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Yesterday, <keyword id="6354356" type="COMPANY" weightage="40" keywordseo="BlackBerry">BlackBerry</keyword> announced that the <keyword id="1034849" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="40" keywordseo="BB-messenger">BB messenger</keyword> is coming to Windows mobile and Lumia devices soon. We had a chance to catch up with Krishnadeep Baruah, Senior Marketing Director for <keyword id="2074824" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="BBM-Asia">BBM Asia</keyword> Pacific, BlackBerry and he gave us all the inside news related to the one of the most used <keyword id="176655" type="POSITION" weightage="40" keywordseo="messenger">messenger</keyword> service in the world. Here is what he told us. 
 
· How is the BB messenger doing on other platforms such as <keyword id="75489" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="40" keywordseo="IOS">iOS</keyword> and <keyword id="6355645" type="COMPANY" weightage="40" keywordseo="android">Android</keyword>. Any numbers you would like to share? Launched in Oct 2013, BBM on Android and iOS was an instant success globally across the two platforms. The application witnessed 10 Million downloads within the first 24 hours of the application going live. Within a week since its launch, BBM was also amongst the top free overall apps across 35 countries in <keyword id="6355629" type="CITY" weightage="40" keywordseo="Google">Google</keyword> Play and 107 countries in the App Store, and continues to maintain a strong position in key markets. 
 Today, there are more than 80 million active BBM users across BlackBerry, Android and iPhone. Additionally, BBM also comes pre-loaded on more than a dozen Android OEMs, including most recently <keyword id="6356116" type="CITY" weightage="40" keywordseo="LG">LG</keyword>, Micromax, Celkon, Spice and Zen to name a few. 
 
· Is Blackberry planning to monetize the messenger solution on iOS and Android. If so, in what manner? 
We are exploring a number of revenue streams for BBM. Right now our focus is on growing the number of monthly active users of BBM and exploring strategies that help us leverage the strength of BBM such as our passionate user base, our high levels of engagement, our focus on relevant content, relevant conversations and community building. 
 
· What are the next steps in the evolution of BBM and allied services? 
BBM continues to evolve as a social mobile platform for consumers as well as for business customers through innovative features offering simplified ways to connect and share with others. In Feb 2014, we launched an upgrade of BBM for the Android and iOS users adding some new and exciting features enclosed below: 
BBM Voice: This feature allows the user to make free calls to BBM contacts over Wi-Fi or data connection with BBM Voice. The user can also respond to messages while on BBM Voice call. 
BBM Channels: BBM Channels lets customers chat with other BBM users about topics that interest them. Channels can be created by brands, businesses and BBM customers alike and are a great way to communicate directly and immediately with people who share common interests in the broader BBM community. Today, there are approx. 250,000 BBM Channels across the globe. Some of the Indian Channels are: <keyword id="15491" type="COMPANY" weightage="40" keywordseo="Airtel">Airtel</keyword>, Firstpost.com, Ganna, and CCD among others. 
 
<keyword id="285445" type="COMPANY" weightage="40" keywordseo="Dropbox">Dropbox</keyword> integration: With Dropbox built in to BBM, users can send a file from their personal cloud directly to a BBM contact. On the receiving end, users can save the file directly to their smartphone or add it to the Dropbox account 
Location Sharing: This unique feature, powered by Glympse, enables the user to share their real-time location with one or several BBM contacts for a specified amount of time. They can specify the duration for which they want to be discoverable by location, through a predefined timer. When the timer runs out, the customers’ location becomes private again 
Emoticons: BBM now has more than 100 new emoticons which have been added to the existing set of emoticons. It is worth noting that a number of the new emoticons have been developed based on user recommendation. 
FindFriends: BBM now includes a new find friends feature that allows you to discover people you know that are already on BBM, allowing invites from within the BBM app. The find friends feature detects contacts in your smartphone contact list that use BBM and allows you to quickly send an invitation on BBM. 
Going forward we would continue to deliver new functionality to BBM across platforms providing users a simple and effective way to stay connected. 
 
· How is the BBM for desktop program coming along? 
We are continuously working towards enhancing the BBM experience for our consumers. We will keep you posted. 
 
