BlackBerry Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY) (TSE:BB) hasn’t lost steam yet, at least not entirely. The Canadian company is reportedly working on a smartphone with an octa-core 64-bit processor that is likely to be launched in summer 2015. Sources familiar with the matter told BlackBerry-watcher N4BB that the smartphone is code named Ontario, and will be a part of the O-series.
BlackBerry Ontario to release next year?
BlackBerry Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY) (TSE:BB) is rumored to utilize Qualcomm’s octa-core Snapdragon MSM8994 processor to attain the 2.5GHz speed. The chipset relies on 64-bit architecture. The device is likely to run on BB 10.3. Other expected features of the mystery BlackBerry phone include 4GB RAM, Pixel fill Rate 6Gpix/s, Adreno 430 500 MHz, and Vertex 500Mtri/s. But there are a lot of questions around the device. Will John Chen continue with an eight-core device? N4BB sources said that if BlackBerry goes ahead with the device, the launch is unlikely to happen until mid-2015. Its rumored features may seem impressive today, but they are likely to become the norm by summer 2015.
BlackBerry Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY) (TSE:BB) has decided to go ahead with Foxconn Technology Co., Ltd. (TPE:2354) to unveil low-cost devices for emerging markets. The company has decided that it won’t leave the smartphone business altogether. However, analysts say that BlackBerry has little chances of revival in the fiercely competitive smartphone industry.
BlackBerry too late?
BlackBerry Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY) (TSE:BB) has little hope from the North American and European markets. It’s betting on emerging markets to boost smartphone sales. The company’s first device with Foxconn Technology Co., Ltd. (TPE:2354) will be launched in Indonesia this April. But other smartphone vendors are gearing up to grab a bigger slice of the emerging market sales. Lenovo Group Limited (ADR) (OTCMKTS:LNVGY) (HKG:0992) has acquired Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG)’s Motorola unit for $2.91 billion to strengthen its business outside China. Meanwhile, Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) is determined to do everything to make its Windows Phone OS a success. The Redmond-based company is likely to get more aggressive as it completes the acquisition of Nokia Corporation (ADR) (NYSE:NOK) (HEL:NOK1V)’s device business.
BlackBerry Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY) (TSE:BB) shares skidded 0.30% to $9.84 in pre-market trading Tuesday.
