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Rebuilding BlackBerry: CEO’s enterprise focus starts to pay dividends
The Globe and Mail ^ | June 21, 2014 | OMAR EL AKKAD

Posted on 06/22/2014 10:56:19 AM PDT by rickmichaels

Shortly after his appointment as BlackBerry Ltd.’s new CEO in November of last year, John Chen began making the rounds. At the time, the company was in a state of virtual freefall, its future a matter of debate. As a result, consumers and enterprise customers were bailing.

Looking to stop the bleeding, Mr. Chen targeted BlackBerry’s most lucrative and strategically important demographic – the big corporate customers.

“I personally spoke to a lot of people and have met a lot of customers, some very big names,” Mr. Chen said during an earnings call on Thursday. “When we have a chance to lay out our plan and visions, the majority of the time we get them to support us.

“What I have found is people who would like to stay with Blackberry, who were concerned a little while back, and I need to try to regain that confidence.”

This week, BlackBerry surprised many investors and analysts by posting better-than-expected results for its fiscal first quarter. Even though the company still lost money on an adjusted basis, the loss was far less severe than most analysts expected, and gross margins much higher. The smartphone maker’s shares jumped more than 10 per cent on the news.

(Excerpt) Read more at theglobeandmail.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy
KEYWORDS: blackberry

1 posted on 06/22/2014 10:56:19 AM PDT by rickmichaels
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To: rickmichaels

Unless Blackberry has some fantastic trick still left in their bag....I don’t see how they move ahead unless they bribe some US gov’t agency and get an exclusive contract.


2 posted on 06/22/2014 10:57:41 AM PDT by pepsionice
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To: rickmichaels

Our company just switched from Blackberrys to IPhones.
I hate the IPhone. I want my Blackberry back.


3 posted on 06/22/2014 11:03:52 AM PDT by BlessedBeGod (Democrats are Cruz'n for a Bruisin' in 2016!)
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Comment #4 Removed by Moderator

To: pepsionice

Patents. A huge patent portfolio.


5 posted on 06/22/2014 11:09:23 AM PDT by piytar (The predator-class is furious that their prey are shooting back.)
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To: rickmichaels
Mr. Chen targeted BlackBerry’s most lucrative and strategically important demographic – the big corporate customers.

The free-fall started because they thought they had a monopoly and charged the big corporate customers like they had one. HUGE mistake.

6 posted on 06/22/2014 11:10:43 AM PDT by DManA
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To: MRourke85

Take a look at their latest offerings. Amazing capabilities, battery life, full android app compatibility via amazon. They will be very strong in the near future. Their security model due to the qnx OS is unbeatable.


7 posted on 06/22/2014 11:16:35 AM PDT by ImaGraftedBranch (...By reading this, you've collapsed my wave function. Thanks.)
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To: rickmichaels

The problem with blackberry is they failed to capitalize on the smartphone market assuming that business people would always way a keyboard etc. Really the only thing left for blackberry to do is what it is now finally doing which is bringing the expansive library of android apps to the platform.

http://www.engadget.com/2014/06/18/blackberry-gets-amazon-appstore-library/

Then they need to start capitalizing on a bests of both worlds approach as well as looking to produce some competitive hardware that just might entice someone to want to try their phones again but the problem is its hard to play from behind but there are niches and ways to compete in an Android universe and not go bankrupt. The problem they have today is no one is clamoring for the next Blackberry except their die hard fan boys and girls.

The only way they change this is through releasing a truly groundbreaking top of the line product with solid “I got to have it WOW” factor. If they don’t do this the brand which is already dying will finally go kaput as the struggle along in a state of slow death.


8 posted on 06/22/2014 11:18:46 AM PDT by Maelstorm (America wasn't founded with the battle cry of "Give me Liberty or cut me a government check!".)
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To: rickmichaels

Here’s the problem.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/16/technology/blackberry-becomes-a-source-of-shame-for-users.html?_r=0


9 posted on 06/22/2014 11:23:25 AM PDT by Maelstorm (America wasn't founded with the battle cry of "Give me Liberty or cut me a government check!".)
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To: ImaGraftedBranch

Good to know.


10 posted on 06/22/2014 11:23:32 AM PDT by vladimir998
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To: pepsionice

I think he’s holding out to hire Obama to become CEO in a couple of years. By that time RIM should be about the size of a lemonade stand, which Obama might be able to handle.


11 posted on 06/22/2014 12:34:02 PM PDT by bigbob (The best way to get a bad law repealed is to enforce it strictly. Abraham Lincoln)
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To: Maelstorm

Their real problem was holding too long to the belief that their secure email platform would sustain their corporate revenue stream, and just like Microsoft with Office, they got scroogled. It’s over, they’ll never be a factor again.


12 posted on 06/22/2014 12:36:53 PM PDT by bigbob (The best way to get a bad law repealed is to enforce it strictly. Abraham Lincoln)
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