If the Priv fails, BlackBerry might be forced to abandon hardware

[Justin Herrick]

Today, BlackBerry CEO John Chen sat down with Re/code at the publication’s Code Mobile conference. And of course the main talking point was BlackBerry’s upcoming Priv handset. Chen explained during his session at the conference that BlackBerry is moving to Android because of the company’s need for apps. With that, he feels that BlackBerry can produce a device that masters software, security, and productivity.


BlackBerry shared a bunch of Chen’s comments from his Code Mobile session today:

.@JohnChen at #CodeMobile: #BlackBerry software business can do “security magic” on #Android

— BlackBerry (@BlackBerry) October 8, 2015
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.@JohnChen at #CodeMobile: 2 new releases of #BB10 coming to support government and high-security users

— BlackBerry (@BlackBerry) October 8, 2015
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.@JohnChen: for #PRIV Android, “we’ve created patching mechanism that will address attacks a lot quicker than others” #CodeMobile

— BlackBerry (@BlackBerry) October 8, 2015
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.@JohnChen: As far as #PRIV is concerned, audience goes beyond enterprises. Will focus on high-end #privacy and #productivity. #CodeMobile

— BlackBerry (@BlackBerry) October 8, 2015
​

Offstage, Chen told The Verge that BlackBerry must sell at least five million smartphones per year in order to be profitable and keep everything running. If that does not happen, BlackBerry may be forced to abandon the hardware business completely and focus on software alone. Because if your own mobile operating system fails and so does the use of another company’s, it may be time to give up. But, in all honesty, the Priv does look like a decent device that can capture the attention of consumers in and outside the enterprise space. Chen’s comments during his Code Mobile session do reflect that the company is looking at those who typically look at Apple and Samsung phones as their first choice.

Chen also confirmed that BlackBerry 10 will remain alive for the foreseeable future. Moving all security features from BlackBerry 10 to Android would be the only thing that leads to the company’s own mobile operating system to fold.

Source: Re/code, The Verge


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