Skip to main content

BlackBerry board erects giant ‘for sale’ sign on company’s front lawn

BlackBerry got dumped, but it’s not too late to be prettiest girl at the dance!

BB10 is good, and so are BlackBerry’s new handsets, but it’s looking like good products can’t always save a sinking ship. Today, the Canadian company’s board of directors put out a press release that reads more like a classified ad: Things aren’t going well and the board is forming a “Special Committee” to look at “strategic alternatives” to turn things around. That’s code for “we’re up for sale,” but if you don’t like to read between the lines, the press release lays it out there in plain English.

“These alternatives could include, among others, possible joint ventures, strategic partnerships or alliances, a sale of the Company or other possible transactions,” reads the statement.

Yes, BlackBerry’s board just put a “for sale” sign on its front door.

CEO Thorsten Heins, who took over BB after years of botched management by two co-CEOs, sounds more optimistic in his statement, but also heavily points toward BlackBerry’s services as drivers of future growth.

“We continue to see compelling long-term opportunities for BlackBerry 10,” Heins said. “As the Special Committee focuses on exploring alternatives, we will be continuing with our strategy of reducing cost, driving efficiency and accelerating the deployment of [BlackBerry Enterprise Server] 10, as well as driving adoption of BlackBerry 10 smartphones, launching the multi-platform BBM social messaging service, and pursuing mobile computing opportunities by leveraging the secure and reliable BlackBerry Global Data Network.”

This news comes after the company announced particularly bad quarterly sales numbers at the end of June, posting an $84 million loss and sales of only 6.8 million smartphones. If 6.8 million doesn’t sound too bad, know that a few days later, it revealed that only 2.7 million of those handsets ran BlackBerry 10. Yep, more than half of new BlackBerry owners want to use BlackBerry’s aging BB7 OS. This means that most of its sales are coming from cheaper, older handsets – many more than a year old.

We like BlackBerry 10 and the first two handsets running it: the Z10 and Q10. The A10 (read our BB A10 rumor roundup) looks like it will be a great phone, as well. But will BlackBerry be around to support it? One of the most difficult things BlackBerry has to do is convince its users that it’s still in it to win it and isn’t going anywhere. We still think BlackBerry could be the prettiest girl at the dance, but no one wants to buy into a failing OS. Today’s “We’re for sale!” announcement isn’t a vote of confidence.

Editors' Recommendations

Jeffrey Van Camp
Former Digital Trends Contributor
As DT's Deputy Editor, Jeff helps oversee editorial operations at Digital Trends. Previously, he ran the site's…
BlackBerry Key2 LE: Everything you need to know
The BlackBerry Key2 LE is back home at Verizon, but only for business types
BlackBerry Key2 LE Hands On

The BlackBerry Key LE is a lower-cost version of the Key2, doing away with some of the more high-tech features seen on the expensive sister phone, and cutting costs by using different materials for the body, to create a more affordable but still distinctly BlackBerry smartphone.

You can check out our Key2 LE review to learn more about what it's like to live with the phone, but in the meantime, here are all the technical specs, details, and availability options.
Updates
The BlackBerry Key2 LE is available to buy at Verizon, but only to business and enterprise customers, according to reports. Verizon's selling the Key2 LE for $450 without a contract, or for $100 if you sign up for a two-year plan. The phone does not show up on Verizon's non-business store, so there does not seem to be the option to buy the phone for this price without a business plan.

Read more
BlackBerry Key2: Everything you need to know
The dramatic BlackBerry Key2 Red Edition is now available in the U.S.
blackberry keytwo news and rumors key2 red main

Blackberry is always at the top of its game when it sticks to what it knows best -- security-focused phones with QWERTY keyboards. The Blackberry KeyOne was a return to form for the company, and its successor has improved upon it in every way. Here's everything you need to know about the BlackBerry Key2.
Updates
The BlackBerry Key2 Red Edition is now available

Previous

Read more
BlackBerry sets own pace for 2019: Strikes Verizon deal, but no 5G phone coming
BlackBerry Key2 LE review

 

BlackBerry continues to look to its roots to continue growing in 2019, but isn’t about to jump into one of the biggest — and buzzword-filled — mobile trends of the moment. First, BlackBerry is going home this year, and no, we don’t mean to Canada. We mean it’ll be selling its latest smartphone on the Verizon network in the U.S.. Anyone waiting for a BlackBerry Android phone with 5G capabilities will have to wait at least a year before one arrives.
Verizon deal

Read more