BlackBerry 10 Built For Success In U.S. Markets

In turns out that technology writer, Ashraf Eassa was correct - a perceived lack of BlackBerry (BBRY) 10 apps is not a issue for consumers when shopping for a new smartphone. What consumers are looking for is a device that does all the basic functions well in a better, more integrated smartphone experience.

The Battle for Mindshare Continues

In an early evaluation of the Z10, Walt Mossberg mentioned some of the key strengths and differentiators of the Z10 smartphone.

Mossberg stated that the Z10 provided "the best keyboarding experience he has seen on a smartphone". A second differentiator that Mossberg liked was the BlackBerry Hub which aggregates all messages just one gesture away from any screen. Multiple email accounts, text messages (SMS), BlackBerry Messages (BBM), social network updates and messages can be peeked at with a swipe of the thumb. If an immediate response is required the user can respond while leaving their other applications running -- True multi-tasking capability.

In an article written 10 days ago, I expressed the position that BlackBerry CEO, Thorsten Heins was doing the little things right.

With Heins at the helm, BlackBerry has staggered release dates for the Z10, and Q10, while entering several international markets each week. This approach keeps the BlackBerry 10 name, image & devices in the media spotlight for technology followers, investors, consumers and enterprise/government clients. I proposed that the media fever surrounding each release was a well orchestrated "guerilla marketing" campaign that was giving BlackBerry coverage well beyond what it is spending on paid advertising.

In the past 10 days ago, BlackBerry has experienced a frenzy of negative reports, sell-side analysis and strangely interpreted data. While not as great in shear numbers, a number of positive evaluations of BlackBerry's market chances have also occurred. Michael Collins, a U.K. observer has done on the ground research which indicates BlackBerry is making decent progress in the fight to maintain and grow market share.

U.S. Smartphone Consumers

It has been stated that the maturing U.S. smartphone market may be among the most difficult for BlackBerry to recover or even maintain market share. Walt Mossberg felt a lack of available apps might be a barrier to BlackBerry 10 sales. This position has been repeated many times by numerous sources as Mossberg is felt by many to be a particularly acute technology observer.

In the past 10 days, I have found two authors expressing a differing view. Ashraf Eassa stated that if BlackBerry 10 fails, " it won't be because of 'lack of apps'". Mathew Miller, cell phones and smartphones writer at ZDNet, stated:

"The more I use the BlackBerry Z10, the more I find having tons of apps doesn't matter as much as having a solid core platform, fast and functional web browser, and hardware that is enjoyable to use.

I looked at my iPhone 5, Lumia 920, and Galaxy Note II to see what apps I really use on a daily or every other day basis. I found that the BlackBerry Z10 has what I need, and with the efficient communications core, I am able to use it as my daily driver and am enjoying the experience."

The positions taken by Mossberg, Easssa and Miller are personal viewpoints and should not carry much weight when making an investment decision if viewed in isolation.

Nielsen Data

Nielsen (the ratings company) did a report on mobile device consumers around the world. Nielsen found that only 2% of U.S. smartphone buyers cited a "wide choice of applications" as "top selection criteria" when buying a mobile device.

Further analysis of Nielson's full report reveals what users do with their smartphones. The three most common tasks were text messaging (93% of users), email (68% of users), and web-surfing (66% of users). The BlackBerry 10 platform is optimized for these three tasks and with a single gesture users can navigate between them.

The fourth most frequent use of a smartphone was for social networking (63% of users). Facebook (FB), Twitter, Linkedin (LNKD), text and BBM messaging have built in apps on the BlackBerry 10. With Skype, Oovoo and many other platforms available to download, the vast majority of users will have all their social networking needs met with a BlackBerry 10 device. The fifth most frequent use of U.S. smartphones was for applications/apps (62% of users).

There seems to be a growing consensus that BlackBerry 10 is performing as well as could be expected in all markets entered thus far. At the same time, a genuine doubt has developed regarding BlackBerry 10's possible success in the U.S. marketplace.

I see this latest research by Nielsen as changing the perceptions. It opens the door a little wider for BlackBerry to walk or perhaps squeeze through. While US consumers may not run into a store knowing they will purchase a Z10 - the Nielsen information regarding consumer tendencies can readily be used by sales associates to demonstrate how this particular phone can meet their needs. A satisfied customer and word of mouth advertising might open up doors for BlackBerry that analysts have been unaware of.

The viewpoint expressed by Walt Mossberg and others (that a lack of apps would hurt BlackBerry10's chances in the marketplace) were personal viewpoints that were repeated so many times as to become accepted as fact. The Nielsen data based on consumer research throws significant doubt on this point of view.

