WATERLOO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Jan. 14, 2015) - BlackBerry Limited (NASDAQ:BBRY)(TSX:BB) ("BlackBerry") is aware of certain press reports published today with respect to a possible offer by Samsung to purchase BlackBerry. BlackBerry has not engaged in discussions with Samsung with respect to any possible offer to purchase BlackBerry. BlackBerry's policy is not to comment on rumors or speculation, and accordingly it does not intend to comment further.
In my neck of the woods the BlackBerry brand itself is fairly tarnished. I'm not in Corp Dev, but I imagine it would be a long difficult road to re-brand or attempt to change the current BlackBerry image.
a) Korean companies have a long history of turning around public perception. Samsung, LG and Hyundai (to name 3 well known brands) were perceived as cheap junk makers not all that long ago. Now they're well considered brands.
b) Samsung may not be interested in keeping the Blackberry brand, but getting the patent portfolio and killing the rest off.
Samsung profits are way down, even as consumer happiness is up. I think this move is more likely #b to give them more competitive options.
The Passport was by far the most innovative, interesting phone of the year IMHO. It's sad that because it's trendy to ridicule Blackberry, it was overlooked and that innovation may be lost.
User reviews have been good. Nearly bought one, but the dealbreaker was that BB10 cannot (?) apply permission policies to Android apps, e.g. prevent access to contacts. Such policies only apply to native BB apps.
WATERLOO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Jan. 14, 2015) - BlackBerry Limited (NASDAQ:BBRY)(TSX:BB) ("BlackBerry") is aware of certain press reports published today with respect to a possible offer by Samsung to purchase BlackBerry. BlackBerry has not engaged in discussions with Samsung with respect to any possible offer to purchase BlackBerry. BlackBerry's policy is not to comment on rumors or speculation, and accordingly it does not intend to comment further.