Yesterday Blackberry launched its new Blackberry 10 phones – the touchscreen Z10 (available in the UK today ahead of the rest of the world) and the conventional physical keyboard Q10 (pictured and available in April) The phones got a generally positive reception. However, reading the reviews, I thought they were ‘kind’ in the way in which one reviewed the artwork of an old and much loved Aunt. Ecstatic it was not. There were certainly some good features – multitasking got the best reception – but it was in its likely continued appeal to business that the fortunes of the newly named Blackberry company (they have dropped the RIM bit) will rest.
We should remember that Blackberry still has almost 80m, largely loyal, users. I for one have waited for this launch before deciding whether to jump ship. As I will go for the Q10, I’ll have to wait another few months before making the final decision.
Blackberry has had such a good run on the stockmarket recently – up more than 150% since Sept 12 – that there was bound to be some profit taking. RIM was down 12% yesterday.
My own view has always been that Blackberry will be acquired. Lenovo has publicly declared its interest which would make sense. I wonder how long we will have to wait?