While Nielsen's data may or may not reflect how consumers will ultimately behave in the marketplace, it would seem to carry more weight than one man's opinion.

View the original article here

BlackBerry launches Z10 in India amid claims of poor sales

BlackBerry Z10 launches in India. Another final gasp of air in an emerging, burgeoning market? (Credit: CNET)

BlackBerry has launched its latest Z10 smartphone in India, the up and coming enterprise powerhouse, the Canadian phone maker said today.

But the news comes at the same time that two industry analysts suggest that sales in BlackBerry's latest smartphone platform have been slow, bordering on abysmal.

According to The Guardian, both Cannacord Genuity and Pacific Crest analysts have cut their estimates for the number of smartphones sold through retailers after speaking to sources in both stores and the upstream supply chain. 

Pacific Crest said that "any benefit from the Z10 is likely to be at least partly offset by cannibalisation of [BlackBerry] Bold 9900 sales," pegging between 1 million to 1.5 million Z10 smartphones will be shipped—not sold—by the end of the fiscal year, compared to 3 million to 4 million. 

The worst case scenario, the analysts say, is that BlackBerry may have sold just 300,000 new Z10 smartphones, which could put the company in deeper trouble after investing its last-ditch attempt to stave off drowning in the mobile market place in the platform.

Only today, similarly beleaguered phone maker Nokia announced it would aggressively target China and Asia markets with a mid-to-high end Windows Phone 8-powered Lumia 720, along with two feature phones to fill the lower-end of the market. 

Do you see a pattern emerging? For both BlackBerry and Nokia, it's all in or get out. 

While Nokia targets China, BlackBerry heads up India, a place it has invested heavily. The company recently folded to Indian government requests and set up a PIN-sharing agreement with authorities. In a bid to cut crime and the ongoing threat of terrorism, BlackBerry had to play ball with the country in order to keep its strong (albeit modest) presence in the country, which has a booming population of business users.

The BlackBerry maker finally gave in to pressure amid pressure from the Indian government and built back-end infrastructure and data servers in Mumbai in 2011.

(via The Guardian)

View the original article here

LG Optimus G vs BlackBerry Z10: Android And BlackBerry Premium Handsets PrizeFight

LG Optimus G vs BlackBerry Z10: Android And BlackBerry Premium Handsets Price Fight | Mobile - Gizbot Oneindia Classifieds

Well, after months of prolonged delay, LG has officially released Optimus G in India at an event in Mumbai on Wednesday. Launched at
Rs 34,500, the handset is already available on online retailer sites as well. With the pricing and hardware, it is quite evident that the South Korean tech firm is aiming to take over all the flagship models.

Optimus G was first launched in South Korea back in September 2012 and was expected to hit global markets in November. However, LG delayed the launch and until now in India. The reason for the delay remains unknown, but, as it has come in a couple of days after the release of BlackBerry Z10, it can be said that LG is aiming to take over even the Canadian firm's offering.

When it comes to BlackBerry, after fighting a shaking off battle for a couple of years with the tech titans, the company has put in all its effort in launching BlackBerry Z10 and Q10 smartphones based on its new operating system.

While consumers were eagerly awaiting the launch of Z10 in India, BlackBerry has crashed all the expectations with its hefty price tag of Rs 43,490 for Z10. Such an amount is considered as a whopping investment for many, especially for a BlackBerry handset, the company which has not been in the market for a long time.

Several analysts and tech experts have been predicted that Blackberry has missed the last chance to win the enterprise users with its Z10 due to its price tag. Moreover, when compared with the other flagship offerings, Z10 lacks many key elements, which again pulls it back to some extent.

However, as LG has come up as a competition to BlackBerry in India with both the handsets being released in the same week, Gizbot has decided to compare both Optimus G and Z10. Read it below.

Form Factor: Of the duo, Optimus G measuring 131.9 x 68.9 x 8.5 mm and weighing in at 145 grams is obviously heavier than Z10, which boasts a lighter dimension of 130 x 65.6 x 9 mm and weighs around 137.5 grams.

Speaking of display, Optimus G comes with a 4.7 inch True HD IPS+ LCD capacitive touchscreen display with a resolution of 1280 x 768 and a pixel density of 318 ppi approximately.

On the other hand, Z10 has a 4.2 inch capacitive touchscreen display with a resolution of 1280 x 768 pixels and approximately 355 ppi pixel density.

Optimus G features the Corning Gorilla Glass protection, which makes the display scratch resistant and protects it from everyday wear and tear. Also, the IPS+ display will offer wider viewing angles.

