Should KEYone give WP/10M Fans Hope?

[Byrese]

With the launch of the K1 Blackberry has risen from the dead. Yes...i said Blackberry. Now don't misunderstand, I'm not suggesting that BB will surpass iphones or Galaxy's in terms of sale volumes. All I mean is that they've managed to produce a phone that is being received VERY well by enterprise and consumers alike (due to its excellent hardware and software).

For yrs BB fans, like us WP fans, we're hoping against hope for a rebirth of their beloved brand. In fact, I would dare say that BB fans are as loyal, fierce, and yes sometimes defensive of their brand as us. And guess what? All their patience paid off. The rebirth of BB is well underway.

So should this give us hope? Can MS rebirth our dying brand and make a phone thats well received by almost everyone (like the K1)?

 

[xandros9]

Well, BlackBerry cares a lot about its mobile software and hardware, albeit it doesn't handle hardware anymore.

And BlackBerry is using Android now so it's free from the software shortcomings of Windows 10 Mobile and BlackBerry 10.

Microsoft can absolutely get back into the game but the fact that Windows 10 Mobile hasn't seen much in the way of major new features, still suffers from odd bugs and hasn't even been updated to support chipsets newer than the SD 820 indicates that they don't have the will BlackBerry currently has.

Even if they do start again, they'll be hard pressed to convince everyone they won't "retrench" or reboot their new efforts into oblivion within two years.

 

[sinime]

MS may not be adding support to W10M for newer chipsets, BUT W10 (proper) does support the newer chipsets... So either newer devices will run the normal W10 or some modularized version... W10 in some form/fashion will be on mobiles... So yeah... the king is dead, long live the king.

 

[fatclue_98]

BlackBerry users are fiercely loyal indeed. The KEYone offers a well-designed handset with a proper keyboard that the Priv didn't. They've been patiently waiting since the Passport and their wait is over. Now, if only Windows had a desirable feature that loyalists would pine for, we'd be in good shape. PureView cameras are no longer the cat's meow in the mobile space so users are going elsewhere with more regularity. Maybe it's time for a 2017 version of the Touch Pro 2.

 

[Drael646464]

Yeah blackberry was making a loss. MSFT certainly isn't. Not even in phones

BB had to lease its name to TCL- the owners also of the alcatel brand. BB10 is dead, their OS is dead, now its android. That's a far bigger re-entrenchment than MSFT ever did (abandoning their OS), and a lot of former BB fans are not happy about the move. At least some of those former BB fans, have in fact, come over this way.

While the keyone is certainly successful, I think if a similar thing ever happened to MSFTs phone efforts, it would probably signal a BB/IBM like collapse/pivot of the whole company, and a failure to launch for windows 10 and UWP. A scenario almost so inconceivably bad, that even being as unlikely as it is, I'd rather not think about it.

There is a device in the works ATM, as can be ascertained for certain not only by triangulating bits of information, but for the fact the new device and its sku is already in the windows code.
It has, in some form, dual screens and a detachable hinge, which can be deduced from said code.
I expect there will be a return for the main branch for win10m itself, and most likely the alcatel 5s will have a windows variant, and the x3 a refresh. Who knows msft may even do one last Lumia, but there is really very little to indicate worry about win10ms future imo, outside of worry itself.

Because -It's tied in directly with the UWP/one OS platform efforts - MSFT _requires_ a small screen pocket device for the development of those plans. But being a "tied in" effort, unlike any others, because of the hybrid OS concept, its a battle that is fought on multiple fronts - tablets, MR, PCs, laptops, wearables, smart devices, and because of that win10m is not the only concern for MSFTs future - the MAIN concern is UWP, for which MSFT needs a stable userbase of users using multiple form factors and input/output methods. They can't really be blamed for putting win10m on a slight backburner given this. Windows on arm, for example, on tablets and laptops, is a key piece IMO to the expansion of the UWP platform - and I personally can see why they have given this centre stage. Same with MR, and fluent design, and same with the intelligent edge - MSFT has to keep a lot of balls in the air, and time everything well.