· Anything else you would like to add? Future plans etc.? 
With a total base of 80 million users, BBM is one of the largest private social mobile networks, driving real, active conversations. We at BlackBerry will continue to work towards providing our consumers with innovative features that will enable them to connect and share with each other.

Exclusive: BlackBerry Messenger Has Over 80 Million Active Users And Will Continue To Provide Its Customers Innovative Features

While most mobile companies are touching or crossing the Rs 50,000 mark with their respective flagship models. In a turn of events, <keyword id="6354356" type="COMPANY" weightage="40" keywordseo="BlackBerry">BlackBerry</keyword> has boldly kept the price Rs 39,990 for its flagship touchscreen model - the <keyword id="1810695" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="z30">Z30</keyword>. It is the most advanced BlackBerry smartphone till date that will take full advantage of the new BB <keyword id="176655" type="POSITION" weightage="40" keywordseo="messenger">messenger</keyword> service, which now is available across operating systems. 
 Falling in the Phablet category, this new BB10 phone has a 5-inch AMOLED <keyword id="30450" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="40" keywordseo="Touch">touch</keyword> display, a 1.7 GHz dual-core processor and a quad-core GPU, which will speed up games considerably. Battery life is also claimed to have become better with the new 2,880 mAh battery underneath the rear cover. One should be able to get over a day of battery life on this phone under optimum use. 
 But what intrigued us further was the announcement of <keyword id="198362" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="BBM">BBM</keyword> crossing 10 million downloads on <keyword id="6355645" type="COMPANY" weightage="40" keywordseo="android">Android</keyword> and <keyword id="75489" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="40" keywordseo="IOS">iOS</keyword> platforms, on the first day of its launch. We have downloaded the app on our Android device as well and it looks the same as the one found on BB10 devices. However, because of the huge number of requests, Android and iOS users would need to wait for 2-3 days to use the app, after they download it on their mobiles. After installing, users need to register their E-mail address first and wait to get an E-mail from BlackBerry to start using the service. But the wait is definitely worth it, as one would again be connected with a number of contacts who are still on a BB phone and can use the wonderful features of the service.

Blackberry Has Launched Z30 In India. Also, BBM Saw Over
10 Million Downloads On Android And iOS On The First Day of Launch

<keyword id="6354356" type="COMPANY" weightage="40" keywordseo="BlackBerry">BlackBerry</keyword> was and is the most powerful device for e-mails and allied ecosystems. However, the fortunes of the company are not looking up even with the launch of the new BB OS10 devices. At a recent BlackBerry event, the group has showcased a BlackBerry <keyword id="176655" type="POSITION" weightage="40" keywordseo="messenger">Messenger</keyword> client for desktops. The drill for launching the popular messaging service on <keyword id="75489" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="40" keywordseo="IOS">iOS</keyword> and <keyword id="6355645" type="COMPANY" weightage="40" keywordseo="android">Android</keyword> did not go too well last weekend and most probably, BlackBerry had to pull back its plans to launch <keyword id="198362" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="BBM">BBM</keyword> on these operating systems. 
 
But with the announcement of the BBM client on PC, we are a bit taken aback and a few questions immediately come to mind. Is BlackBerry really equipped to service such a large industry? How will it manage the services between platforms? Does this mean BlackBerry is now more of a service provider than a mobile phone manufacturer? These are the questions troubling the current generation of BlackBerry phone users as well. Its messenger service is exceptional on a BlackBerry device, but what will happen eventually as the database grows immensely with Android, iOS and now PC users coming into the picture. 
 
The desktop version was showcased at the BlackBerry Asia Jam 2013, but a release date has not been given. Many believe that the company is trying to fight the current fund crunch in any way it can, to keep afloat. We do fear if the company crashes, many users will be deprived of the best e-mail service ever seen on mobile phones.

BBM for desktops? Where are you headed, BlackBerry?

