BlackBerry Torch now half price after ‘underwhelming’ sales

by Sarah Griffiths on 17 August 2010, 13:52

Tags: RIM (TSE:RIM)

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Sluggish sales and India deal

Some analysts believe the slow take-up could be due to RIM's reliance on business users and current BlackBerry users waiting for Blackberry 6 to come to their present phones, instead of forking out for the Torch.

The revamped os is expected to be rolled out in the coming months in a bid to bring better apps and smartphone features such as social networking streams and multimedia offerings that rival Android and Apple's, to BlackBerry phones.

However, some commentators have argued BlackBerry 6 still falls short when compared to its rivals and RIM should consider adding an Android-based phone to its handset arsenal in a bid to attract new customers and stay relevant. RIM has recently lost ground in the smartphone market, especially in North America where people are snapping up high-spec alternative phones.

According to eWeek, the Torch ‘lacks the features users really want' and does not present itself like a next generation device, such as the iPhone 4. In terms of apps, the Torch reportedly misses the mark, losing out to Apple's 240,000-strong App Store and Google's Android Market.

The website believes by using Android's os in a BlackBerry phone, there might finally be a smartphone that can challenge the iPhone, while RIM could cash in on the world's fastest growing operating system.

In related news, RIM has bowed to pressure from India for access to BlackBerrys' encrypted messages and will give the country access to its messenger service from 1 September, prompting  the biggest fall in the company's stock for a month, Business Week reported.

Agencies in India will be granted access to messenger services on an ad-hoc basis, while RIM will hand over individual phone numbers following a government request.  The company is expected to provide an automated system to speed up the tracking of smartphone messages by November, anonymous Indian official told the paper.

The Canadian smartphone manufacturer is reportedly working on a way to give India access to corporate emails too. The security furore coupled with a declining share of the smartphone market has seen RIM's stock value plunge by one quarter this year.

In the short-term, the deal with India has averted the threatened ban that was due to start on 31 August, but the company still faces demands from other nations said to be worried Blackberry's encrypted messaging service could be used by militants.



HEXUS Forums :: 11 Comments

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That is in the US!

AT&T do not have a very good rep either.
I think this will be a global trend for the sales of this phone. Reviews are not very positive about the phone or the software.

I think when HTC bring out the new desire Z with its full qwerty pad, Android will corner all the markets - From business to budget.

The buzz is Android - and all for a good reason. This is even filtering through to companies and corporate users.
What about an Android handset with a qwerty keyboard under the screen like the classic BBs?

Is this screen configuration supported by Android? would that break a lot of apps? I think it probably would actually.

A lot of people like this configuration, and the only real people selling phones like this are RIM and Nokia.
Brewster0101
I think this will be a global trend for the sales of this phone. Reviews are not very positive about the phone or the software.

I think when HTC bring out the new desire Z with its full qwerty pad, Android will corner all the markets - From business to budget.

The buzz is Android - and all for a good reason. This is even filtering through to companies and corporate users.

I doubt Blackberry is losing the business market at the moment.

Businesses don't use this type of smartphones all the time anyways.
Funkstar
What about an Android handset with a qwerty keyboard under the screen like the classic BBs?

Is this screen configuration supported by Android? would that break a lot of apps? I think it probably would actually.


Motorola did the milestone (UK) which has the full qwerty keypad slide from under it. This apparently works very well on Android. They have also just released a flip phone where the keypad comes from under the screen, this is more a teenagers social phone though.

I believe in the USA they have quite a few Android phones with qwerty keypads, there are also a number of devices that have the keys unders the screen like the BB and Nokias E series.

There does seem to be alot of people thinking RIM won't loose out the Android in the business would. I would love to know why people think this.

Android does everything RIM can do and more. There is more choice in software and devices. If you were looking for a new all round phone that you could use for business, what would stop you from getting a Android handset over a Rim handset.