AfterDawn: Tech news

BlackBerry posts letter across media outlets: We are still alive

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 14 Oct 2013 8:07 User comments (6)

BlackBerry posts letter across media outlets: We are still alive Although we have the letter available online, BlackBerry will post a message to its loyal users in 30 major news publications tomorrow spanning 9 countries.
The company hopes to calm down frazzled consumers and investors who literally have no idea whether the company will even exist when they wake up tomorrow.

BlackBerry is quick to back their security, productivity, EMM and social networking potential.

The letter in its entirety:

To our valued customers, partners and fans,

You've no doubt seen the headlines about BlackBerry. You're probably wondering what they mean for you as one of the tens of millions of users who count on BlackBerry every single day.

We have one important message for you:

You can continue to count on BlackBerry.

How do we know? We have substantial cash on hand and a balance sheet that is debt free.

We are restructuring with a goal to cut our expenses by 50 percent in order to run a very efficient, customer-oriented organization.



These are no doubt challenging times for us and we don't underestimate the situation or ignore the challenges. We are making the difficult changes necessary to strengthen BlackBerry.

One thing we will never change is our commitment to those of you who helped build BlackBerry into the most trusted tool for the world's business professional.

And speaking of those dramatic headlines, it's important that we set the record straight on a few things.

Best in class productivity tool.

We have completely revamped our device portfolio this year with the launch of BlackBerry 10. We have four BlackBerry 10 devices – two all touch and two hybrid (touch and QWERTY) – and all are running the third update of our new platform. If what you care about most is getting things done – taking care of your business – we have the best range of devices for you. And we continue to offer the best mobile typing experience – no ifs, ands or buts about it.

Best in class security.

Governments all over the world, global corporations and businesses that simply cannot compromise on security choose and trust BlackBerry. Security is our heritage, and the industry recognizes that BlackBerry is the most secure when it comes to the device, server and, of course, our global data network. Have no doubt that you can continue to trust us to keep your communication safe and private.

Best in class enterprise mobility management.

We changed with the market, embracing BYOD because we understand that as iOS and Android devices become common in the workplace, businesses still need to manage all of these different platforms seamlessly and securely.

This is not a trivial task. While there are a number of startup companies that make bold claims, BlackBerry has more software engineers and the most resources dedicated to developing the most innovative solutions to address this complex challenge.



And our customers know it. Over the past quarter, our BlackBerry® Enterprise Service 10 server base grew from 19,000 to more than 25,000. Corporate clients are committed to deploying and testing the latest enterprise technology from BlackBerry. We are committed to evolving with our customers. That will never change.

Best in class mobile social network.

We are bringing the most engaging mobile messaging platform to all, with our BBM launch for Android and iPhone.

There are already around six million customers pre-registered to be notified of our roll out. This number is growing every day, and speaks to the tremendous opportunity we have to expand BBM beyond BlackBerry smartphones to make it the world's largest mobile social network.

Yes, there is a lot of competition out there and we know that BlackBerry is not for everyone. That's OK. You have always known that BlackBerry is different, that BlackBerry can set you apart. Countless world-changing decisions have been finalized, deals closed and critical communications made via BlackBerry. And for many of you that created a bond, a connection that goes back more than a decade.

We believe in BlackBerry – our people, our technology and our ability to adapt. More importantly, we believe in you. We focus every day on what it takes to make sure that you can take care of business.

You trust your BlackBerry to deliver your most important messages, so trust us when we deliver one of our own: You can continue to count on us.

Sincerely,
The BlackBerry Team

Tags: Blackberry
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6 user comments

115.10.2013 06:50
zxe
Inactive

Hum, losing so much money, but being debt free, cutting staff and cost by half, and debt free, seeing predators circling the business, but debt free. What would happen if they where making big profits. We heard this when they launch the new phones, but sales have not been as expected..but never mind we are debt free

215.10.2013 08:29

Yea well as of August they still had a good chunk of surplus cash at $2.6 Billion, their net worth if they sold all assets, infrastructure and patents estimate in at $5 billion if sold together. Assuming they sell and stay alive, there's plenty of leg room to continue support: but they better come up with a game changer quickly. Getting blackberry software on android would be a great start. Expand their software portfolio, and they could pull a off a SEGA in the handheld business. Of course that's giving benefit of the doubt: which let's face it, investor's included, we mostly doubt it.

Then again people doubted the smart phone would take off as it did back when Blackberry could innovate.

315.10.2013 13:54

Yup......BB is about as "alive" as the guys I shoot up in video games that still shoot their pistols at me while dying and lying on the floor, attempting at taking as many with them as possible......right before I walk over and put a bullet in their head.

How "alive" is that hmmmm???

415.10.2013 13:56

Originally posted by Mysttic:
Yea well as of August they still had a good chunk of surplus cash at $2.6 Billion, their net worth if they sold all assets, infrastructure and patents estimate in at $5 billion if sold together. Assuming they sell and stay alive, there's plenty of leg room to continue support: but they better come up with a game changer quickly. Getting blackberry software on android would be a great start. Expand their software portfolio, and they could pull a off a SEGA in the handheld business. Of course that's giving benefit of the doubt: which let's face it, investor's included, we mostly doubt it.

Then again people doubted the smart phone would take off as it did back when Blackberry could innovate.
I don't remember the part of "people doubting".........I remember before the smartphone emerged and Google OS was revered and anxiously awaited by every tech savvy person I knew.

516.10.2013 14:03

Thing is...If you have to tell people you are still alive you probably aren't. That Monty Python scene where the Knight has his limbs cut off but is still "OK" comes to mind. "It's just a scratch!"

This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 16 Oct 2013 @ 2:05

617.10.2013 03:12

sad day.. was hoping you were dead already....

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