We knew something was going on at camp <keyword id="6354356" type="COMPANY" weightage="40" keywordseo="BlackBerry">BlackBerry</keyword> and this is probably it. The recently upgraded BlackBerry <keyword id="176655" type="POSITION" weightage="40" keywordseo="messenger">Messenger</keyword> (<keyword id="198362" type="CITY" weightage="80" keywordseo="BBM">BBM</keyword>) is reportedly coming to platforms other than BB7 and BB10 operating systems. <keyword id="6355645" type="COMPANY" weightage="40" keywordseo="android">Android</keyword> will get the app first, followed by the <keyword id="75489" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="40" keywordseo="IOS">iOS</keyword>. We have heard this before, but now it seems quite certain that the popular messenger service is going to hop on to the popular Android and iOS devices. 
 
This could be a huge jump for BlackBerry as the other two operating systems have a large user base around the globe. That should bring fresh funds to the dwindling business and may infuse some new life into the company. BlackBerry OS10 devices are not as hugely popular as the earlier ones. But the integration of BBM with rival operating systems might give BlackBerry the edge, at least on the messenger front. 
 
The BlackBerry messenger is one of the most widely used applications worldwide. Many who switched from BB handsets to Android or iOS devices were hoping for a cross-platform jump – so that the app could be accessed from their devices and they would be again connected to their old pals who are still using BlackBerry phones. According to the BlackBerry India website, Android and iOS users will get the same kind of user interface, options and BBM voice capabilities as available on a BlackBerry phone. Moreover, they can text and video chat in real time across platforms. We are just hoping that there will be no lag in chatting across platforms. Otherwise it will just spoil the excitement. Till now, we haven’t heard anything on the price front, but anything between Rs 150-250 should be a decent enough premium to pay.

Now You Can Be A Blackberry Boy On Android And iOS

<div class="image-container float_right" style="width:400px"><div class="image"></div>Kevin Smith/Business Insider<keyword id="6354356" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="BlackBerry">BlackBerry</keyword>'s Martyn Mallick shows off BB10's app selection.</div>When BlackBerry announced its new phones this week, it spent a good part of the presentation touting the app selection it'll have at launch. 
It needed to.
No matter how good the new <keyword id="858672" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="BlackBerry-10">BlackBerry 10</keyword> operating system may be –– and <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackberry-10-reviews-2013-1">early reviews are very positive</a> –– the new BlackBerrys are worthless without a robust app selection. And that doesn't just mean the number of <keyword id="6354741" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Apps">apps</keyword> available. (BB10 has about 70,000 apps available at the moment). It means BB10 needs the popular apps people actually use and care about.
At Wednesday's BB10 launch event, the company addressed the issue head on. Martyn Mallick, BlackBerry's VP of global alliances and business development, took the stage and (with a lot of forced enthusiasm) began rattling off a bunch of apps that will be on BB10.
Skype! Amazon Kindle! WhatsApp! Angry Birds!
But with the exception of Angry Birds, none of those are on BB10 yet, and there's no word on when they'll actually launch. Just because a developer is "committed" to BB10, doesn't mean it intends to start cranking right away. If you end up buying one of the new BlackBerrys, don't hold your breath waiting for these apps to arrive.
What's even more important: the popular apps that Mallick didn't mention. There's no Instagram. No Yelp. No Spotify. No Pandora, Gmail, or Evernote. The list goes on and on, but you probably get the idea by now. And there's no guarantee any of those apps will every come to BB10.
So what does BlackBerry's App World have? If you take a look at the top trending or featured apps, it's a sad collection of knockoffs and other junk. There's Apollo, an app that supposedly lets you stream Pandora music. There's an <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackberry-10-screenshots-2013-1#the-biggest-rip-off-is-an-app-called-tiny-bird-which-is-a-blatant-copy-of-the-popular-iphone-game-tiny-wings-tiny-bird-was-one-of-the-most-popular-apps-when-bb10-launched-24">app called Tiny Bird</a>, which is a blatant ripoff of the insanely popular iPhone app Tiny Wings. The number one photo app is an Instagram clone called PicStory. The list goes on.
Then there are the big-name apps that BlackBerry was forced to go it alone and make itself. The Facebook app that ships with BB10 isn't made by Facebook, it's made by RIM. Same goes for Dropbox, Google Talk, and Yahoo Messenger. 
That means big companies like Facebook, Dropbox, Google, and a slew of others only take BB10 seriously enough to allow RIM to make apps for them. That also means when those companies release new features for their apps, BB10 users will have to wait for BlackBerry to catch up and add them too. Not a good sign.
Despite RIM's best efforts at courting developers, it's clear many, if not most of the important ones don't think BB10 is worth their time. 
Will BB10 app selection grow over time? 
Yes.
Will some big name apps eventually make it to BB10?
Of course. 
The problem is, BlackBerry is very late to the game launching an operating system that's just as good as iPhone and Android. There's little incentive for developers to care about BB10, which means there's little incentive for you to care about using it if you care about apps.