If MSFTs new device can be well received by some, and UWP can be given a boost, everything is still on track. They don't need to win the world right away, simply put a log or two on the fire of UWP.

 

[evillama]

BlackBerry is showing risk and passion by at least producing "something" and talking about it, will prob market it too.

MS, on the other hand, still treats W10M as it's unwanted stepchild, locking it in the basement and only occasionally throwing bones down the staircase.

 

[Demian Mioc]

i hope it doesn't look like KeyOne. It's the ugliest phone I've ever seen...

 

[vzzbuckz]

Blackberry had a unique brand and a unique OS. It was popular because it supported Enterprise messaging over mobile. Too all intents and purposes, this is no longer needed, hence why it's died.

Now it's just one phone in the sea of Android devices. Enterprises now have to support Samsung Knox, Blackberry's version, Apple's version and so on. They are going to pick two and those two will be Apple and Samsung.

 

[MBytes]

Blackberry switched to Android.
If Microsoft would do the same, they would need to take Android, and highly modify it to Windows 10 Mobile, add UWP app support, and the Windows 10 integration, Continuum, etc.

Now if they do this, they are issues:
You'll have 2 Store that will fight for each other: MS store for UWP apps, and Google Store for Android apps. And I highly doubt people would pick UWP version of an app over the Android one.

Despite the dual store mess, I think it would be a killer phone, as you'll have not only Android which provides the best compatibility with cars and accessories, backed with a the OS flexibility due to the great number of options available, but also have Microsoft know-how on how to make an update system, and back it up with its Windows Update infrastructure, allowing all, using such Microsoft phone, to get the latest Android updates and security fixes as they are released. The only delay would be Microsoft to port the new Android version to it's highly modified version of the OS.

It would not be a bad move to do, in my opinion. Microsoft has the know how and resources to modify any aspect of Android, and not just the home screen and such like on some phone, and even then, most of the time, it is not well optimized.

The issue, is that while Microsoft would take a great market share boost, how will they make money? There is no store, the OS must be free fr other manufactures to use it and properly support it, and only the big phone players knows how to deal with phone carriers to not only have their phone on their shelves but actively supported and pushed to consumers with insensitives.

 

[Vincent McLaughlin]

I don't know if I would call what Blackberry is doing a revival. I would call it more of maintaining or recovering mindshare.

 

[nikhilsatpute]

With the launch of the K1 Blackberry has risen from the dead. Yes...i said Blackberry. Now don't misunderstand, I'm not suggesting that BB will surpass iphones or Galaxy's in terms of sale volumes. All I mean is that they've managed to produce a phone that is being received VERY well by enterprise and consumers alike (due to its excellent hardware and software).

For yrs BB fans, like us WP fans, we're hoping against hope for a rebirth of their beloved brand. In fact, I would dare say that BB fans are as loyal, fierce, and yes sometimes defensive of their brand as us. And guess what? All their patience paid off. The rebirth of BB is well underway.

So should this give us hope? Can MS rebirth our dying brand and make a phone thats well received by almost everyone (like the K1)?

 

[nikhilsatpute]

Being Optimistic at it's peak

 

[Matt Marshall1]

With the launch of the K1 Blackberry has risen from the dead. Yes...i said Blackberry. Now don't misunderstand, I'm not suggesting that BB will surpass iphones or Galaxy's in terms of sale volumes. All I mean is that they've managed to produce a phone that is being received VERY well by enterprise and consumers alike (due to its excellent hardware and software).

For yrs BB fans, like us WP fans, we're hoping against hope for a rebirth of their beloved brand. In fact, I would dare say that BB fans are as loyal, fierce, and yes sometimes defensive of their brand as us. And guess what? All their patience paid off. The rebirth of BB is well underway.

