BlackBerry Admits Further Delays In BBM Android and iOS Relaunch

By Humberto Saabedra on September 24, 2013

Following this past weekend’s delayed launch of BBM service for Android and iOS after a leaked Android app build was discovered to cause problems, the head of the BBM team now admits that the relaunch will be delayed due to multiple factors that are taking more time and resources than expected.

For example, the company is having to completely reinforce the existing BBM infrastructure in order to avoid traffic spikes that can bring down servers, as well as blocking the previous leaked Android application from accessing the service, which was causing its own set of load issues.

Last week, an unreleased, older version of the BBM for Android app was posted on numerous file sharing sites. We were aware of an issue with this unreleased version of the BBM for Android app. This older version resulted in volumes of data traffic orders of magnitude higher than normal for each active user and impacted the system in abnormal ways. The version we were planning to release on Saturday addressed these issues, however we could not block users of the unreleased version if we went ahead with the launch.

We attempted to address the problems caused by the unreleased version throughout the day on Saturday, but as active users of the unreleased app neared a million – and accelerated – it became clear that the only way to address the issue was to pause the rollout for both Android and iPhone.

The team is now focused on adjusting the system to completely block this unreleased version of the Android app when we go live with the official BBM for Android app. We are also making sure that the system is reinforced to handle this kind of scenario in the future. While this may sound like a simple task – it’s not. This will take some time and I do not anticipate launching this week.

BlackBerry has yet to give any sort of timeframe for the relaunch for either app, as iOS and even BB10 access to BBM has also been blocked due to the above work. As the further delay for BBM follows Friday’s grim earnings news and job cuts, any anticipation for the apps and service is all but wiped out by the additional delays, especially as there are now a multitude of alternatives to BBM for group messaging.

Posted in BlackBerry | Tagged bbm, blackberry |

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Straight Talk Offering Refurbished iPhone 4 for $200, Nokia E71/6790 for $9.99/$19.99

By Humberto Saabedra on September 17, 2013

Straight Talk is hewing closely to the recent changes in Apple’s iPhone lineup and is now offering refurbished iPhone 4 devices for $200 online. With the iPhone 4 still remaining in Apple’s supported device lineup and the forthcoming iOS 7 update coming in a matter of hours, this is the lowest price so far for a refurbished iPhone from Straight Talk.

In addition, Straight Talk is also offering both of their former smartphone flagships in the Nokia E71 and 6790 for $9.99 and $19.99 respectively, making them perfect backup phones for ST users, or in the case of the E71, a prefect VoIP soft phone, owing to its built-in support for SIP and the majority of VoIP services.

Straight Talk Phone List

Posted in Virtual Operators (MVNOs) | Tagged Apple, Nokia, Straight Talk |

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Verizon Refusing to Activate Service for 2013 Nexus 7 LTE? (Updated Again)

By Humberto Saabedra on September 17, 2013

In another example of Verizon’s refusal to play by the rules set forth by the FCC as a condition of the operation of its LTE network, owners of the 2013 Nexus 7 with LTE support are vocally confirming that Verizon is refusing to activate new LTE SIM cards and service for the device, despite the hardware being compatible with Verizon’s network. As is the case when the company is caught doing something it’s not supposed to, it’s currently dancing around the issue, especially on Twitter:

Verizon PR is also currently refusing to answer any questions related to the issue, which might do more harm than good in the long run, as many new owners bought and are buying the 32GB LTE-compatible Nexus 7 specifically to take advantage of Verizon’s LTE network, which currently boasts more expansive coverage compared to the other compatible options in AT&T and T-Mobile.

Currently, Verizon is also in court fighting against the FCC regarding the net neutrality access rules that govern its LTE network in an attempt to free itself from the net neutrality requirements, with its argument hinging on the idea that it shouldn’t be held to those rules due to the FCC lacking the authority to issue such binding rules and that it should be given more freedom to operate its network as it sees fit.

This is also not completely new behavior for Verizon, as it has also refused to activate Google Wallet in its Galaxy Nexus variant while pushing its own Isis payment system in the past, but the outright refusal to activate new lines of service and LTE SIM cards for a tablet that being heavily marketed with its brand by a supposed partner is strange, if not incredibly frustrating for owners looking to activate LTE service on Verizon.

By couching it as an inventory issue when the marketing suggests otherwise, Verizon needs to address exactly what “support” its supposed to be providing for the tablet, before more customers face the above problem and in greater numbers.

Yes, one could buy an older Verizon-branded 4G LTE tablet, activate it and pull the SIM with no problems, but that process adds unnecessary steps and expense to a process that should be a simple matter of buying the tablet on the Play Store, taking it to a Verizon store to activate and walking out happy. However, as demonstrated time and again with Verizon, nothing is ever simple and easy if the company aims to make things as complicated as possible.

Update: Verizon representatives are now confirming that the Nexus 7 with LTE is still undergoing network certification testing and that a timeline isn’t available as to when the carrier will officially begin to activate the tablets on its network. Representatives are also stating that more information is expected in the future.

