Blackberry Z10 (Review): The Dawn or Dusk of Blackberry?

Is it an iPhone.... is it the HTC One. No its the Blackberry Z10. The Z10 is the first phone to support Blackberry 10. According to Blackberry, This smarrphone is meant to signify a new start for Blackberry (Formerly known as RIM.) Blackberry 10 is the company's last attempt at success but with assets drying up and time passing by, will it be enough to keep the company afloat in this vicious smartphone tide. to put it simply, The Z10 is the rather disastrous Dawn of blackberry 10 but I can already see Blackberry's Dusk soon approaching!


HARDWARE

At first glance, the device does look stunning. Its glossy 4.2 inch screen, its smooth edges and bold buttons as simple yet utterly elegant! The immersive screen has a good re
solution (of  359 pixels per inch) The screen makes for clear, crisp and immersive content viewing (if your battery isn't dead.) Its when you hold the device in your hands when the problems roll out. The device has that common mid-range plastic-feel and it just seems too small, its definitely small for previous Galaxy S users but it may be okay for previous iPhone or Blackberry users. Overall, I like the look of the device. It undoubtable looks premium but it doesn't feel it. The phone's design is unique however It still isn't better than the Galaxy S4, the iPhone 5 or even its twin, the HTC One.

A SPEC-SENTENCE

A spec-sheet thats so short, it can be called a "Spec-sentence." We've seen amazing spec-sheets over the past few months from Samsung and Nokia, Spec-sheets that I struggle to write on one page. Then you get Blackberry with a few average specs that we've seen 2 years ago. The saddest part is that blackberry openly boasts these "Features"on its websites. They expect phrases like, "Front-Facing camera" and "3G ready" to draw customers in. * Lets take a moment of silence to show how pathetic is, if you can stop laughing. *  

TOUR

On the front of the device, you will find The 4.2 inch screen. Blackberry branding below the screen. The headset speaker, LED indicator and the illusive Front-facing camera. Something I really don't understand is the dual bezels on the device, many people have commented that they are for 'design' purposes but if so I really think it doesn't look nice (at all.) It would have been good to see some speakers on them (like the HTC One.)  but the again Blackberry has so little content to play through the speakers. On the bottom you shall find the primary speakers, which make for muffled sound quality. The positioning of the speakers are bad as I find myself covering the speakers when holding it in landscape mode. The Top of the device has a Sleep/wake button which is also oddly placed right in the middle. Although it looks better, its just hard to press the button when using the phone with one hand. The right side is home to two volume rockers as well as a programmable button in the middle. (similar to the one found on the 9900.) The left side houses the connection ports, The MicroUSB Charging port and the HDMI Port for sharing your screen. Finally we yet to the removable back panel which you will remove to install a Sim card or MicroSD as well as to remove or change the battery. Speaking of the Battery, The Z10 has a fairly large 1800 mAH battery which is good for about a day however the battery life does tend to deteriorate after a few weeks of usage. Getting back to the Back of the device, the Z10 has a textured Back panel which isn't as good as the one on the Q10 but its really nice and gripp-able. On the back you will also find the fair 8MP camera and the Blackberry logo. 

CAMERA

The Rear-shooter is a 8MP camera which is very similar to the iPhone 5 and the Q10's. It makes for Clear and crisp pictures. The camera is amazing and is definitely a camera I would use for everyday photography. Although the flash helps in low-light situations, I find that the flash gives pictures an unusual glowing hue. The Z10 also has a fair front-facing camera that can be used to take pictures of yourself and for 3rd party apps like Skype.

BLACKBERRY 10 OS

Blackberry 10 is Blackberry's last attempt to get you, the end user to join the Blackberry eco-system abandoning all android and iOS have to offer for what seems like a joke if you ask me. Blackberry 10 virtually takes features from iOS and Android and calls them their own! Apple and Google  haven't even bothered to do anything about it because I think even they feel sorry for Blackberry's failed attempt. Blackberry 10 just feels like you living in 2008. The software has a good look to it but at the end of the day the features are outdated and aren't useful. An example is one of Blackberry 10's key features is Blackberry Remind which does what Apple's Reminders did in iOS 5 (in 2011)!