Processor: In this segment, Optimus G is equipped with a 1.5GHz quad core Qualcomm MDM9615/APQ8064 processor, while Z10 dual core 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor.

Theoretically, quad core processors offer efficient multi-tasking capability and hence, better performance.

Operating System: This is a contracting aspect of the comparison as Optimus G comes with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean OS and Z10 has BlackBerry 10 OS.

Detailing on software features, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean OS has features such as Project Butter, which offers faster, smoother and responsive performance, on-screen navigation buttons, expandable and contractible Android notifications, resizable App Widgets functionality, high resolution contact photos, Android Beam app and more.

At the same time, BlackBerry 10 OS comes with new features and enhancements including BlackBerry Hub, BlackBerry Flow, BBM, BlackBerry Balance, Story Maker, BlackBerry Remember, BlackBerry Safeguard and BlackBerry World.

Camera: In here, Optimus G is a sure winner with a 13MP rear camera accompanied by features including autofocus, LED flash and a 1.3MP front camera for video calling. In comparison, Z10 has an 8MP rear camera with autofocus and LED flash and a 2MP front camera.

Storage: When it comes to storage, Optimus G has 32GB internal storage and Z10 has 16GB and 2GB RAM. However, Optimus G lacks a micro SD card slot while Z10 has a micro SD card supporting up to 64GB.

Connectivity: Optimus G features Wi-Fi, Bluetooth with A2DP, NFC, HSDPA, HSUPA, LTE, GPRS/EDGE, micro USB 2.0 and USB Host.

On the other hand, Z10 also comes with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth with A2DP and EDR, NFC, HSDPA, HSUPA, LTE, GPRS/EDGE and micro USB 2.0.

Battery: In this segment, non-detachable Optimus G comes with a 2,100 mAh Li-Po battery offering up to 135 hours standby and 15 hours talk time, whereas, Z10 comes with a removable 1,800 mAh Li-ion battery delivering up to 10 hours talk time and 312 hours standby.

Price: On the pricing front, Optimus G is priced at Rs 34,500 and and BlackBerry Z10 is priced at a whopping Rs 43,490.

Other Features: When it comes to the software features, Optimus G comes with Dual Screen Dual Play capability, which allows mirroring of an image onscreen with a TV or monitor. The handset also has features including Qslide, which shows two different screens simultaneously and QuickMemo, allowing users to take notes using the finger as a stylus. At the same time, Z10 has integrated social networking, instant messaging features and 3X digiital zoom in front camera.

Verdict

Both Optimus G and Z10 are high-end smartphones that come with impressive spec sheet and other features. However, these handsets will definitely have their pros and cons.

If the concern is better camera performance, big internal memory storage, quad core processor for increased performance and a relatively lower price tag, Optimus G might be the right choice.

On the other hand, if a light weight handset with expandable storage support and superior battery backup is your requirement, BlackBerry Z10 could be a better option.

View the original article here

BlackBerry Z10 is an efficient communications-focused device

(Image: BlackBerry)

After using my BlackBerry Z10 for a few weeks now, my initial excitement for the BlackBerry 10 platform has not worn off — thanks to the BlackBerry Hub, awesome keyboard, application switcher, and attractive hardware.

Everything in BlackBerry 10 is based on Flow, the gesture-based navigation and controls; and after using the Z10 for a few weeks I now find myself swiping all over my other phones. Like the Nokia N9 with MeeGo, I love that I can unlock the Z10 with a simple swipe up from below the display. After the display is on, the fun just continues.

I find that both Windows Phone and BlackBerry 10 are more focused on centralized communications than Android and iOS. In Windows Phone, you can quickly view relevant communications (text messages, status updates, call history) with pinned Live tiles associated with people or groups. BlackBerry 10's Hub lets you quickly view communications and notifications in one central location, and I find myself living in the Hub probably 75 percent of the time I am using the Z10.

While Windows Phone is more centered around people, the BB Hub is focused on accounts — so you can view all of your communications or easily filter by type of communication. I also like that all the communications are actionable from within the Hub. Android now does a better job of this with Jelly Bean notifications, but the notification drawer is not "sticky" enough for efficient communications management.

My only real issue with the BB Hub at the moment is the inability to move to the next message in an account from within a message you are viewing. It requires a swipe back to the Hub first. Granted, it is only an additional tap, but it seems a simple swipe to go to the next message (like we see in Gmail on Android) is a valid gesture.

I can adapt to most phone keyboards and prefer them over QWERTY keyboards. I tried different types on Android, and am satisfied with the ones on iOS and Windows Phone. However, the BlackBerry 10 keyboard — with its slick next letter word prediction — rocks. I love how I can enter text in sentences by only tapping and swiping up a minimum number of times. The more you use BB10, the more the keyboard improves for your vocabulary, and I feel it is the best software keyboard available.

