RIM has delayed the launch of its new BlackBerry 10 devices for the second time, announcing the platform will now make its debut in early 2013.
The update's slip comes as the firm posted a net loss of $518 million in the last quarter, with 5,000 jobs set to go as the company streamlines its operations.
Slip and slide
The delay of BB 10, however, risks dealing the greater blow to BlackBerry's longterm future.
With shipments of existing handsets falling away, RIM's executives have openly pitched the new platform as the drive of any future revival.
BB 10 had been due to roll out in the autumn, lining the platform directly up against iOS 6, Windows Phone 8 and Android 4.1 - all of which are set to launch in the coming months.
Analysts are now questioning whether RIM can afford to let BB 10 slip to the following year, with IDC analyst Kevin Restivo telling The Guardian that launching the new platform post Christmas is "akin to launching fireworks underwater."
Failure to launch
"RIM is like Nokia two years ago fighting for an old operating system and announcing new versions with poor execution," added fellow IDC analyst Francisco Jeronimo.
"At least Nokia did a proper restart. RIM faces strong challenges in [calendar] 3Q & 4Q. No BB 10, Samsung Galaxy S III a huge success, new iPhone coming out, new Windows Phone 8 devices. Tough! Nokia is struggling to sell the new devices, RIM is struggling to launch them!"
Charter Equity Research MD Edward Snyder added to the woe, suggesting RIM was now in a "handset death spiral".
Back at BlackBerry World 2012 back in March, RIM CEO Thorsten Heins dismissed the threat proposed by other platforms such as Android and Windows Phone, claiming the launch of BB 10 would signal the company's intention to return to the top table.
"We know we're in a big fight at the moment, but I'm not here to be in the game," said Heins. "I'm here to win."
News
With a fine eye for detail, Keith Andrew is fuelled by strong coffee, Kylie Minogue and the shapely curve of a san serif font.
Top Stories
News
4 hours, 6 minutes ago
Pocket Worlds’ Highrise surpasses 40 million users as it unveils new development tools
Feature
Mar 25th, 2024
5 takeaways from GDC 2024: The games industry reckons with key challenges, Godot competes with Unity, and AI was the big trend without the big announcements
Feature
Mar 25th, 2024
Hot Five: Epic’s app store plans, Turkey’s tax exemptions, and Call of Duty Warzone: Mobile finally releases globally
Events
Mobidictum Network Lisbon April 2024 | Europe | Apr 16th |
HIT Games Conference Istanbul 2024 | Apr 18th | |
App Promotion Summit London | Europe | Apr 25th |
Dubai GameExpo Summit 2024 | Middle East | May 1st |
Mobidictum Meetup Berlin May 2024 | Europe | May 7th |
Mobidictum Meetup Tallinn May 2024 | Europe | May 21st |
Israel Mobile Summit 2024 | Middle East | Jun 6th |
Mobidictum Meetup Barcelona September 2024 | Europe | Sep 1st |
Popular Stories
Feature
Mar 25th, 2024