BLACKBERRY BALANCE

Blackberry Balance is a feature that separates your work files from your personal files, which I think is an amazing feature. It works well and its definitely a feature I love in Blackberry 10. It really defines Blackberry as a work phone and a personal phone for real business people.  Its more features like these that I want to see.

BLACKBERRY HUB

Blackberry Hub allows you to have a peek at your notifications at a glance from any application by just swiping across the screen. The feature is similar to Android and iOS's Notifications but the layout is unique. It works fairly well, however I would have liked to see Blackberry allow you to reply to messages from Blackberry Hub. 

KEYBOARD

I hate to give it to Blackberry but the on-screen keyboard on the Z10 is undoubtable the best i've ever typed on. It just looks stunning and works even better. With the keyboard its just easier to draft an email or text a friend. It feels real, typing is not only easier but friendlier, The Blackberry keyboard learns your way of typing and adjust so you don't have to worry about miss spelling a word because the Blackberry Keyboard will correct you. It also looks at your most used words to give you word suggestions, all you have to do it swipe them up. Its as easy as QWERTY. 

DOCS TO GO

Edit and write your own Microsoft Office Word, exel or powerpoint documents ,basically polaris with blackberry branding! Docs to go is really helpful as you can edit documents on the way to meeting on the streets of south africa and nobody will steal the phone because even thieves don't want blackberrys. Maybe that would be a good feature for blackberry to add to their brochures... You're welcome Blackberry! No seriously , Docs to go on the Q10 is hard to use due to the small screen , so I find it useless on the Q10 also getting the documents onto your PC can be a lengthy task. (installing unneeded software)

BLACKBERRY WORLD

Blackberry World would either make or brake Blackberry 10. It doesn't matter how bad the Operating system is, if Blackberry world had a good selection of apps then the software would be shadowed. Sadly thats not the case. I do commend Blackberry for trying - blackberry gave out several "Dev Alpha"devices to help developers get a feel of Blackberry 10 but few of them developed worth while applications and as a result, blackberry world isn't just okay, its scarce! Although Blackberry now allows you to port android applications they don't work that well or they don't work at all! On the Q10 you will hardly find android applications that will run on its unusual square screen, same goes with the Q5. Another thing Blackberry introduced is music and videos to the Blackberry World, which indeed opens new opportunities but why buy music on blackberry when you can buy it on Apple and listen to it on your computer and on your iPad/iPods where as you can only listen to Blackberry music on your Blackberry 10 Smartphone. (Blackberry "World" isn't available on previous Blackberry devices)

BLACKBERRY MESSENGER

Blackberry Messenger got a new blackberry 10 facelift however no matter how popular BBM is, i still think the platform is slow and that other platforms like ChatOn and whatsapp are the best messaging platforms. BBM was the major factor on previous Blackberry smart phones but with no BIS (Blackberry Internet Services) It just isn't needed. I have also found lately that there are more people using whatsapp than BBM. I just think BBM features are outdated and Blackberry just played attention on useless details instead of focusing on the bigger picture. I find myself hardly using features like BBM Voice and Video as their simple aren't enough people with Blackberry 10 smart phones.

SEARCH

The search tool is really handy. Have you ever really needed a file but cant find it. Say goodbye to those angry bosses or teachers because this search utility beats Apple's by far. Blackberry Search suggest files from the device as well as suggestions on Blackberry World and the internet in order to supply you with the best search results on a mobile device. 

SOFTWARE CONCLUSION

Overall I think Blackberry OS 10 is a really big improvement from Blackberry OS7. It has better graphics, a better layout and is faster but with dated features and annoying gestures this OS update just isn't enough to make people move from Android or iOS to Blackberry 10. From a Software standpoint, Blackberry 10 just seems confused! Is it a flagship device? Is it a Social phone? Is it a Blackberry? It just seems as though blackberry tried too hard. They were to busy trying to mimic their competition that they lost view of what Blackberry was really about, now it doesn't feel like im holding a Blackberry in my hands. Blackberry 10 has some amazing features like Blackberry Keyboard and Blackberry search but will a search utility and on-screen keyboard really save Blackberry? 