There Are 70,000 Apps On The New BlackBerry, But Not The Apps You Want

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"></div></div></div>Uber needs to juggle both the needs of its employees and those of e-commerce companies if it wants to expand into a logistics company that delivers goods in addition to people, according to <a href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/uber-ups-face-challenges-shipping-luxury-goods-1434480660">a recent report by The Wall Street Journal.</a>This week has been a rocky road for Uber, whose ride-hailing services may never be the same again. Its business model could dramatically change due to the recent ruling of the California Labor Commission on Wednesday that an Uber driver who brought the suit to court was <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/uber-and-lyft-employee-lawsuits-could-change-business-models-2015-6">an employee instead of an independent contractor</a>. Uber is trying to upend other services the way they did with people-delivery. Last year, they toyed around with courier services like <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/uber-rush-review-2014-10">UberRush</a>, which has bike messengers bring items from point A to B. The taxi-like service also put in a <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/08/business/uber-joins-the-bidding-for-here-nokias-digital-mapping-service.html?_r=0">$3 billion </a>bid to buy Google rival Nokia mapping unit called Here. Uber's one-day pilot program, <a href="http://newsroom.uber.com/boston/2014/10/bringing-house-calls-back-with-uberhealth/">UberHealth</a>, delivered flu prevention packs and vaccinations for users at no cost. Uber might have <a href="http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2015/06/16/meet-the-drivers-behind-ubers-food-delivery-service/">some kinks</a> to work out with UberEats, their food delivery experiment which launched last fall. Even with a delivery time of 10 minutes or less, the<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/ubereats-is-convenient-but-overpriced-2015-6"> $4 delivery fee could be a turn-off</a> to potential customers. In addition, luxury goods are often shipped in small amounts to keep packages below the maximum insured value, but Uber was unable to meet the insurance of high-price items of clients like online retailer Gilt Groupe. <a href="http://consumerist.com/2015/06/16/uber-still-working-out-logistics-of-delivering-food-and-merchandise/">Since Uber only covers merchandise up to $1000</a>, possible partnerships with a lot of other high-end retailers are coming up blank. Now investors are talking about a new round of funding which might give the company a <a href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/the-50-billion-question-can-uber-deliver-1434422042">$50 billion valuation,</a> the same mammoth size as FedEx Corp, but they don't know if Uber can deliver. Considering the <a href="http://www.bain.com/publications/articles/luxury-goods-worldwide-market-study-december-2014.aspx">climbing market of luxury goods</a>, Uber needs to take cues from UPS, which <a href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/ups-financial-services-arm-to-buy-logistics-firm-parcel-pro-1434412881">recently acquired Parcel Pro</a>, a firm which provides insurance coverage for expensive goods. Kevin Sterling, an analyst for BB&amp;T Capital Markets thought this tie-up made UPS ahead of the curve. <a href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/ups-financial-services-arm-to-buy-logistics-firm-parcel-pro-1434412881">He told WSJ</a>, "this is a much quicker way for them to get scale in the insurance of jewelry business, rather than starting from scratch. Parcel Pro is already in all the major jewelry markets." <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/general-mcchrystal-manage-company-us-army-uber-2015-5">Gen. Stanley McChrystal on how Uber operates just like a special forces unit</a></h3> <div> <div> <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="UweG8ydToxKxgv97nzOpisx_MuacMgQv" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div> </div> </div> </div>

