BlackBerry maker considers industry issues as challenge

CEBU, Philippines - Despite the negative issues of BlackBerry lagging behind in the smartphone industry, the company says that they are not affected with the rumors but are rather challenged to sustain further with their newest platform and models for the global market.

BlackBerry top officials visited Cebu yesterday to officially launch the company’s first BlackBerry 10 smartphone that features a classic BlackBerry qwerty keyboard.

Kristian Salvo, BlackBerry Asia Pacific senior business manager, said that the pessimistic rumors about the company’s status in the smartphone industry have not discouraged BlackBerry on their efforts that are geared towards its sustainability in the future.

“We weren’t stagnant. We are building our own platform from the ground. We have been working out on our new hardware, software and operating system for our growing market. We are not affected at all,” he told The FREEMAN.

There were also reports stating that the company’s popular messaging service, the BlackBerry Messenger, will be launched on iOS and Android.

Although he did not specify any particular date on when it will be officially realized, Salvo said that they want to introduce its BBM instant messaging service to a wider market.

“BBM has always been an integral part of the entire BlackBerry experience. We have 76 million subscribers globally and we want to grow them,” he added.

He said that BlackBerry remains bullish in the market with the company’s latest smartphone products and reinvented platform intended for its increasing fan base.

What adds to their confidence is the report of the research firm Canalys placing BlackBerry as the second smartphone brand in the Philippines for the third quarter of 2012.

Salvo said that they are banking on their strongest markets in United States, Canada, and Europe for the postpaid segment while Indonesia and Philippines for the prepaid base.

He further noted that the market could expect more products with the BlackBerry 10 platform in the years ahead, adding that the BlackBerry Q5 will be launched in the Philippines anytime soon this year.

Last January, the company had its global unveiling of the reengineered BlackBerry 10 platform and officially introduced it in the Philippine market last March along with the launching of the BlackBerry Z10, all-touch smartphone and the first powered by the new operating system.

Meanwhile, BlackBerry Philippines senior carrier sales manager Daniel Do demonstrated the features of the new phone that combines the power of the BlackBerry 10 platform with a large, re-engineered physical keyboard and stunning touchscreen display, thus considered to be the largest ever on a BlackBerry qwerty smartphone.

Apart from its distinctive form, he said that the BlackBerry Q10 boasts of its advanced hardware, communications and multimedia features, long battery life and ergonomic QWERTY keyboard that features a wider layout and larger sculpted keys.

He cited that the redesigned BlackBerry 10.1 platform offers a powerful and unique new mobile computing experience with its advancements in its BBM, BlackBerry Hub, BlackBerry Balance technology and BlackBerry Remember.

Do added that the BlackBerry Q10 also boasts of its Skype application that is preloaded in the device and other applications such as the cross-platform mobile messaging application, WhatsApp, could also be found in the BlackBerry Hub.

It also has the remote folder access that allows users to view and download content from their workstation to the BlackBerry 10 device.

The BlackBerry Q10 that comes in two colors – black and white - is available from authorized carriers and retailers in the Philippines at a suggested retail price of P31,990. /JOB (FREEMAN)