CONCLUSION

Blackberry has done an amazing job with the Z10 its beautiful and its unique. No matter what people may say. The Z10 is in my opinion a bold and striking move for Blackberry. I like that they made that move but I question whether its enough for the company. A dated operating system, a seemingly confused design and a dead App Store means consumers aren't interested in the Z10. Why would they be when there are phones with better specs and software. Blackberry is dying, but they are ending on a good note. I see a device that isn't all that good but its reliable, its convenient and its just a statement to everyone on how far Blackberry has come. It may not be the best phone out there but as a business person, a social person or a student. The Z10 is a phone i'd buy. Features like Blackberry keyboard, blackberry search , Docs to go and even the annoying gestures makes this phone so perfect for everyday life. I like this phone because its not trying to be something its not! It may be the dusk of Blackberry but its definitely the dawn of something new, Something unique and something that I really like...

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Blackberry Q10 (Review) : A Traditional Blackberry with the Right dilution of Android and Apple.... In other Words, A Fruit Cocktail!

"Fantastic, Fast. innovative, The Next Big thing" are 4 words that don't describe the Q10. The Q10 is Blackberry as it was made to be. It is the Blackberry 10 device for those few Blackberry-lovers out there. It has a stylish design, a QWERTY keyboard and a 3.1 inch multi-touch display but is that really enough to hide from the fact that Blackberry 10 OS is a failed attempt at iOS and Android?

HARDWARE

I chose to review the Q10 before the Z10 because frankly, I like to focus on the positive features of a device when I review it but with the Z10, there truly isn't anything to commend Blackberry on, but I wont go into too much detail on the Z10 because you're here to read about the Q10 and see it for what it truly is. Lets talk about the hardware, amazingly smooth keys that make for comfortable typing. The Q10 has a rather small 3.1 inch display which has a fairly low pixel resolution when compared to other flagship smart phones like the Samsung Galaxy S4.  Although bad, the resolution is much better than what ive seen on previous Blackberry devices like the Bold 9900. The Back of the device has a rather premium looking carbon fibre like design but once its in your hands, it just feels plasticy and not at all premium! Don't get me wrong, I love the design but im very disappointed with regards to the little details like speaker grills and  parts where Blackberry should have added premium materials like they did with the 9900. Under its plastic exterior, the Q10 packs a Snapdragon S4 Quad-core processor.  Overall , I think the Spec sheet isn't exiting to many but is definitely an improvement for previous Blackberry owners, its a good spec update but Blackberry users are a minority and Blackberry needs to reach out and expand their horizons and draw in new customers but with this hardware, I just don't understand why anyone would leave their flagship S4's or even the S3 for this phone.

CAMERA

The Rear shooter is a 8MP camera which makes for crisp detailed pictures. The camera is really good and is definitely a camera that id use everyday. The flash helps in low-light situations but I find that the flash gives the pictures and unusual glowing hue. The Q10 also has a fair front-facing camera that can be used to take pictures or used in 3rd part applications like Skype. 

TOUR

On the front you shall find a the QWERTY keyboard, Blackberry Branding, a headset speaker, a front-facing camera and an LED indicator. On the bottom of the device, you'll find the main speaker grill which produces amazing crisp sound quality however its placing is bad as the sound isn't firing at you but away from you. On the top theres a classic Blackberry Sleep/Wake button and on the right -hand side you'll find the volume rocker and the programmable button. On the Left-hand side is a Micro- HDMI port and a micro USB port for charging the phone.

