Big fall in profits at Blackberry

[Bald Bouncer]

Blackberry's current phones have struggled to compete with the iPhone and Android handsets

Blackberry-maker Research in Motion (RIM) has seen its profits plunge, and reported the first fall in quarterly subscription numbers in the company's history.

The Canadian firm made a net profit of $9m (£5.5m) in the three months to 1 December, down from $265m a year ago.

During the quarter, its global subscriber base fell to 79 million from 80 million.

RIM hopes to revive its fortunes with a new operating system.

The Blackberry 10 system will be introduced from 30 January on a new range of handsets.

RIM's revenues for the quarter totalled $2.7bn, down 47% from a year earlier.

The company has struggled in recent years to compete with the popular iPhone and Android handsets.

Analysts said the results were broadly as expected, but that the fall in subscriber numbers was a concern.

"The one troubling metric is their subscriber base - it came in at 79 million, so they actually lost subscribers this quarter," said Mark McKechnie, research analyst at Evercore Partners.

"They've been able to offset losses in the US by gaining subscribers internationally, but it looks like this quarter they just weren't able to do that."

BBC News Technology

[DejaVu]

RIP RIM.
Always hated Crapberries, they are no longer part of the Smart Phone industry IMO.
PAYG have to pay extra to go online for Blackberry Internet Services and BBM (BIS).

Only ones that want them now are the kids for BBM... No great lose IMO.

[beansontoast]

Don't understand why a company being in trouble is "no great loss" when it offers an alternative to the other makes. They are also launching the BB10 phone and OS which will cost a lot of money to do.

[flumperino]

I hope they still release BB10 for the playbook!

[liveseytowers]

When they lose the corporate users they will be gone. We are looking into a new Bring your own device policy which will allow people to use their own iPhones/Android phones to get corporate mail providing they agree to some rules such as the device must be encrypted etc. I'd rather do this than have to use my crappy blackberry.

[Sanj[UK]]

RIP RIM.
Always hated Crapberries, they are no longer part of the Smart Phone industry IMO.
PAYG have to pay extra to go online for Blackberry Internet Services and BBM (BIS).

Only ones that want them now are the kids for BBM... No great lose IMO.

Blackberrys enterprise / corporate side is implemented in practically every government around the world. Hopefully BB10 changes things for BB. I use use a mixture of Exchange and BB enterprise at work. The speed difference in receiving mail between the 2 is shocking.

Yeah most corporates still use the old shitty BB Curves / Bolds but thats because they are cheap to replace and the batteries on the buggers would give most old nokias a run for their money.

Id rather RIM get bought out then be made bankrupt

[blaggard]

Losing Corporations and gaining schoolkids, no wonder they are worried. . . . . . . busted flush. Once schoolkids realise that BBM is not unique they'll lose them too...

[Clubber Lang]

Is Whatsapp encrypted like BBM is?

[funkyg]

Is Whatsapp encrypted like BBM is?

They started encrypting it a couple of releases ago, but I don't think it is encrypted to as high a degree as BBM.

[greens117]

I hope they still release BB10 for the playbook!

Maybe but not till may I reakon
!I'd be happy if the BBC store on the Playbook was updated more than once a month, fucking joke tbo

Sent from my HTC Desire using Tapatalk 2

[Zippeyrude]

if BB think that an operating system will solve their woes they are already dead but dont realise it yet.

[JonEp]

Well I for one love their Playbook! Had several other tabs and aside from an ipad its the best quality build of device out there in my opinion.

Feel sorry for all the people getting Nexus 7s for Xmas. They will be queuing up to return them in Jan when the screens start to come apart.

[beansontoast]

I like the playbook too. Had it on the telly earlier while using a little Bluetooth keyboard/mouse thing a mate gave me. Excellent way to stream sports to the telly.