This is despite the fact that the device would have needed to undergo such testing prior to launch and since the device already meets basic compatibility requirements, calls Verizon’s own LTE device testing policies into question since the device is already available for sale and is actively carried in competitor T-Mobile’s retail locations with no activation issues, nor have users on AT&T reported such problems on AT&T until earlier today, which were chalked up to intermittent activation server issues that have since been resolved.

Update 2: Verizon representative Debi Lewis has issued an additional statement on the issue today, and has confirmed that the tablet entered carrier testing late last month, with the timeframe for certification completion being between 4-6 weeks from the date given, well after the initial launch of the device.

Posted in LTE, Verizon | Tagged Google, LTE, nexus 7, Verizon |

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Google “Relaunches” Nexus 7 LTE, Removes Verizon Support Listings

By Humberto Saabedra on September 17, 2013

Following on Verizon’s debacle, Google has officially relaunched the Nexus 7 LTE version with full support for AT&T and T-Mobile LTE networks, with AT&T offering an additional $100 account credit when activated on a new line of service on a Mobile Share plan or on a 2 year agreement. T-Mobile is still continuing to offer one month of complimentary data access at 2GB before activating monthly service on multiple service plans available.

However, likely as a result of today’s debacle involving Verizon and LTE service activation issues experienced by early adopters, Google has removed any and every reference to Verizon compatibility on the Nexus 7 LTE listings and Google has yet to respond to the current lack of Verizon LTE support, despite promoting it during the launch event.

The Nexus 7 LTE features a 323ppi 7-inch display at 1920 x 1200, a marked increase from the first-generation 720p display panel in resolution and rendering depth. 2GB of RAM, a 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro 8064 processor with Adreno 320 GPU, and a brand-new 5-megapixel rear camera.

Google Nexus 7 (2013) LTE – AT&T
Google Nexus 7 (2013) LTE – T-Mobile
Google Nexus 7 (2013) LTE  - Unlocked, No Carrier Listed

Posted in Carriers, Google | Tagged AT&T, Google, nexus 7, T-Mobile |

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BlackBerry Announces Substantial Job Cuts, Move Away from Consumer Market

By Humberto Saabedra on September 20, 2013

Confirming earlier reports this week, BlackBerry has confirmed substantial job cuts following its latest earnings report earlier today. The beleaguered platform and smartphone manufacturer will cut 4,500 jobs as a result of missing sales estimates for the 2nd quarter, with the company taking up to a $960 million charge on unsold inventory consisting primarily of unsold Z10 smartphones. The company reported sales of 3.7 million devices for the second quarter, down 49% from the 6.5 million sold in the first quarter.

The charge and and the missed estimates come as investors were also told that the company will now focus on enterprise solutions and professional users, with the company moving away from consumer hardware and service offerings over time. The company made no direct mention of it during its conference call or press release, as BlackBerry Messenger will be officially released on Android and iOS this weekend after months of expectation, though how long it will remain viable remains to be seen following the latest news.

For the short-term, BlackBerry will cut its current hardware selection down to four devices total from the current six, with two high-end devices and two low-end devices. The forthcoming Z30 and Q10 will now comprise the high-end of the future lineup, while the Q5 and an unknown fourth model will be focused on the low-end. The company is also still seeking buyers for its November deadline and has yet to confirm any potential buyers. To add to the severity of the results most of the sales volume for the second quarter were not even BB10-powered devices, but older OS7 powered devices, compounding the conglomerate’s troubles.

Posted in BlackBerry | Tagged blackberry |

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BlackBerry Signs Letter of Intent to Sell to Consortium

By Humberto Saabedra on September 23, 2013

Within the past 45 minutes, trading of BlackBerry was halted on all stock exchanges pending more news and initial news has now been released that the struggling company has signed a preliminary letter of intent to sell the company to a new consortium led by its largest shareholder in Fairfax Financial for $4.7 billion.The deal would see its current shareholders earn $9 per share in cash and is expected to be completed on November 4th. Current Chairman and CEO of Fairfax Financial has released the following statement:

“We believe this transaction will open an exciting new private chapter for BlackBerry, its customers, carriers and employees,” adding, “we can deliver immediate value to shareholders, while we continue the execution of a long-term strategy in a private company with a focus on delivering superior and secure enterprise solutions to BlackBerry customers around the world.”

While this deal is tentatively in place pending due diligence, BlackBerry will still have the option to look and entertain higher offers for the company. Should a better offer not be found by November 4th, the current offer will be completed as announced and should a better or higher offer be accepted by BlackBerry, a termination fee will be paid by BlackBerry to the consortium.

Posted in BlackBerry | Tagged blackberry |

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BlackBerry Announces Z30 Smartphone with 10.2 Update (Updated)

By Humberto Saabedra on September 18, 2013

BlackBerry has officially announced its first successor device to its initial relaunch lineup in the BlackBerry Z30. The Z30 is an updated version of the Z10 smarphone featuring the following improvements, mostly related to software:

• BlackBerry® Priority Hub – BlackBerry® Hub is the one place to manage all your conversations and notifications. The new BlackBerry Priority Hub can now learn what conversations and what people are important to you making it fast and easy to find the messages and information you need. It collects priority messages across your email, social networking and other accounts and gives you instant access to the conversations most important to you to help you stay organized and focused on the most important tasks.