BLACKBERRY 10.1 OS

Blackberry 10 is Blackberry's last attempt to get you, the end user to join the Blackberry eco-system abandoning all android and iOS have to offer for what seems like a joke if you ask me. Blackberry 10 virtually takes features from iOS and Android and calls them their own! Apple and Google  haven't even bothered to do anything about it because I think even they feel sorry for Blackberry's failed attempt. Blackberry 10 just feels like you living in 2008. The software has a good look to it but at the end of the day the features are outdated and aren't useful. An example is one of Blackberry 10's key features is Blackberry Remind which does what Apple's Reminders did in iOS 5 (in 2011)!

Photo Credit - BerryReview

BLACKBERRY BALANCE

Blackberry Balance is a feature that separates your work files from your personal files, which I think is an amazing feature. It works well and its definitely a feature I love in Blackberry 10. It really defines Blackberry as a work phone and a personal phone for real business people.  Its more features like these that I want to see.

BLACKBERRY HUB

Blackberry Hub allows you to have a peek at your notifications at a glance from any application by just swiping across the screen. The feature is similar to Android and iOS's Notifications but the layout is unique. It works fairly well, however I would have liked to see Blackberry allow you to reply to messages from Blackberry Hub. 

DOCS TO GO

Edit and write your own Microsoft Office Word, exel or powerpoint documents ,basically polaris with blackberry branding! Docs to go is really helpful as you can edit documents on the way to meeting on the streets of south africa and nobody will steal the phone because even thieves don't want blackberrys. Maybe that would be a good feature for blackberry to add to their brochures... You're welcome Blackberry! No seriously , Docs to go on the Q10 is hard to use due to the small screen , so I find it useless on the Q10 also getting the documents onto your PC can be a lengthy task. (installing unneeded software)

BLACKBERRY WORLD

Blackberry World would either make or brake Blackberry 10. It doesn't matter how bad the Operating system is, if Blackberry world had a good selection of apps then the software would be shadowed. Sadly thats not the case. I do commend Blackberry for trying - blackberry gave out several "Dev Alpha"devices to help developers get a feel of Blackberry 10 but few of them developed worth while applications and as a result, blackberry world isn't just okay, its scarce! Although Blackberry now allows you to port android applications they don't work that well or they don't work at all! On the Q10 you will hardly find android applications that will run on its unusual square screen, same goes with the Q5. Another thing Blackberry introduced is music and videos to the Blackberry World, which indeed opens new opportunities but why buy music on blackberry when you can buy it on Apple and listen to it on your computer and on your iPad/iPods where as you can only listen to Blackberry music on your Blackberry 10 Smartphone. (Blackberry "World" isn't available on previous Blackberry devices)

BLACKBERRY MESSENGER

Blackberry Messenger got a new blackberry 10 facelift however no matter how popular BBM is, i still think the platform is slow and that other platforms like ChatOn and whatsapp are the best messaging platforms. BBM was the major factor on previous Blackberry smart phones but with no BIS (Blackberry Internet Services) It just isn't needed. I have also found lately that there are more people using whatsapp than BBM. I just think BBM features are outdated and Blackberry just played attention on useless details instead of focusing on the bigger picture. I find myself hardly using features like BBM Voice and Video as their simple aren't enough people with Blackberry 10 smart phones.

SOFTWARE CONCLUSION

Overall I think Blackberry OS 10 is a really big improvement from Blackberry OS7. It has better graphics, a better layout and is faster but with dated features and annoying gestures this OS update just isn't enough to make people move from Android or iOS to Blackberry 10. From a Software standpoint, Blackberry 10 just seems confused! Is it a flagship device? Is it a Social phone? Is it a Blackberry? It just seems as though blackberry tried too hard. They were to busy trying to mimic their competition that they lost view of what Blackberry was really about, now it doesn't feel like im holding a Blackberry in my hands.

