Droid Pro is NOT a BlackBerry killer

**Phil Nickinson** · 10-06-2010, 03:18 PM

And the first person to say so gets banned. Not really. But maybe.

One phone can not kill a platform. Even the almighty iPhone hasn't done that (yet).

/rant

**ishore99** · 10-06-2010, 04:46 PM

Well, I am a BB Storm 2 user and was waiting for the Global phone to arrive. I am a little disappointed with the type of keyboard since it is not a slider. Reading the stories it is a little top heavy so I need to see if the virtual keyboard is more comfortable.

Also, VZW announced that there Iphone will be available 1stQ of 2011. Guess I wont be the first on the block.

**Bushido Brown** · 10-06-2010, 05:59 PM

I actually like it, to be honest. I'm even contemplating getting it, but I'll most likely just keep my D2 until Verizon releases a LTE device.

**jdbower** · 10-06-2010, 08:46 PM

Thank you Phil! People who mention that a product is an xxx-killer show a profound lack of understanding about how the world works.

**xBronco** · 10-07-2010, 03:56 AM

I love it and i think it will kill the blackberry lol

**unseenme#WN** · 10-07-2010, 06:06 AM

not a BB killer but definitely an alternative for the people who like the form-factor but are tired of the aged BB OS. Looks to me like Moto is playing the right cards in developing different phones in different form-factors since we all have our own tastes in phones. Android sells itself, and the Droid X got me over the Incredible.

IMO, Android is the iPhone/BB killer, not the phones.

**thebizz** · 10-07-2010, 07:44 AM

It's a great alternative to blackberry probably the best one Android has it wont kill the platform but definitely will put a hurting in current sales. Thus like the underpowered torch and the overrated bold line

**dustycraine** · 10-07-2010, 09:17 AM

My wife hates on-screen keyboards. She tried an HTC Eris and couldn't adjust despite me trying multiple different keyboard options. She ended up trading it on Craiglist for a newer Blackberry Curve. So this would be a fantastic option for her. She's actually excited about a phone for a change, so I think this was a good move on behalf of Motorola. There are obviously a lot of physical keyboard options for phones now, but when the Droid was first released on Big Red it was Droid or nothing.

**STC09** · 10-07-2010, 11:35 AM

Originally Posted by Phil Nickinson

One phone can not kill a platform.

Storm?

**shizzy1427** · 10-07-2010, 01:52 PM

i feel like most blackberry users ( at least all the people I know that use them) only like them because its a fashion statement to use one. this phone looks awesome and I'll probably get it, but i think it will only affect hardcore BB users who actually know about phones and OSes

**njdevs96** · 10-07-2010, 03:27 PM

I have been a Verizon BB user for the past 3 years (Curve/Bold) and was very disappointed with the previous attempts they made with the Storm and Storm2. I had always said they needed to come out with a touch screen with keyboard, low and behold they did - but only with AT&T's Torch. Since I have Verizon and would not switch carriers for just a phone I was really exited to learn about the new Driod Pro - appears to be everything I wanted and can only hope it lives up to the hype. I will leave BB without a doubt to give this a try.

**tack** · 10-07-2010, 05:28 PM

This will no doubt damage RIM's sales on Verizon. My company only buys BlackBerries because they are Verizon's only global option, until now. There are going to be two Android options, and my company is already planning to switch. Coming from a company that was die hard BlackBerry until this year, that says a lot.

**jimmycinla** · 10-08-2010, 09:30 PM

This phone will pull me away from my long term Blackberry use and support for sure, when and if Sprint gets a version (my plan is too cheap to leave).
I've used several Androids and I've been waiting for the right transition phone from BB and this will be it for sure.

The complaints on this phone are valid, screen res for one, compared to the other "new" Androids out there the screen doesn't come close. But put this phone next to a current Tour or Bold and there is no comparison on functionality and ability. My opinion is the screen res choice buy Moto was to save some battery life to appeal to current blackberry users great battery life. I used an Epic for a few days and battery life was unacceptable with normal daily business use.
Considering the size of the Droid Pro is skinnier, thinner and only 4mm taller than a BB Tour for example, BB users will approve. Not to mention Moto pretty much stole the keyboard from BB, key design is almost exact, but i'm totally OK with that.

If Moto gets out a version of this form factor for all carriers, the amount of BB defectors will be huge. IMO of course.

-j-

**kilofoxtrot** · 10-10-2010, 08:43 PM

If you are on BIS and use Gmail (and millions are) ... there is no reason to not believe this is a BB killer.

BES ... now thats a different story.

Now that Moto has produced a "Android Blackberry", I dont think BBM is a big enough factor to save RIM from shedding tons of customers in the consumer market.