Uber needs to solve this problem if it wants to expand into a delivery company

<div class="image-container float_right click-to-enlarge" style="width:420px"><div class="image"><a title_source="" title_caption="" class="zoomin" href="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/5239a2f469bedd7702f5a1ff-960/blackberry-a10-smartphone-2.jpeg"></a><a href="https://twitter.com/nvthanh1994/status/359651090842656769">Twitter/@nvthanh1994</a></div></div>In the midst of Apple's iPhone 5S and 5C news, BlackBerry has launched a new device. The Blackberry Z30 was announced yesterday, <a href="http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-57603373-94/blackberry-unveils-jumbo-z30-with-company-fate-up-in-the-air/">CNET reports</a>. It's a new model that features a 5-inch display, stereo speakers, a bigger battery, and the latest version of its <a href="http://reviews.cnet.com/blackberry-10-os/">BlackBerry 10</a> operating system.
The Z30 is the official name for the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackberry-a10-photos-leak-2013-7">BlackBerry A10</a> (what it was called when it was in development), but despite early positive reviews, news of the flagship phone was eclipsed by other top tier smartphone launches, mostly the new iPhone 5C and 5S. The announcement also comes on the heels of a disappointing Q1 for BlackBerry. Q2 numbers will be released next month.
<a href="http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-57603373-94/blackberry-unveils-jumbo-z30-with-company-fate-up-in-the-air/">According to CNet:</a>
The Z30 will come with BlackBerry 10.2, which features an enhanced Hub that prioritizes certain contacts and messages, a new notification system with BlackBerry Messenger, and the ability to have icons on the lock screen for better messages and notifications. BB 10.2 will be available to existing BlackBerrys starting mid-October.
Here is a video showing off the new Z30:

So far there has not been a release date set in the U.S.

Take A Look At BlackBerry's New Flagship Phone - Launched Today

<keyword id="13738" type="CITY" weightage="60" keywordseo="RIM">RIM</keyword>'s BlackBerry 10 is the long-touted software platform that hopes to turn around the company's fortunes.
Now we have a first look at how it's going to push new phones running the system, like the BlackBerry Z10, thanks to <a href="http://rapidberry.net/blackberry-10-retail-pictures-show-the-beautiful-blackberry-z10-in-black-and-white/">these leaked retail pictures shared by RapidBerry.net</a>.
The in-store marketing materials—they look like posters for window displays—emphasize features like BlackBerry Balance, which lets you use the same phone for personal and business data without commingling them.
Other images showcase BlackBerry Messenger's video-chat, the built-in calendar, the Web browser, and other features.
So it's clear that RIM is going to be emphasizing its software in selling its new phones.
<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackberry-10-demo-photos-2013-1">Click here to see photos of the new BB10 OS in action &gt;</a>
Check out the picture below, then <a href="http://rapidberry.net/blackberry-10-retail-pictures-show-the-beautiful-blackberry-z10-in-black-and-white/">head over to RapidBerry.net to see the rest</a>.
<div class="image-container" style="width:620px"><div class="image"></div><a href="http://rapidberry.net/blackberry-10-retail-pictures-show-the-beautiful-blackberry-z10-in-black-and-white/">RapidBerry.net</a></div>