CONCLUSION

 I would firstly like to address a complaint that surfaced recently that said im against Blackberry, I am in no way against Blackberry, im fact I like blackberry's. There was just a unique feeling about using a Blackberry handset and being part of the Blackberry eco-system but that feeling truly lacks in OS 10. I feel as though Blackberry has done an amazing job on the Q10, its gorgeous and captures a see in it a slight hint of what blackberry was and what it wants to be, thats just it - Blackberry isn't there as yet and  I cant justify and I doubt anyone else would spend R8000 on the Q10 when you can get a higher specced Galaxy S4 for the same price. I keep telling myself that Blackberry can only improve from OS10 but at the same time I remind myself that Blackberry's time is limited and their funds are rapidly drying up. I Love Blackberrys and I hope blackberry will be continue but at this moment in time, Blackberry 10 is only appealing to SOME previous Blackberry Owners. Blackberry 10 just isn't good enough for the majority of tech users. With regards to the Q10 in particular, I believe Blackberry could have really made this a good phone as there are no QWERTY keyboard smart phones with these specs but the software lets it down and stops eager consumers from buying it. Blackberry 10 was suppose to be the rebirth or death of Blackberry but it really feels like Blackberry is just on "life Support" at the moment, neither here nor there. Blackberry is still in the game but they need to do something before funds deflate, time lapses and most importantly consumers loose interest... 

Basically everything boils down to us, we need to stop blaming blackberry. I am in no way saying you cant criticize them, im simply saying that you should give them a chance. You cant expect them to get better if they don't have customers to better the eco-sytem for. So for the final verdict - Should you buy a Q10 ? Yes and No. The Blackberry Q10 is a excellent work phone. It does will do what you need it to do on a daily basis but nothing more. Its a good phone for a person who wants just that but for the avid gamers, teen or even a app-lover I wouldn't recommend this phone. If you are adamant on getting a Blackberry 10 device, Id recommend waiting for the launch of the Blackberry A10 later this year or the iPhone 5S. In conclusion ... Blackberry's fruits may be dry but the Blackberry's seeds can always disperse to give life to new technology ... or Blackberry can stay Blackberry!


Thanks to Shailen Desai for this Review unit and thanks to all of you for reading this and supporting my blog. Please note,  The content of this Blog post belongs collectively to iGeekDroid, iBlogUnscripted and Mikail Jassat unless otherwise stated. Any use of this content is plagiarism unless prior permission is given my the author.

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Blackberry To Launch A new Flagship Smartphone .... Haven't they tortured us enough!

Photo Credit - Qz

Blackberry is to 6 smart phones this year and we've seen 3 of those 6. Rumors have been flooding the internet that Blackberry is planning to release a new flagship smartphone to replace the current flagship , The Z10. Firstly I would like to commend Blackberry - It takes guts to understand that your product isn't good. The Smartphone is said to launch sometime later this year. This device is named the "A10" no other information has been given about this smartphone. I really like Blackberry. I think they are unique and I hope they show that in the A10 instead of trying to be something they are not (like they did with the Z10). Blackberry really needs to get to work making the best smartphone they can because right now they are dying financially and consumers are starting to loose interest....


WHAT DO I WANT TO SEE IN THE "A10"

Well One thing is certain, I don't want an iPhone replica with Blackberry branding and Android-like software. I want a Blackberry! A unique phone with a bigger screen and better resolution. A premium and lightweight design. Better Battery life. A Better Camera that can compete with the S4 or HTC One. Most of all , I want a upgraded version of Blackberry 10. I want to see better animations. Crisper design and much more features especially when it comes to Camera options - I want filters, Slow-motion video the works. I want to see software that defines Blackberry... 

SHOULD I BUY A Z10 WITH THE A10 COMING UP? 

I would suggest you do. The A10 will replace the Z10 which means it will have much more to offer from a hardware and software stand-point. What I suggest is that you wait for the A10 to release in your country and if you don't like the A10 the Z10 will be available and it will be cheaper than it was before the launch of the A10. 

I hope this post helped you and I wish Blackberry the best of luck as they design the A10. To keep up to date with all things techie, Subscribe to us and keep checking our site for more Blackberry 10 posts.

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The Q5 is now Available!

The Q5 is the phone for the many people out there who want to experience Blackberry 10 but don't want to spend that much. The Q5 enters the south African market with a stylish design, the iconic Blackberry QWERTY keyboard and pretty impressive specs! The Q5 has an amazing 5MP rear-facing camera and Blackberry 10.1. As of right now, the Q5 is available on MTN, CellC and Vodacom! 