**oCASPERo** · 10-10-2010, 09:02 PM

Like everyone else is saying. It's not gonna "kill" Blackberry but it is a phone targeted towards BB users and im sure alot will switch over cuase I do think BB is a dying breed.

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk

**Menno** · 10-12-2010, 10:35 AM

Ok.. the DroidPro isn't a blackberry killer, but I think it is one of the reasons the Storm3 (or whatever they called it) was canned.

**Mark_Venture** · 10-12-2010, 02:12 PM

Originally Posted by kilofox

If you are on BIS and use Gmail (and millions are) ... there is no reason to not believe this is a BB killer

Why? because it has a physical qwerty keyboard that is styled like a BB?

While I'll be the first to admit, I like Rim's physical qwerty keyboard, the DP's is set to have the same size (3.1inch) and rez (320x480) screen as the Moto Devour. That is hardly going to let Android's greatest strengths show through.

I see devices like the Incredible, X and Droid2 as more of a BB "killer" or "competitor" for the consumer market (BIS/Gmail).

**Mark_Venture** · 10-12-2010, 02:15 PM

Originally Posted by menno

Ok.. the DroidPro isn't a blackberry killer, but I think it is one of the reasons the Storm3 (or whatever they called it) was canned.

I don't think it in came into play why Rim canceled the "storm 3" or 9570..

I think RIM saw the writing on the wall... An incremental upgrade to the Storm2 (i.e. more memory, and higher MP camera) wasn't going to be enough to draw anyone to it.

**johntkong** · 10-13-2010, 01:08 PM

I looking forward to a review this baby. It is the number one contender for my upgrade from the Droid.

**kilofoxtrot** · 10-15-2010, 12:42 PM

Originally Posted by Mark_Venture

Why? because it has a physical qwerty keyboard that is styled like a BB?

Yes... What pushed me away from RIM was the software, not the hardware.

Originally Posted by Mark_Venture

While I'll be the first to admit, I like Rim's physical qwerty keyboard, the DP's is set to have the same size (3.1inch) and rez (320x480) screen as the Moto Devour. That is hardly going to let Android's greatest strengths show through.

Android's greatest strength is its OS. Android on a Bold 9000 would have been the perfect device.

Originally Posted by Mark_Venture

I see devices like the Incredible, X and Droid2 as more of a BB "killer" or "competitor" for the consumer market (BIS/Gmail).

People still love the "traditional" blackberrys i.e. Bold, Tour, Curve ... I see them all the time in my social travels. While the screen size on the DP is on the low side, I still see it as a tempting device for many people who use Blackberrys BIS service and want the hard keyboard.

BTW... the Droid and Droid 2's hard keyboards are horrendous IMO.

**spark032207#WN** · 10-16-2010, 11:25 PM

IPhone wasn't exactly a "Blackberry killer" because it didn't have a physical keyboard. The reason why many people think this might hurt (not completely get rid of but definitely affect) the current BB customers is because it has a BB-like (in terms of layout at least) keyboard.

And of course, it will not completely decimate the BB market, because people who need BES will still use them. But it might sway many of the casual users who want a really good keyboard.

**mdlissner** · 10-19-2010, 04:54 PM

I think the real target are those Blackberry users who are not BES users.

Android needs to add tasks and notes sync to their exchange solution. Touchdown works great now for me, but even that does not do OTA notes sync.

**ultravisitor** · 10-20-2010, 04:39 PM

Originally Posted by ishore

Also, VZW announced that there Iphone will be available 1stQ of 2011.

No, they didn't.

**mdlissner** · 10-20-2010, 04:42 PM

Now a VZW iPhone w/ a physical keyboard would be a Blackberry killer.

**mullrat#WN** · 10-25-2010, 03:05 PM

This phone is a blackberry killer. So is the iPhone, so is wp7 as is palm (when they get their act together). Blackberry is palm 4 years ago. They don't innovate and are relying on what I call the "xp". IT departments are scared to find anything new. They also are reticent to spending more money on a whole new system especially if there are no top to bottom solutions that are comprehensive secure and customizable.

Thing is this is the strength of android. No one talks about this. Android being totally open to carriers is also open to large corporations. These corporations can make their own specific build of android which fills their own specific needs. So blackberry is getting hit from all sides. iPhone gets them on user experience, and reliability, wp7 will get them with tight integration with exchange, palm because hp is huge. As big as they are half their business is in the enterprise. And android being totally customizable. How can blAckberry compete? When their sales guys go to a company and give them a half mil price tag for BES with monthly charges when the alternatives are mostly free or very cheap?