LEAKED: Here's How RIM Is Going To Market Its Last-Chance BlackBerry

<div class="image-container float_right" style="width:400px"><div class="image"></div>Steve Kovach, Business Insider</div><keyword id="6354356" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="BlackBerry">BlackBerry</keyword> lost its way over the years. You can't argue against that.
Even after the launch of the iPhone, the company buried its head in the sand and refused to admit the future of smartphones was in gorgeous touchscreen hardware with friendly, innovative interfaces. 
Consumers started ditching their BlackBerrys for the iPhone and Android phones. First-time smartphone buyers ignored the BlackBerry. The company's dominant smartphone market share dwindled. The stock tanked.
And now, six years after the iPhone was introduced to the world, it seems BlackBerry has finally learned its lesson caught up with the competition with its newest smartphone, the <keyword id="1542593" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="BLackBerry-Z10">BlackBerry Z10</keyword>.
I've been using the Z10 since BlackBerry's big launch event last week. I think it's a great phone with a clever new operating system. But BlackBerry has its work cut out for it in several key areas.
<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackberry-z10-photos-and-features-2013-2">Click here for photos of the BlackBerry Z10 &gt;</a> 
<h2>What Is It?</h2>
Unlike every BlackBerry before it, the Z10 does not have a physical keyboard. Instead, BlackBerry chose to go touchscreen-only, just like all the other phones that consumers have been choosing over regular BlackBerrys for the last few years. 
The Z10 is slightly taller and thicker than the iPhone 5, with a 4.2-inch display and a removable rubbery back cover that lets you swap out the battery. It won't be available in the U.S. until mid-March and will cost $150-$200, depending on the carrier.
But the most important part of the Z10 is the new operating system called <keyword id="858672" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="BlackBerry-10">BlackBerry 10</keyword>. Despite BlackBerry's troubles, the company decided to build its own mobile OS for smartphones and tablets instead of using one like Google's Android or Microsoft's Windows Phone 8 that are readily available for manufacturers to use. 
BB10 is really good.
<h2>The New BlackBerry 10</h2>
It took awhile, but BlackBerry finally came up with a mobile operating system that can match iOS on the iPhone and Android. 
At first glance, BB10 looks a lot like iOS with its static grid of app icons. That's nothing special for a home screen, and it's nothing we haven't seen before from countless other iPhone wannabes. 
But there's more to BB10 than just a bunch of boring apps on your screen. BlackBerry cleverly designed the OS so everything can be controlled with gestures. They're not the confusing, difficult-to-learn gestures like you see in Windows 8; BB10's controls feel completely natural.
Yes, there's a slight learning curve, but it won't take you very long to get the hang of BB10's gestures.
It's best to think of BB10 in layers. Swiping from left to right reveals the BlackBerry Hub, a notifications center that stores updates from your email inbox, Facebook, Twitter, texts, etc., beneath your home screen. You don't even have to look at the whole thing, just a half-swipe is enough to peek at your incoming notifications. The Hub also lets you respond to emails, texts, etc. without having to open a separate app.
<div class="image-container" style="width:610px"><div class="image"></div>Steve Kovach, Business InsiderThe BlackBerry Hub in BB10.</div> 
Swiping from the bottom up closes an app, replacing the need to tap a home button. Your app is then stored in a separate window ahead of the normal app grid so you can quickly open it up again. It's the best mobile multitasking experience I've used so far, and reminds me just how much work Apple still needs to do with iOS in that respect.
In short, BB10's navigation is brilliant. It's a powerful, customizable operating system that doesn't feel as daunting and intimidating as Android can at times. It's the perfect balance of ease of use and versatility. 
It's just solid.
<h2>Using The Z10</h2>
BlackBerry has always prided itself on having the best smartphone keyboard, so the challenge was to bring that same experience to the Z10's touchscreen. It works. 
The BB10 on-screen keyboard is the best I've ever used. The keys are easy to spot thanks to the white letters on a black background, which is reminiscent of the old-school BlackBerry keyboard style. But the best part is how good the keyboard is at predicting what you'll type next. As you type, word suggestions appear over letters on the keyboard. You can then "flick" the word into the text field instead of typing it out all the way. 
Even better, the keyboard software analyzes the full sentence you're typing and predicts a handful of words you're likely to type next. It saves a ton of time, and it's much easier to use and more accurate than the autocorrect on iPhone and Android. Testing the Z10 was also my first extended use of BlackBerry Messenger (BBM). The experience is largely the same as before, but BBM now has a feature that lets you video chat and share your screen with another BB10 user through the Web. BBM works a lot like your buddy list in Google Talk or AIM, letting you set a status and see when you're friends are online. It's much more robust and useful than the often glitchy iMessage on Apple devices. 