Buy it From CELLC -  Contract Options -> Click here

Buy it From Vodacom - Contract Options -> Click Here

Buy it From MTN - Contract option -> Click Here                   

WHY BUY THE Q5

I am a not a fan of Blackberry, however I think Blackberry has been working hard to make the Blackberry eco system better and I believe that preservation is what will keep Blackberry afloat. Things like bringing BBM (Blackberry Messaging) to multiple platforms. Blackberry has also promised support for Android Jelly Bean Applications on Blackberry 10.2! That will bring the games you all love to your Blackberry. I am exited to see what Blackberry has planned and I think it is the perfect time to buy the Q5 (if you are a fan of Blackberry). For others like myself, I don't really understand why you should buy the Q5 when you can buy a S3 mini for the same price. Personally I would buy the Q5 because I believe in Blackberry and I think Blackberry is a unique company and the Q5 is a complete reflection of the company. Theres just something about the Q5 that I love. Its something that I cant explain, its just so lovable! Dare I say it but the Q5 is better than the SIII Mini and would more apps and little improvements to Blackberry 10 here and there, it could be the number one mid-range phone on the market. So what are you waiting for ... Get buying!

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Whats the Next South African Youth Phone ?

Photo Credit - Adhik Jaichun

For the past few years Blackberrys have dominated the cellular youth market. They were bulky, slow and very ugly but people still chose to buy them as:

• Blackberrys were fairly cheap with the entry-level model (The Curve 8520.) selling at R1800.
• BBM (Blackberry Messaging) was a convenient and affordable way of messaging others. 
• BIS (Blackberry Internet Service.) provided cheap internet connections for R59/ month. 

As a result of the above , Blackberrys prospered. While technology became more advanced leaving Blackberry and its users in the dust. With the decline of Blackberry and BIS, many South African Teens scramble to find a replacement for their old blackberries.' Fear not, thats what im here for!'

The key here is not only to find a replacement for your old blackberry but something that is much better  yet has the convenience and affordability that Blackberry was crowned for.  When choosing you next phone you should take note of your distinct interests and features that you depend on or want in your everyday life . 

Facebook Home

Photo Credit - Techno Buffalo

This is a fairly new software from Facebook designed specifically for Android Phones. Android Phones are phones that run Android OS (A Google Designed operating System) they include the Samsung Galaxy S4 and the HTC one etc. The good thing about Facebook Home is that you can run it on any Android phone running OS 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) and higher, this means that people can chose to spend less on a phone and buy a entry-level device or buy a high-end flagship device (like the S4.) Facebook home incorporates Facebook into your phone to show your updates and messages once you unlock your phone - A feature that allows instant social access that is a swipe away. Facebook Home allows the Social aspect that your blackberry offered allowing you to social quickly and easily. Facebook Home runs all of the Android Apps including apps like Angry Birds, Subway Surfers and BBM (available by the end of July.) An amazing thing is that you can switch back to the traditional Android software set on your phone from Facebook Home. PLEASE NOTE : Facebook Home is an additional software overlay or Launcher and is available on the Play store. It doesn't come pre-loaded on the phones mentioned below (Accept on the HTC First.) 

Good Examples of These are : 

HTC First 

Samsung Galaxy S4

HTC One

Nexus 4

iPhone 

photo Credit - BGR

Although this option may not be as affordable as the Blackberry its simple and fantastic. I think the iPhone is the best phone for South African Youth. its easy to use , there are millions of apps to suite your needs and most importantly stylish. Teens can make use of the iPhones vast accessory line to personalize their phone. Socialize using iMessages. Apple's exclusive messaging network , BBM (available on the App Store by the end of July.) and Whatsapp and Viber ( a free messaging and call app.) Right now would be a good time to buy the iPhone especially after the launch of Apples new Mobile Software iOS7!  The iPhone 5

I hope this entry helped decide which phone to look out for. Make sure to read the Reviews and subscribe for more amazing and in-depth entries! 

