5 Must Haves for BlackBerry Phone Owners in Preparation for Death of Canadian Phone Maker
By Vittorio Hernandez | October 13, 2013 7:02 PM EST
Whether BlackBerry officials admit it or not, the handwriting is on the wall for the Canadian phone maker which once ruled the mobile phone



Amid reports of almost $1 billion write off due to new models that nobody wants to buy, interested buyers of the company once called Research in Motion, announcement of lay offs by the thousands and poaching by Apple of soon-to-be unemployed BlackBerry staff, where does this leave owners of BlackBerry smartphones?

PC World's Tony Bradley describes the Waterloo, Ontario-based manufacturer as on life support and forecast that 12 months from now, there would be a huge RIP sign on the company.
For companies that rely on BlackBerry for mobile communication and productivity, don't drop yet your gadgets like hot potatoes, Mr Bradley advises.

He instead recommends five things that BlackBerry phone owners must do to prepare for the inevitable demise of the company, and soon, its services.

New mobile platform - To help assess what new platform and model to switch to (Android, iOS, Windows), pinpoint the BlackBerry features and benefits that are important to your business or personally then compare which among the 3 available OS comes closest to providing what BlackBerry can no longer provide soon.
Management of your mobile device - With the BlackBerry Enterprise Service (BES), companies had direct control over their mobile ecosystem and tools to provide, protect and manage BlackBerry gadgets. All that, however, will soon end. Switching to iOS or Android could extend the familiar BES environment via the BlackBerry Mobile Fusion, which is not possible if you opt for a Windows phone. But it's only a short-term transition because you ultimately have to be weaned from the BlackBerry ecosystem and learn to embrace the alternatives.
BBM app to maintain security, reliability and familiarity of current system - BlackBerry is offering the app to ease the transition from BBM to iOS or Android, although the apps are still on hold due to a botched launch.
Data protection - Assess your chosen mobile platform choice to replace your BlackBerry, both on the device and during transfer across the airwaves. One lament of BlackBerry users soon to bury their device is that while the other smartphones could function as good or even better than BlackBerry, it could not match encryption and data security offered by the Canadian company.
Additional apps - Check the apps you use on your BlackBerry device and compare with what's available in your next option. Then search for proper alternative apps.
Expect more speculations as the technology world waits for what would happen to BlackBerry, the company. What company would buy the floundering tech firm would determine what's next for BlackBerry phone owners.

But don't count on your device being a collector's item since there are millions of Q10 and Z10 units sitting in BlackBerry warehouses and retail outlets waiting for someone to have pity and buy them.

To contact the editor, e-mail: editor@ibtimes.com

http://au.ibtimes.com/articles/513427/20131013/5-haves-blackberry-phone-owners-preparation-death.htm#.UlpxrDK9KK0

RIM has been sold to investors, so expect a more revitalized Blackberry.

abubaka101: RIM has been sold to investors, so expect a more revitalized Blackberry.

my guy am sorry but you seem totally out of touch with your much beloved phone maker. To start with, the company RIM changed its name to Blackberry on the 30th of October, 2013;
secondly, even though several firms have expressed interest in Blackberry, none has actually cystalised.
blackberry had to under right $1 billion to retailers, following the flop of its latest phones which failed to garner enough interest.
the most recently launched phones Z30 was dead on arrival;
finally, the expected launch of the BBM for android and IOS was suspended due to technical issues with the server, further dampening investors interest. the option being considered now is the breakdown of the firm into its various components.
Take heed bros, you've been schooled!

Just why do nigerians envy BB owners so much..

silica:
my guy am sorry but you seem totally out of touch with your much beloved phone maker. To start with, the company RIM changed its name to Blackberry on the 30th of October, 2013;
secondly, even though several firms have expressed interest in Blackberry, none has actually cystalised.
blackberry had to under right $1 billion to retailers, following the flop of its latest phones which failed to garner enough interest.
the most recently launched phones Z30 was dead on arrival;
finally, the expected launch of the BBM for android and IOS was suspended due to technical issues with the server, further dampening investors interest. the option being considered now is the breakdown of the firm into its various components.
Take heed bros, you've been schooled!

First thing: Am an Android use.
Second: The date is not yet October 30th, as of the time of this post.
Third: RIM agreed to sell the company to a consortium of investors for nearly $5bn, the same week the company scheduled for the release of BBM on Android and IOS.
That same week RIM lost a lot of money in the stock market and cut over 3000 jobs, this happenend just a day to the launch of BBM on IOS and Android.
You've now been tutored, so humour me, I love a good arguement.

Are we still on dis?? I use a bb,u use android,sooo? All dis childishness cos of d phnes pple use shud stop!

Babalegba: Just why do nigerians envy BB owners so much..

and they still remain the only pingers

It ain't RIM no more nao. It's Blackberry nikkaz. Update!
The only reason I own a BB is because of the cheap internet on it. That's a huge plus if you ask me. Until I can buy 3GB of data with 1k on my Android, I ain't disposing the BB just yet. The BB still thrives in the third world even though it's old news in the first world

^^^Genuflect has spoken....

Genuflect: It ain't RIM no more nao. It's Blackberry nikkaz. Update!
The only reason I own a BB is because of the cheap internet on it. That's a huge plus if you ask me. Until I can buy 3GB of data with 1k on my Android, I ain't disposing the BB just yet. The BB still thrives in the third world even though it's old news in the first world

Which BlackBerry model do you use ?

walcolm:

Which BlackBerry model do you use ?

