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New BlackBerry sales higher than expected [Western Mail (Wales)](Western Mail (Wales) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) SALES of the new BlackBerry in the UK have been better than expected, the chief executive of Canadian maker Research In Motion has said. The new BlackBerry handsets were unveiled last week after excruciating delays allowed Apple, Samsung and others to build commanding leads in the industry. Its shares fell 12% after Wednesday's launch, despite positive reviews about the new BlackBerry 10 operating system. Chief executive Thorsten Heins said a substantial number of UK users are moving from other platforms to BlackBerry and said that is an encouraging sign because they first targeted long-time BlackBerry users. "It's beyond expectations," he said. "White is sold out already. The black is hard to stock up again. It's very encouraging. I won't share the number because I need to verify it, but we are getting a substantial number of users moving from other platforms to BlackBerry." Mr Heins, who a year ago replaced long-time executives who had presided over Black-Berry's fall, said he is confident that BlackBerry can become the third ecosystem behind Apple and phones running Google's Android operating system. "We need to win back market share to be relevant," he said. "We have to be aggressive in the US market." The new BlackBerrys are a make-or-break product after the pioneering brand lost its cachet not long after Apple's 2007 release of the iPhone, which reset expectations for what a smartphone should do. BlackBerry creator RIM promised a new system to catch up, using technology it got through its 2010 purchase of QNX Software Systems. But it has taken more than two years to unveil new phones that are redesigned for the new multimedia, internet browsing and apps experience that customers are now demanding. The Z10 has only a touch-screen keyboard, like Apple's trend- setting iPhone and most phones running Android, including Samsung's popular Galaxy line. The Q10 will follow and have a physical keyboard, a feature that has kept BlackBerry users loyal as it makes typing easier. RIM said the Q10 will go on sale in some countries in April. (c) 2013 ProQuest Information and Learning Company; All Rights Reserved. |