RIM has always excelled at hardware QWERTY keyboards, and now they are showing they can also lead with the software keyboard.

In addition to the gestures, BlackBerry Hub, and keyboard, another aspect of BlackBerry 10 that makes it efficient is the functional task switcher/manager. The task switcher on BB10 is a mashup of Windows Phone Live tiles and Android application switchers. On Android, the task switcher is different for each manufacturer, so the experience isn't always consistent. I like how BB10 supports up to eight applications at once, and provides useful updates in the task switcher view.

Integrated apps and well developed third-party apps will have the active thumbnail in the task switcher changing to support the thumbnail view. Given that the task switcher is where you end up with a "home gesture", it is used quite a bit on BB10.

I think the BlackBerry Z10 hardware also lends itself to efficiency and usefulness as a vital communications device. Like the iPhone 5, the BlackBerry Z10 is perfect for one-handed usage. Most high-end Windows Phone and Android smartphones are too large to use with one hand, and people today seem to prefer large displays. I do enjoy using my Galaxy Note II, but have to say that carrying the Z10 in my pocket and using it with one hand is actually pretty refreshing and enjoyable.

The display is just about perfectly sized at 4.2 inches and it looks fantastic, even to my aging 44-year-old eyes. I also like that I can output the display using the standard micro-HDMI port on the side of the Z10, and hope for some kind of landscape cradle accessory.

The battery life is not as good as I had hoped, but it is easy to swap it out for a backup on the go. I do carry external battery packs to charge devices up, but it is much more efficient and desirable to simply swap out a battery for another one. Also, the hardware will last longer since you can easily swap out a battery rather than having to tear apart a device to attempt a battery change.

I also like that the Z10 supports microSD cards up to 64GB in size. I found that putting photos and music on a microSD card and then popping it in the device is faster than transfer via BlackBerry Link.

Overall, I think BlackBerry has come out with an efficient and enjoyable communications-focused operating system that will serve BlackBerry fans well. It seems to me that the OS is designed to help you get things done without wasting time messing around with inefficiencies. The hardware is attractive as well, and hits the sweet spot for size and functionality.

Related stories

View the original article here

BlackBerry says Z10 attracting new users

Prior to the event, UBS analyst Amitabh Passi raised his price target on the stock to $13 from $9.50, but left his neutral rating unchanged — expressing skepticism that BlackBerry can lure many users from competing platforms.

“The Z10 is a good product but likely to mainly appeal to Blackberry loyalists,” he wrote in a note to clients. “We remain skeptical existing iOS and Android users will switch to BB10 in meaningful numbers.”

The event in San Francisco was one of several the company is conducting as it rolls out the new BlackBerry 10 platform, which was officially launched a month ago. BlackBerry, which formerly went under the name Research In Motion Ltd., is working to make the new platform and its associated handsets appeal to both its base of corporate customers as well as consumers.

The latter has become a notable weak point for BlackBerry, as policies known os BYOD (bring your own device) have allowed smartphone users to pick their own devices for the workplace. Many of those have chosen iPhones and Android devices — hurting BlackBerry’s market share.

“Somewhere in the past, we stopped listening a bit,” Piasentin said at the event on Tuesday. “That created a lot of the issues that we have seen over the last 18 months.”

“I want to say, on behalf of everyone at BlackBerry, that those days are over,” he added.

The Q10, which features a QWERTY keypad that is popular with a core base of BlackBerry users, is expected to launch later in the year, though no specific plans have yet been announced by the company.

BlackBerry is pushing hard to revive its once market-leading smartphone brand that has come under intense competitive pressure from Apple’s (US:AAPL)  iPhone and a line of devices using Google’s (US:GOOG) Android platform — most notably the Galaxy line from Samsung (KR:005930) .

According to IDC, the BlackBerry platform accounted for about 4.5% of global smartphone shipments in 2012 — down 36% from its market share in the prior year.

The company is also contending with Microsoft (US:MSFT) and its Windows Phone platform, which could build on the strong enterprise base of the flagship Windows operating system and hurt BlackBerry’s hold on this segment. Nokia (US:NOK) is the main handset vendor building Windows Phone devices.

View the original article here

BlackBerry Z10 vs Google Nexus 4: spec comparison

The long-awaited launch of BlackBerry 10 stands out as a key moment in the mobile industry this year, and initial impressions of the platform have been broadly positive. BlackBerry's new full-touchscreen flagship, the Z10, has also been generally well received since its arrival back in January. Concurrently, Google's Nexus 4 handset has returned to the headlines, receiving an incremental update in the form of Jelly Bean 4.2.2 and improved availability. How does the precocious BlackBerry handset match up to Google's market-disrupting Q4 2012 effort? Let's take a look.