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The Z10's camera is <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackberry-z10-camera-2013-1">just as bad as everyone says</a>. The software is pretty neat, letting you swap out your subject's face with one from a better shot, but the image sensor is horrible in low light settings. It's nowhere near as good as the camera on the iPhone 5 or Nokia Lumia 920.
The screen is measures in at 4.2 inches, slightly larger than the one on the iPhone 5, but with greater pixel density. Images and videos are incredibly sharp. My only complaint is that BlackBerry didn't consider making the display a bit larger like the gorgeous one on Samsung's Galaxy S III.
Finally, battery life was decent. You'll have no problem getting through a full day with moderate use. Luckily, the Z10's back cover snaps off you so can swap out a fully charged battery if you need to.
<h2>The App Problem</h2>
Ok, enough gushing. 
As I wrote after spending a few days with the Z10, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackberry-10-app-selection-2013-2">BlackBerry's app selection is horrible</a>. The company boasts that there are more than 70,000 apps in its store, but that number doesn't matter. What matters is finding the apps you want. BB10 still can't deliver that. 
Yes, more apps will surely arrive on BB10, but for now it's still missing a lot of big-name apps like Yelp, Evernote, Instagram, and several others. The apps that are in BlackBerry's app store are mostly just knockoffs and junk.
<div class="image-container" style="width:610px"><div class="image"></div>Steve Kovach, Business InsiderOne of the knockoff apps for BB10.</div>
It's also a concerning sign that big developers like Facebook and Dropbox didn't think BB10 was worth their time. BlackBerry ended up making those apps itself instead.
So that's the biggest problem with the Z10. If you care about apps and services, you're not going to get the best ones right away, assuming you get them at all. And when a developer makes the next hot app, such as <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/vine-app-for-iphone-walkthrough-2013-1">Vine</a> or <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/mailbox-launches-for-iphone-2013-2">Mailbox</a>, you won't be among the first to try it.
That should be a turn off for just about everyone.
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
Now for a reality check.
The Z10 is a great phone. BlackBerry 10 is a great operating system. Unfortunately for BlackBerry, it kept us waiting too long for a viable alternative to iPhone and Android (U.S. users will have to wait at least another month), so it's tough to imagine anyone but brand loyalists getting on board. There's next to no incentive for anyone currently using an iPhone or Android phone to make the switch to BlackBerry, and it's not appealing for a first-time smartphone buyer to choose the Z10 due to its lack of high quality apps.
If you're already a BlackBerry user, you'll love the Z10. Everyone else will be taking a step backwards by missing out on the great app and content ecosystems found in iOS and Android.
<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blackberry-z10-photos-and-features-2013-2">Click here for photos of the BlackBerry Z10 &gt;</a>

REVIEW: The New BlackBerry Phone

What is <keyword id="6354356" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="BlackBerry">BlackBerry</keyword> up to? At least in the <keyword id="47445" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Indian-market">Indian market</keyword>? Just a couple of days ago, the Canadian handset-maker has launched yet another mid-segment touch-and-type phone – <keyword id="1864957" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="BlackBerry-9720">BlackBerry 9720</keyword> – priced at around Rs 16,000. It’s not exactly cheap and the specifications won’t thrill you either. The latest BB10 operating system is missing once again, so is Near Field Communication (NFC). The new device has been fitted out with the old-fashioned 7.1 OS, but you will find the signature <keyword id="713967" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="QWERTY-keyboard">Qwerty keyboard</keyword> (it has 35 keys upfront), a 2.8 inch capacitive touchscreen, an optical track-pad for navigation, a 5 megapixel rear camera that can record video (but no front-facing camera), FM radio, 3G connectivity, Bluetooth 2.1 and the BBM Voice for free chat over Wi-Fi. 
 It is definitely a dampener, prior to a big event BlackBerry is apparently planning in line with <keyword id="10591" type="CITY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Samsung">Samsung</keyword> and <keyword id="6354427" type="CITY" weightage="40" keywordseo="Apple">Apple</keyword>. Checking reviews and user opinions on various news and shopping sites (one of them is Amazon’s Junglee.com), we have found that the product has drawn flak from most people due to lack of originality and innovation. Is that why the tech giant is repeatedly failing to get its act right in <keyword id="3658" type="COUNTRY" weightage="80" keywordseo="India">India</keyword> and abroad? Simply upgrading its operating system and producing more updated handsets are not enough to keep it going. Somewhere along the way, BlackBerry has lost its cool and something amazing needs to happen now to pull it out of the rut. But there are more reasons than one that we would like to explore. 
 