So should this give us hope? Can MS rebirth our dying brand and make a phone thats well received by almost everyone (like the K1)?

Nope... well, probably not anyway. I generally see BB as a direct competitor to Windows only somewhat reliable customer segment (enterprise), that is beyond hard core windows phone fans.

It does prove a point that an alternate from Android or IOS could carve out a profitable niche in this space. Unfortunately for Microsoft, BB is targeting their space.

 

[jack69453]

I think there is something wrong with the original message from the OP and the introduction on the WC webpage. Firstly Microsoft was not a phone manufacturer, like Blackberry. So the return of the Blackberry brand cannot to compared to the Microsoft brand. The Microsoft brand was there because of the operating system and its links (in peoples minds) to Nokia, who made over 80% of the phones the OS ran on.

Now the resurgence of Nokia; that is a fairer comparison as they are both phone manufacturers who had their own OS, but have both now embraced Android. So the article should perhaps ask whether there is hope for Nokia, not Microsoft.

The second point I want to make is that on one hand you have the resurgence of a hardware device/brand name, being compared to the potential return of an operating system. I'd suggest that they will both have issues. Blackberry is not releasing enough phones, MS is changing the tune of the song so often that I don't think any one knows how to sing it any longer. So while the lack of sufficient phones to satisfy blackberry fans is not helping, they have consistency and the fans are being cared for eventually. MS on the other hand is inconsistent and not taking care of the fans. So in the end I'd put my bets on Blackberry and Nokia not Microsoft hardware (my first point) or Windows Phone (my second point).

 

[imo786]

With the launch of the K1 Blackberry has risen from the dead. Yes...i said Blackberry. Now don't misunderstand, I'm not suggesting that BB will surpass iphones or Galaxy's in terms of sale volumes. All I mean is that they've managed to produce a phone that is being received VERY well by enterprise and consumers alike (due to its excellent hardware and software).

For yrs BB fans, like us WP fans, we're hoping against hope for a rebirth of their beloved brand. In fact, I would dare say that BB fans are as loyal, fierce, and yes sometimes defensive of their brand as us. And guess what? All their patience paid off. The rebirth of BB is well underway.

So should this give us hope? Can MS rebirth our dying brand and make a phone thats well received by almost everyone (like the K1)?

Proof that the phone is adopted by enterprise and consumers?

 

[McZosch]

Now if they do this, they are issues:
You'll have 2 Store that will fight for each other: MS store for UWP apps, and Google Store for Android apps. And I highly doubt people would pick UWP version of an app over the Android one.

You are missing the obvious here. If Amazon can offer Android apps, Microsoft can sure do as well.

If Microsoft would offer a Microsoft-account bound Android, it would spare us the humiliation of creating a Google account. A simple APK, download, sideload and turns every Android into a Microsoft droid.

Or what about an Android, any Android, that is guaranteed to get updates?

And btw, they won't need UWP apps, because UWP will at one stage bite the dust, because of Progressive Web Apps.

 

[anon(669934)]

Is it running BB OS, if not then it's only Blackberry in name. Basically a Blackberry with no soul...lol

May as well call it an Android.

 

[Richard Toft]

It's not really a blackberry it's an Android device in a blackberry shell.

 

[crg1970]

BB solved the app gap problem bu using Android. MS has two choices really. 1) adopt Android and include all it's apps and change the launcher to be more effective and controlled. Add security and enterprise manadeqbility and make it work best when connected to a Win10 machine, or 2) finish the work on Islandwood or the Android bridge to let android apks work in Win10 and offer them directly from the windows store.

 

[final_fantasy781]

You know, I will only notice Microsoft to have hope if another company, unlike Blackberry, Google or Apple would be ready to make a brand new phone OS. If they can do it, before a much larger company can swoop in and buy them out, then I'd say Microsoft has a chance.

Unfortunately, it's such a monopoly between only two, maybe three, software companies, that anything new will even have a spit of a chance.