• BBM™ Now in Any App and Message Previews Everywhere – You can now get a preview of any message as it arrives in whatever app you’re using, and immediately dismiss it or tap it to read the full content and respond. If a BBM message arrives, you can instantly reply to the message without even leaving the app you’re in. In addition, if your phone is locked, you can tap the various icons on the Lock Screen to see an instant preview of your most recent messages and notifications.

• 5? Super AMOLED Display – The BlackBerry Z30 smartphone features a 5? Super AMOLED display. The smartphone also houses many top of the line components, including a 1.7 GHz processor with quadcore graphics that makes browsing web pages faster and games more detailed.

• Stereo Audio and BlackBerry® Natural Sound– The BlackBerry Z30 smartphone comes with stereo speakers that immerse you in your music, videos, apps and games, and makes conversations sound like you’re face-to-face. BlackBerry Natural Sound is new technology exclusive to BlackBerry and part of BlackBerry 10 OS version 10.2 that makes BBM Voice and BBM Video chats sound more natural and realistic. BlackBerry Natural Sound lets you hear nuances and variations in tone, making conversations sound like you’re in the same room.

• New Antenna Technology – The BlackBerry Z30 smartphone features BlackBerry’s new generation antenna technology that dynamically tunes reception to give you better connectivity in low signal areas. BlackBerry® Paratek Antenna can give you faster data transfers and fewer dropped calls in low signal areas, keeping you connected in more places.

• Longer Battery Life – The BlackBerry Z30 smartphone includes a 2880mAh battery. Unlike the Z10's removable battery, the Z30's battery is a sealed unit.

The rest of the specifications include a dual-core 1.7GHz Snapdragon S4 Pro with 2GB of RAM, Adreno 320 GPU, 16GB internal storage with microSD slot, 4G LTE support, dual-band WiFi a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0 and NFC. The Z30's camera is similar to the Z10, with a 2-megapixel front facing camera capable of 720p video and an 8-megapixel rear module with an f2.2 lens that captures video in 1080p. The phone will launch first in Europe and the Middle East, while a North American launch is set for the holiday season.

Update: Verizon has announced via Twitter that it will release the Z30, but has not announced pricing or availability details.

Posted in BlackBerry, Verizon | Tagged BB10, blackberry, Z30 |

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BlackBerry Delays BBM App Rollout After Leak

By Humberto Saabedra on September 22, 2013

In a bad week of news for BlackBerry, the one bright spot of news in the BBM launch for Android and iOS that was supposed to launch this weekend has been delayed to an unspecified timeframe with a staggered rollout due to a leak of the Android app ahead of its scheduled launch, which was found to have its own slate of issues. The iOS app was also released early, though while BBM access has been pulled for Android users for the time being, iOS users that were able to download the app are still able to use the service.

BlackBerry has also released a statement regarding the delay:

Prior to launching BBM for Android, an unreleased version of the BBM for Android app was posted online. The interest and enthusiasm we have seen already – more than 1.1 million active users in the first 8 hours without even launching the official Android app – is incredible. Consequently, this unreleased version caused issues, which we have attempted to address throughout the day.

Our teams continue to work around the clock to bring BBM to Android and iPhone, but only when it’s ready and we know it will live up to your expectations of BBM. We are pausing the global roll-out of BBM for Android and iPhone. Customers who have already downloaded BBM for iPhone will be able to continue to use BBM. The unreleased Android app will be disabled, and customers who downloaded it should visit www.BBM.com to register for updates on official BBM for Android availability.

As soon as we are able, we will begin a staggered country roll-out of BBM for Android and continue the roll-out of BBM for iPhone.

Posted in BlackBerry | Tagged Android, bbm, blackberry, ios |

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T-Mobile Pulling BlackBerry From Retail And Moves To Direct Ship

By Humberto Saabedra on September 25, 2013

In a move just now being confirmed after months of region-wide product shuffling that kickstarted rumors of complete removal, T-Mobile has officially confirmed to Reuters that it is pulling the BlackBerry line from retail sales and moving the line to direct ship status, meaning that customers or businesses that wish to purchase BlackBerry hardware will have to order online or through Telesales from now on, underscoring the bleak sales performance of the platform for the carrier.

Other carriers have similar BlackBerry sales policies, such as Sprint with the Q10 to limit losses from stale inventory, but this is the first time that a US carrier has actively pulled the current BlackBerry line from retail sales due to low sales and relegated it to online/Telesales only status for all orders.

Of course, one could still order from a retail store with help since demo units will still be available, but no devices will be kept in stock for immediate purchase and activation, instead all orders will be shipped to the customer whether ordered from a retail location, third-party dealer, telesales or online. This also follows last Friday’s bleak earnings news and this past Monday’s purchase news, exacerbating BlackBerry’s struggles to turn itself around.

Posted in BlackBerry, T-Mobile | Tagged blackberry, T-Mobile |

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