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A Multi-platform BBM (Blackberry Messaging) : The Full Story

Have you ever dreamt of BBM, Blackberry's exclusive messaging service, on your iPhone or Android Phone?  - Well the reality is , you probably haven't. Slow messages, annoying Broadcast messages and a shorter battery life as a result are all problems that i've experienced when using BBM. The fact is the majority of tech-users are and will use Whatsapp (or other messaging platforms) on their iPhones or android phones and even if they moved to a blackberry, I'm sure they'd still use Whatsapp over BBM. 

(Photo Credit : Elie Chahine's Blog.)

Why I don't like BBM!

Below are the reason why I seriously don't like BBM and why id much rather use Whatsapp. 

• BBM is slow and often doesn't work at random times ( when you need it the most.)
• The Broadcast Message - Yes, if you've had BBM you'd definitely know what im saying. Those irritating messages from people who have nothing to do. For people who don't know what they are - They are Messages that are sent from one of your friends to all of their contacts and often        sound like this ... "Happy Mother's Day - if you don't Broadcast this message in 20 seconds, something bad is going to happen to your mother." or the all common , "Blackberry is shutting down users profiles at 12:00 AM , if you don't broadcast this code, your phone will fail to work. This is a serious note from the CEO of Blackberry, John Blackberry." I don't know why people Broadcast these stupid messages, but then again, they did buy blackberries! 
• The overall performance of your Blackberry. When you have ± 300 contacts on BBM, your blackberry becomes really slow overall and often it freezes and restarts while you using the phone however this shouldn't be a problem with the Q10 or Z10. The slower processor on the Q5 may be affected. 
• The horrible Battery life, this is as a result of your contacts updating their profile pictures and statuses as well as sending and receiving messages. Your battery can go from lasting a day with medium use but with BBM disabled to a matter of hours with the same use and BBM running in the background.   

Multi-Platform

Blackberry is to release BBM as an App available for : 

• iPhones (iPhone 4 , 4S and 5.) running iOS 6
• Android Phones (Running 4.2) 

Once launched you will be able to download it off the App Store / Play Store and use it just like on a Blackberry 10 device however features will be updated on Blackberry 10 devices before it is updated on the application. The App will be Free of charge! 

Why does Blackberry want to release it as a Multi- platform Messaging Service? 

I should actually rephrase that heading and rather ask - Why does Blackberry NEED to release it as Multi-platform Messaging Service? Well with Blackberry (formerly known as RIM, which I called RIP.)  under piles of debts and Blackberry 10 showing to be less successful than blackberry anticipated,   A Multi-platform BBM will not only Boost sales of Blackberrys but will give Blackberry the opportunity to sell Ads on the iPhone and Android version of the Messaging service. A Multi-platform BBM could also give Blackberry much needed recognition and exposure, which I think is all Blackberry needs right now.  (Photo Credit - Business insider.)

PROs

• Better exposure for Blackberry 
• Advertising. Which could in essence Keep BBM alive even after Blackberry itself is dead. 
• A boost is sales of Blackberrys as more people have BBM and BBM therefore is more efficient and useful to the consumer.  
• cheaper than Whatsapp. Free compared to $0.99 / year. 

CONs

• BBM will no longer be exclusive to Blackberry Owners hence people who bought Blackberry's in the past solely for BBM, might not buy Blackberry's now. 
• There are bound to be more users and more users means slower messages. 
• Blackberry Software programmers and designers have to spend time writing the Android and iPhone Apps when they could be spending that time bettering Blackberry 10, and it needs ALOT of bettering to gain market share!

Tell me what you think Tweet using #iBBM for a chance to be followed and re-tweeted by us!  

Conclusion 

Although bold, I think this move of releasing BBM as a Multi-platform messaging service will definitely pay off in the long-run with more exposure for Blackberry. The idea has potential but the execution is what im waiting to see. Will Blackberry successfully recreate itself or will 10 be Blackberry's unlucky number... 

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