The BlackBerry Z10 and Nexus 4 are  similarly proportioned devices. The former sizes up at 9mm in depth and tips the scales to the tune of 136g, while the Google handset has a girth of 9.1mm and weighs 139g. 

BlackBerry's Z10 features a sensibly sized 4.2in IPS LCD screen, with an HD resolution of 1,280 x 768 pixels and a density of 356ppi. The 4.7in Nexus 4 comes with similar specifications: its LCD display offers an identical HD resolution, though its extra 0.5in means that sharpness drops to 318ppi.

Both the Z10 and Nexus 4 sport an 8-megapixel primary camera. The BlackBerry handset's 2-megapixel front snapper bests the 1.3-megapixel auxiliary shooter found on the Google handset. Both products offer 1080p video at 30fps.

Featuring a quad-core Snapdragon S4 chipset clocked at 1.5GHz and supported by Adreno 320 graphics, the Nexus 4 is one of the most powerful Android devices currently available. The BlackBerry Z10 also sports a Snapdragon S4 SoC with a 1.5GHz clock speed, though its CPU configuration is dual-core, and its Adreno 225 GPU is older than the 320 and packs less of a punch. The Google handset's 2,100 mAh battery bests the Z10's 1,800 mAh offering - our BlackBerry Z10 review found battery life to be one of the handset's biggest failings.

As Google's flagship Android smartphone, the Nexus 4 is a seductive proposition for fans of the little green robot. It ships with the latest Jelly Bean flavour, version 4.2, and will surely be first in line for an update to Key Lime Pie when that rolls around later in the year. The Z10 shows off BlackBerry's new BB10 OS - a slick, impressive interface that's slightly compromised by a lack of apps at present.

The Z10 and Nexus 4 both feature a hefty 2GB of RAM under the hood. Google's smartphone can be had with 8GB or 16GB of on-board storage, while the latest BlackBerry handset comes with a standard 16GB capacity. Media buffs may favour the Z10, as - unlike the Nexus 4 - it comes equipped with a microSD card slot, so storage can be cheaply and easily boosted.

The BlackBerry Z10 supports the LTE standard and has already landed on EE's UK 4G network. The Google Nexus 4 offers HSPA+ speeds, while both devices feature NFC technology.

The Nexus 4 features integrated wireless charging, and Google has finally started flogging the official 'Orb' Qi inductive charger accessory through the Play store - just not in the UK yet, unfortunately. The BlackBerry Z10 doesn't offer any extras that are out of the ordinary, though the BB10 platform offers some unique features that will appeal to enterprise users.

The BlackBerry Z10 is available and can be had with no strings attached for £480 via O2. Google has struggled to keep up with demand for the Nexus 4 at times, but the device is currently listed as shipping in "less than one week" and can be had for £239 and £279 for the 8GB and 16GB versions, respectively.

// With some £200 separating comparable models, there's a fair bit for buyers  to contemplate when sizing up whether to part with their hard-earned loot for the Z10 or Nexus 4. BlackBerry's new full-touchscreen handset has by and large impressed, and it's refreshing to see a manufacturer bucking the current trend for 5in-plus devices in favour of an easy-to-handle 4.2in display. The Z10's microSD card slot means that content hoarders have plenty of room to play with, while 4G LTE support means that downloads should come through at a healthy rate if you're using a 4G network . BlackBerry 10 itself offers a number of tangible user benefits, not least the Balance feature that allows you to toggle between dedicated work and play environments - a real boon for professional types.

But for the price, there's nary a handset more capable than the LG-manufactured Google offering. Its 1.5GHz quad-core chipset and 2GB of RAM align it with the high-end segment, yet it comes at a fraction of the price and is likely to stay relevant throughout 2013 thanks to its privileged position at the top of the Android refresh queue. Lack of 4G LTE support is a shortcoming, but HSPA+ shouldn't be sniffed at, and integrated wireless charging gives the Nexus 4 a bit of added 'wow' factor. App availability via Google Play is another obvious strength, and poor battery life doesn't detract from the overall user experience as with the Z10. Then there's the £200-odd saving itself - a fairly hefty pot of gravy and a rare opportunity to save money whilst still obtaining a top-quality product. 

For more, why not check out how the BlackBerry Z10 squares up against the Apple iPhone 5? Alternatively, our BlackBerry Z10 vs Nokia Lumia 920 spec comparison is another fascinating hardware showdown.

View the original article here