April 30, 2013 | Comments (1)
BlackBerry (NASDAQ: BBRY ) CEO Thorsten Heins is just sounding silly now. In a recent interview with Bloomberg, Heins expresses skepticism over the broader tablet movement.
"In five years I don't think there'll be a reason to have a tablet anymore," Heins is quoted as saying, "Maybe a big screen in your workspace, but not a tablet as such. Tablets themselves are not a good business model."
Oddly enough, Heins goes on to say, "In five years, I see BlackBerry to be the absolute leader in mobile computing -- that's what we're aiming for. I want to gain as much market share as I can, but not by being a copycat."
That's an oxymoron if I've ever heard one. Mobile computing includes a secular shift toward smartphones and tablets, but you could also arguably include shifting from desktops to laptops within the PC market. Of the three devices that embody mobile computing -- smartphones, tablets, and laptops -- BlackBerry only sells one.
It's certainly true that tablets have not been a good business for BlackBerry. Shortly after jumping into the market with the PlayBook, the company promptly recorded a pre-tax non-cash charge of $485 million related to a glut of unsold inventory. While PlayBook unit shipments haven't been consistent, to the company's credit they're holding up relatively well for a device that's two years old and only received minor upgrades. That may also be a function of the price dropping from $500 to under $200 over the past two years.
Source: BlackBerry. Fiscal quarters shown.
The tablet market is also much harder to crack competitively. Not only does BlackBerry have to compete with market leader Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL ) and its iPad and iPad Mini, but on the low end habitual disrupters Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN ) and Google (NASDAQ: GOOG ) are perfectly content selling hardware at cost.
The e-tail and search giants have ensured that there really isn't much in the way of hardware margins down there, which is where the PlayBook is currently positioned. Of course, the tablet market is proving to be a good business model for Apple, Amazon, and Google. The iPad remains Apple's fastest-growing new product category, Amazon has expanded its content ecosystem, and Google has dramatically broadened the global reach of its ads and services.
Just because BlackBerry's tablet business isn't good doesn't mean others can't enjoy it. Sorry, Heins, but it's simply not possible to become the "absolute leader in mobile computing" without tablets.
There's a debate raging as to whether Apple remains a buy. The Motley Fool's senior technology analyst and managing bureau chief, Eric Bleeker, is prepared to fill you in on reasons to buy and reasons to sell Apple, and what opportunities are left for the company (and your portfolio) going forward. To get instant access to his latest thinking on Apple, simply click here now.
The Death of the PC
The days of paying for costly software upgrades are numbered. The PC will soon be obsolete. And BusinessWeek reports 70% of Americans are already using the technology that will replace it. Merrill Lynch calls it "a $160 billion opportunity." Computing giants including IBM, Yahoo!, and Amazon are racing to be the first to cash in on this PC-killing revolution.
Yet a small group of little-known companies have a huge head start. Get the full details on these companies, and the technology that is about to destroy the PC, in a free video report from The Motley Fool.
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Hold on tight
Welcome 17
Tomorrow get set to say hello to 17.00
Cause q10 launches tomorrow in Canada