A New BlackBerry Phone?!

[Morty2264]

Filling a niche market isn't as strong of a selling point as many think it might be. Who would want to go into business to serve ONLY left handed women golfers? Not many. Why? The point of a business is to make money. You don't make that much money off a small percentage of people. The more you eliminate, the less product you will move. The less product, the less money you make. The only way for any company to still make this device and insist on keeping such a niche form factor is for someone like Jeff Bezos or Bill Gates to literally throw away money.

The market chose to leave the keyboard back in what...2009? I don't think it was that much of marketing, but the consumer choosing to move on.

You make a really strong point, with a valid analogy. I'm sure that there will be people who would buy it... But *how many* people and how many units would be purchased? Those are the burning questions. I'd really like to see BlackBerry have prominence again, but I guess it is hard to sustain your business off of a nice market, as you say.

 

[the_boon]

You make a really strong point, with a valid analogy. I'm sure that there will be people who would buy it... But *how many* people and how many units would be purchased? Those are the burning questions. I'd really like to see BlackBerry have prominence again, but I guess it is hard to sustain your business off of a nice market, as you say.

The alternative being trying to make a spot for themselves on the mainstream slab market...which is already all too saturated by other well established brands at all price points with just about all the features that the limiting form factor of a slab can provide.
Every single time they made one, it failed horribly on the market.

The latest and perfect example is how the sales of the KEYone crushed the Motion by a wide margin, even though the Motion had a bit cheaper MSRP.
One sold in the upper 6 figures according to some estimates (between 650k and 800k or so) and the other...laughably small.

The amount of people who want (and appreciate) a real keyboard are few, but the amount of those who want a BB branded device that doesn't have one...are basically non-existent.
Especially since you can subscribe to the entire BB suite of apps for a small fee.

So that leaves the BB with, what...a notification LED and a nice rubber back?

Who's gonna ditch their Samsung/OnePlus/Pixel/etc just for that lol

 

[mrsimon]

I have zero interest. The device is going to have a physical keyboard, which I haven't used in over 8 years. At this time I have no desire to return to a nostalgic form factor that provides no benefit to me but simply takes up extra space, adds extra weight, and adds an additional point of potential hardware failure.

I suspect this device will be as much a failure as all the other attempts to revive a design that has been rejected by all but a few nostalgic people who have been unable to adapt to change.

it's a shame that most people no longer appreciate the advantages of a PKB or ever even have tried one. I'm a PKB fan but realise that a slab factor for the masses is required.
The TCL offerings failed miserably, so Onward have a massive challenge ahead.

 

[Rico4you]

Definitely looking forward to this device. It's 2021 and Security is a massive issue, add on top the convenience of VKB and PKB, with built in killer security features, great battery life, ...plus probably some new from Onward / BlackBerry and 3yrs min support with PRIV (larger / better ) form factor and you got a winner. Today All glass devices look the same.

 

[Morty2264]

The alternative being trying to make a spot for themselves on the mainstream slab market...which is already all too saturated by other well established brands at all price points with just about all the features that the limiting form factor of a slab can provide.
Every single time they made one, it failed horribly on the market.

The latest and perfect example is how the sales of the KEYone crushed the Motion by a wide margin, even though the Motion had a bit cheaper MSRP.
One sold in the upper 6 figures according to some estimates (between 650k and 800k or so) and the other...laughably small.

The amount of people who want (and appreciate) a real keyboard are few, but the amount of those who want a BB branded device that doesn't have one...are basically non-existent.
Especially since you can subscribe to the entire BB suite of apps for a small fee.

So that leaves the BB with, what...a notification LED and a nice rubber back?

Who's gonna ditch their Samsung/OnePlus/Pixel/etc just for that lol

It will definitely be a small sample size, that is for sure.

 

[Sigewif]

Skimmed the article, here are my thoughts.

Blackberry had it's day. They are going to need to pull out all the stops to make a device that people will buy. If they want to survive, they need to do the following (in my opinion):
1. Regardless of the diehards, get rid of the physical keyboard. Sure the purists want that, and I understand, but this is a business. A business needs to sell a lot of phones to be profitable.

2. Stick to only 2 phones. A flagship and an entry level. Something to get in the hands of everyone, and make updates easier.

3. Support the device (updates) for a minimum of 30 months.

4. Open any software to other devices. Let people get a feel for what they can do.

That is just my take. I don't really have a positive outlook for this brand. Simply for the reason that Samsung is well entrenched in the top spot for OEMs. It will be quite an undertaking to topple them. Even if some other PC OEM were to release a phone, it would still be an undertaking.

I am thrilled that they are going to make a BlackBerry and, yes, I am all in for the physical keyboard.
Have you ever heard the song from the 60s "little boxes" ? That is what another slab would end up being. The signature line in that song is "They're all made out of ticky tacky and they all look just the same."
Those who remember the keyboard phone of old may think of it as retro and a relic of yesteryear, but I (and others) have encountered kids--11, 12, 13 year olds that don't have that "thought baggage" and think the phones with keys are cool. The new generation is interested in them.

 

[Sigewif]

One would think that a moderator of CrackBerry forums would have some level of interest!

And we know you wouldn't buy it anyways even if it didn't have a keyboard, because who buys a SlabBerry? If it's gonna be like any other piece of glass, what's the point?

Also, a keyboard doesn't take up more weight, the KEY2 LE (156g) is most likely lighter than the slab you're using.

And the few who cling to their Berry's/keyboards don't do so because they can't adapt to change, but because they CHOOSE to use a different input method that's more tactile and accurate.
It's almost an insult to say we BB holdouts can't slab.