Curve 7. Why you ask tho?

Genuflect:
Curve 7. Why you ask tho?

You should try the z10

psalmdave: and they still remain the only pingers

Yeah right...thats why all you android and iPhone users are breaking your heads to get BBM on your platform

walcolm:

You should try the z10

Naaah. I'm ok with my Curve 7. BB is too slow for my liking. The Z10 is still gonna end up being slow and laggy. So why dispense all that cash on that? I'm a geek so I use an S4. My BB is only for browsing and shi

walcolm:

Yeah right...thats why all you android and iPhone users are breaking your heads to get BBM on your platform

Lol. The BBM is arguably the best chatting app so it's only right andy and iPhone users rush to it. I don't really fancy bbm tho. I'm not much of a chatter

Genuflect:
Naaah. I'm ok with my Curve 7. BB is too slow for my liking. The Z10 is still gonna end up being slow and laggy. So why dispense all that cash on that? I'm a geek so I use an S4. My BB is only for browsing and shi

If you're a geek, you won't make the assumption that the BlackBerry 10 will be slow. You would check them out

I use a gs3 and a BlackBerry z10. You're not the only geek around

walcolm:

If you're a geek, you won't make the assumption that the BlackBerry 10 will be slow. You would check them out

I use a gs3 and a BlackBerry z10. You're not the only geek around

It's not an assumption. I've seen the z10 and I know a few owners. It's not for geeks. Is it the app store we want to talk abt? Or the fact that it's not that user friendly? It's functionality is not up to par and I still hate that it takes long just to boot. I don't take my bb serious. It's just for the net. Finish

Genuflect:
It's not an assumption. I've seen the z10 and I know a few owners. It's not for geeks. Is it the app store we want to talk abt? Or the fact that it's not that user friendly? It's functionality is not up to par and I still hate that it takes long just to boot. I don't take my bb serious. It's just for the net. Finish

You clearly don't know what you are talking about. That you see it from a distance doesn't mean you know anything about it. I know lots of people who use BlackBerry 10 devices and less than 10% are geeky.

What about thé app store ? What happened to it ? Almost 300k apps in less than a year of launching the OS and you're here making noise. Apple and android had less than 10k apps one year after they were launched

walcolm:

You clearly don't know what you are talking about. That you see it from a distance doesn't mean you know anything about it. I know lots of people who use BlackBerry 10 devices and less than 10% are geeky.

What about thé app store ? What happened to it ? Almost 300k apps in less than a year of launching the OS and you're here making noise. Apple and android had less than 10k apps one year after they were launched

Uhn? Seen it from a distance The fudge. I've seen what it can do. I've operated it and I've seen its prowess. How can you even compare BB10's appstore to that of iOS and Andy?? Are u ok? Andy is open source. Cool apps popping up everyday. iOs still holds the title tho. And you dare to mention BB when we're talking apps? I doubt u're a geek. Geeks don't use BB. You said it yourself, less than 10% of those using it are geeks. Most Z10 are even try to port Google Play Store on their BB. Guy use your Z10 but don't compare it to the greats

Genuflect:
Uhn? Seen it from a distance The fudge. I've seen what it can do. I've operated it and I've seen its prowess. How can you even compare BB10's appstore to that of iOS and Andy?? Are u ok? Andy is open source. Cool apps popping up everyday. iOs still holds the title tho. And you dare to mention BB when we're talking apps? I doubt u're a geek. Geeks don't use BB. You said it yourself, less than 10% of those using it are geeks. Most Z10 are even try to port Google Play Store on their BB. Guy use your Z10 but don't compare it to the greats

loooolllll...you're totally obtuse....75% of all the apps available on Google play now work on BB10 devices...BB10 is the only OS that can boost of being able to do that. if you add that to the 300k apps available for BB10 only....how far behind is BB10 in terms of apps?

on BB10 being used by people who are non-geeks, that was to counter your mumu argument about the OS being un-user friendly....

you have only seen BB10 devices from a distance and you don't know sh1t about them...you don't know jack about how they work and what they can do...so hold on to your android and stop blabbing about what you don't know

Uselesssss thread,useless argument here and there,nonsens.e

walcolm:

loooolllll...you're totally obtuse....75% of all the apps available on Google play now work on BB10 devices...BB10 is the only OS that can boost of being able to do that. if you add that to the 300k apps available for BB10 only....how far behind is BB10 in terms of apps?

on BB10 being used by people who are non-geeks, that was to counter your mumu argument about the OS being un-user friendly....

you have only seen BB10 devices from a distance and you don't know sh1t about them...you don't know jack about how they work and what they can do...so hold on to your android and stop blabbing about what you don't know

Duhh why would I buy BB10 only to come and port Android Apps. Naahhh we don't get down like that. The BB10 devices are what evn caused the demise of the Blackberry company. It's a cheap imitation of the iPhone, it just can't measure up. I don hear, since you know me very well and know that I don't know jack about the Z10. Dey there dey jonz. And of course I'll hold on to my android. Better to use the best than the third best

And I was thinking of getting a bb z10.
Btw guys, you can get a US number for calls and sms at http:// www.usacallsms.com

hi, guys i have been following nairaland and would like to say you guys are doing an awesome job...if you want a phone with best of both worlds why not get the z10 or rather os10 from blackberry....bb os10 runs android apps nicely and you still have the functionality of the bb as a business tool.its an option anyway..and u dont have to be a geek to use it...