BlackBerry's Chen: We're Not Dumping Devices

News Analysis Dan Jones, Mobile Editor 4/10/2014

BlackBerry's CEO, John Chen, took to his new favorite bully pulpit to stress that the Canadian company will not stop making devices.

Chen was quoted in a Reuters interview this week saying: "If I cannot make money on handsets, I will not be in the handset business."

He said in the company blog, however, that his words had been taken out of context. "I want to assure you that I have no intention of selling off or abandoning this business any time soon," Chen wrote.

Instead, Chen says, he will "fight" to make the devices business "profitable." (See BlackBerry Q4 Sales Sink to Sub-$1B.)

Although some device revenue may be shaved away soon since Chen's public falling out with T-Mobile US Inc. recently over an iPhone offer. Chen has said that BlackBerry won't renew its licensing deal with T-Mobile, which ends on April 25. (See BlackBerry Kills T-Mobile Licensing Deal and BlackBerry's Chen Lashes Out at T-Mobile Offer.)

— Dan Jones, Mobile Editor, Light Reading

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DHagar 4/14/2014 | 1:17:32 PM

BlackBerry's Chen: We're Not Dumping Devices @danielcawrey, exactly! They have fallen so far behind it seems unlikely they can turn it around and regain any meaningful market position now.

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DHagar 4/14/2014 | 1:14:21 PM

BlackBerry's Chen: We're Not Dumping Devices @MikeP688 - well stated! It is the result of talent and effort, not the goal.

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DHagar 4/14/2014 | 1:03:57 PM

BlackBerry's Chen: We're Not Dumping Devices @Susan, fully agreed. They are going to have to do something new to recreate excitement and create any demand for their devices. I think it is possible, but highly unlikely.

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DHagar 4/14/2014 | 12:59:37 PM

BlackBerry's Chen: We're Not Dumping Devices @ Ariella, No, I don't expect them to change. It would be bold (and a different direction) for them to change. I see that as their only survival map. They can, but they will be swimming upstream.

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Ariella 4/12/2014 | 9:22:50 PM

Re: BlackBerry's Chen: We're Not Dumping Devices @DHagar "They have a lot of work to do and it will require bold and immediate results!" Yes, but do you think it at all likely?

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danielcawrey 4/12/2014 | 6:08:45 PM

Re: BlackBerry's Chen: We're Not Dumping Devices Blackberry is no longer relevant. The company getting in a beef with T-Mobile over the iPhone is ridiculous posturing.

I had really hoped that the company would be able to get back on track, but it doesn't look like that is going to happen.

It's unfortunate, but they just have not been able to innovate along with the rest of mobile devices industry.

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Susan Fourtané 4/12/2014 | 2:27:52 PM

Re: Out of context? Ariella,

BlackBerry has been dead for some time now. I don't know you, but I haven't seen a BB in ages. I find it hard to imagine what could move a customer to purchase a BB now.

-Susan

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Susan Fourtané 4/12/2014 | 2:17:11 PM

Re: BlackBerry's Chen: We're Not Dumping Devices DHagar,

"Their vision is one thing but they have lost their market position."

Exactly. That has been the same for some time now and I think it won't change.

-Susan

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MikeP688 4/12/2014 | 1:13:32 PM

Re: BlackBerry's Chen: We're Not Dumping Devices ...Their time, I would contend, has come and gone as the Fed as far back as 2012 decided to move away from it:

http://www.informationweek.com/mobile/blackberry-loses-its-grip-on-federal-government/d/d-id/1107030

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MikeP688 4/12/2014 | 1:10:26 PM

Re: BlackBerry's Chen: We're Not Dumping Devices Blackberry is amongst the list of many leading lights of the yesteryear. Although I am fascinated by Mr. Chen's zeal and passion, that could only take you so far. It is high time that Mr. Chen remembers what Steve Jobs noted at one time..they stopped being visionaries and thought they knew more than the customer:

"You can't just ask customers what they want
and then try to give that to them.
By the time you get it built,
they'll want something new."

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