Keep tapping on glass! It takes a certain level of open-mindedness to appreciate the keyboard. It's not for everybody, but it deserves to exist for the few who prefer it.

I am with you. And I am also left handed so I am used to being in a group that needs to find utensils and tools that are made for only about 10% of the population.

I am just very thankful that Onward Mobility decided to step up and do this.

 

[anon(50597)]

it's a shame that most people no longer appreciate the advantages of a PKB or ever even have tried one. I'm a PKB fan but realise that a slab factor for the masses is required.
The TCL offerings failed miserably, so Onward have a massive challenge ahead.

There is no advantage for most people, in fact it's a disadvantage.

 

[Craig Adams1]

To each their own. You have zero interest so why bother offering any thoughts? As for myself, I'm interested because PKB is my preference. The only change I would make is a return to an improved upgraded BlackBerry OS.

 

[Golfdriver97]

You just mentioned the left handed which I am and we have suffered for eons with the made for right handed stuff. Those who DO make items for lefties are few. But those who do it well have a loyal clientele.

My scenario again: Someone opens a golf shop that ONLY stocks left handed women's golf equipment. I was trying to correlate the rarity of one thing to another. By making the pool of customers so small, that mimics those who may want a physical keyboard. No one would choose such a business venture.

I did NOT say that there shouldn't be any left handed equipment.

 

[Golfdriver97]

Every you have to say after is meaningless.

That's not very nice.

 

[mustang7757]

[Please stay on the topic and no insults ]

 

[the_boon]

My scenario again: Someone opens a golf shop that ONLY stocks left handed women's golf equipment. I was trying to correlate the rarity of one thing to another. By making the pool of customers so small, that mimics those who may want a physical keyboard. No one would choose such a business venture.

I did NOT say that there shouldn't be any left handed equipment.

There may be more people interested in a keyboard than me or you may think.

They may not like BlackBerry's general implementation of them though, but maybe a slider that retains the full screen would entice them.

 

[Golfdriver97]

There may be more people interested in a keyboard than me or you may think.

Perhaps. But obviously not enough to keep the BB name from being passed around like a hot potato.

 

[anon(50597)]

To each their own. You have zero interest so why bother offering any thoughts? As for myself, I'm interested because PKB is my preference. The only change I would make is a return to an improved upgraded BlackBerry OS.

it's called a conversation.

 

[anon(50597)]

There may be more people interested in a keyboard than me or you may think.

They may not like BlackBerry's general implementation of them though, but maybe a slider that retains the full screen would entice them.

Question. If true, don't you think one of the previous several attempts would have been successful?
I believe people are ready for something different but am more inclined to believe it will be new technology; smartwatches, smartglasses, smart-fill-in-blank-thing.
Sometimes old technology comes back in a new set of clothes. If someone can do something like that, it might have a chance. Be creative!

 

[Todd Bertrand]

Great comments. I am the few that still own a blackberry. I don't like tapping on a glass screen...but that's my choice until it is gone. I have never in the past 12 years ever had a hardware failure with any blackberry.

This is a business and the world loves their toys, this was why BlackBerry lost the market. BlackBerry was a business oriented phone and had the best proprietary software out there.

The problem is the battle for screen space and software compatibility. As Apple and Android grew in people popularity they were faltering with hardware. Cameras and social media were exploding faster than BlackBerry could keep up with.

In the end, they would need to tap deeply into the markets with better products than iPhones and Galaxy's in order to win marketshare. That shouldn't be too hard since Apple really hasn't done much as innovation since the first iphones were released.

 

[anon(50597)]

Great comments. I am the few that still own a blackberry. I don't like tapping on a glass screen...but that's my choice until it is gone. I have never in the past 12 years ever had a hardware failure with any blackberry.

This is a business and the world loves their toys, this was why BlackBerry lost the market. BlackBerry was a business oriented phone and had the best proprietary software out there.

The problem is the battle for screen space and software compatibility. As Apple and Android grew in people popularity they were faltering with hardware. Cameras and social media were exploding faster than BlackBerry could keep up with.

In the end, they would need to tap deeply into the markets with better products than iPhones and Galaxy's in order to win marketshare. That shouldn't be too hard since Apple really hasn't done much as innovation since the first iphones were released.

I agreed with most of what you said until the last paragraph. It's more than about hardware. People are engrained in their ecosystems. Apple fans won't leave for a blackberry phone.

 

[mustang7757]

[Thread reopen]

Cleaned up the thread , let's stay on the topic and no insults or calling anyone out . Thank you !

 

[Kali Targa]

A new BlackBerry with a decent querty keyboard would be fantastic news. Of course it won't outsell an i phone but it would have a sustainable market, especially for people who need to type at speed without observing the key board. This is still impossible on a touch screen but entirely possible on a phone with a full physical keyboard. Combining both is still the superior option and has a significant market providing the background technology/camera/design etc is competitive.

Skimmed the article, here are my thoughts.

Blackberry had it's day. They are going to need to pull out all the stops to make a device that people will buy. If they want to survive, they need to do the following (in my opinion):
1. Regardless of the diehards, get rid of the physical keyboard. Sure the purists want that, and I understand, but this is a business. A business needs to sell a lot of phones to be profitable.

2. Stick to only 2 phones. A flagship and an entry level. Something to get in the hands of everyone, and make updates easier.

3. Support the device (updates) for a minimum of 30 months.

4. Open any software to other devices. Let people get a feel for what they can do.

That is just my take. I don't really have a positive outlook for this brand. Simply for the reason that Samsung is well entrenched in the top spot for OEMs. It will be quite an undertaking to topple them. Even if some other PC OEM were to release a phone, it would still be an undertaking.