Been there, done that, but to what effect? 
For some time now, BlackBerry has tried to do anything and everything that came its way, trying to save the sinking ship. The company is considering going private and looking for a strategic partner. It is also mulling a split-up and sell-off plan concerning its handset/hardware business. But it could be difficult to convince private investors or potential buyers that its current and upcoming range of smartphones and devices would have a long-term future with enterprises and business customers unless the company makes up its mind about what it wants to do on a priority basis and does it fast. Like when it decided to take BBM™ (BlackBerry Messenger) cross-platform or introduced the BBM Channels. Smart and timely moves – both of them. 
 As for hardware, Blackberry has its finger in every pie, but can we really call it earth-shattering? Some good things are happening though, in spite of the not-so-wow <keyword id="28168" type="TECHNOLOGY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Smartphone">smartphone</keyword> models we get to see. Its next-generation (but undoubtedly overpriced) smartphones Z10 and Q10 running on the latest BB10 OS were launched in January this year, and it is leaked that the company has already developed a new 10.2 OS with lots of features like app manager, actionable notifications, Wi-Fi Direct and more. That can push sales, especially if the upgraded OS is integrated with all BB10 devices without the price shooting up too much. But these are, after all, ‘essentials’ nowadays and Samsung already has some of these features. Although it has moved away from the tablet segment after the PlayBook failed to impress, the firm is reportedly developing a 5 inch phablet (in direct contention with Samsung?) dubbed as the Z30. It has been leaked a number of times and is expected to be released by the year-end. Do we have a game-changer there? Let us wait and see. 
 
Price points a pain, at least in India If BlackBerry has lost its focus globally, that is also getting reflected in the kind of products it is pushing in India without any specific pricing strategy. Apart from the popular Curve, we don’t see too many cheap handsets (below Rs 10K) here. Of course, the company was never about volumes or mass market, but price points should be right if one is actually targeting the emerging markets and have competitors like Samsung, <keyword id="6354716" type="CITY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Nokia">Nokia</keyword> and Sony in the mid-range price segment. BlackBerry has never rolled out a sub-$100 (about Rs 6,000) device like Nokia or Samsung – so it is already at a disadvantage to capture the mass market. As for high-end phones like Q5, the cheapest BB10 device in the Indian market, one needs to shell out a whopping Rs 25,000. 
 
Old tags are passé; innovations need a future window Although pricing plays a crucial part in a price-sensitive market like India, one cannot ignore the innovation factor. Think of the latest offerings from Nokia or Sony or even HTC (I am excluding Samsung and Apple from this as they have so many firsts to their credit). There is always something new – be it the best smartphone camera (Nokia 808 PureView or Lumia 1020) or the biggest RAM (the upcoming Sony Xperia Z2 is rumoured to have 3 GB RAM) or the best audio (HTC One). After all, we are living in a world of ‘dual persona’ smartphones where the thin line between business and personal worlds often overlap. So the ‘business only’ tag of BlackBerry is not likely to cut the ice with the Millennials and the products must live up to their definitions of work, fun, thrill and entertainment. The BYOD issues world over is proof enough that most of us want the best of personal and professional worlds on the same gadget. In fact, that could be one of the reasons why Apple’s latest <keyword id="6354606" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="iPhone">iPhone</keyword> comes with a fingerprint sensor. What would keep business data more secure while we have some fun and frolic off work? 
 
It matters when you get more users 
Business communities are die-hard BB fans, of course. But if BlackBerry requires a facelift or even a complete changeover from its traditional business image to survive the future, it makes sense to work across several niches and come up with different products even. Imagine a different kind of BlackBerry for college-goers, young professionals, mid-level managers, senior corporate, home-makers and senior citizens. In addition to generic features, each could come pre-loaded with relevant apps and smart technologies. It’s not as impossible as we think. We are the BlackBerry Boys (an Indian commercial) already shows you the tilt and the change. Incremental upgrades, even from a company like Apple, spell the death of innovation (and that’s when it boils down to gold versus plastic). So all we need now is just an amazing BlackBerry with some real value and the magic could be back again.

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