John Paczkowski

Recent Posts by John Paczkowski

BlackBerry to World: Not Dead Yet!

Despite every indication that it is not, BlackBerry says it is here to stay.

That’s the gist of an open letter from the foundering smartphone pioneer, scheduled to be published tomorrow. Placed in some 30 news outlets across nine countries, the message is an unusual public attempt to temper concerns about the calamitous turn BlackBerry’s business has taken this year, and to reassure the company’s “customers, partners and fans” of its longevity.

“You’ve no doubt seen the headlines about BlackBerry,” the letter reads. “You’re probably wondering what they mean for you as one of the tens of millions of users who count on BlackBerry every single day. We have one important message for you: You can continue to count on BlackBerry.”

What follows is a five-point argument mounted in support of that assertion built on BlackBerry’s cash and debt-free balance sheet, and what it touts as best-in-class products and services. (Side note: Interestingly, the letter is not signed by CEO Thorsten Heins, but by the “Blackberry Team.”) According to BlackBerry, it’s not the sad disaster depicted in recent media coverage of its tribulations. Rather, it’s a mobile-industry juggernaut fallen on “challenging times.” And if we all just stick with it, the company will rise again. The letter concludes with this don’t-leave-us-now-we-love-you appeal:

“You have always known that BlackBerry is different, that BlackBerry can set you apart. Countless world-changing decisions have been finalized, deals closed and critical communications made via BlackBerry. And for many of you that created a bond, a connection that goes back more than a decade. We believe in BlackBerry — our people, our technology and our ability to adapt. More importantly, we believe in you.”

Coming as it does after a ghastly parade of ruinous announcements from BlackBerry — godawful second-quarter results, massive layoffs, fast-declining handset sales and manufacturing-partner departures — it’s hard to read the company’s open letter as anything other than a desperate, defensive squeal of pain. Or a last-ditch effort to highlight its strengths in the hope of attracting a new bidder.

BlackBerry recently agreed to go private in a $4.7 billion deal orchestrated by Fairfax Financial Holdings, its largest shareholder. BlackBerry founder and former co-CEO Mike Lazaridis is considering a bid for his old company, as is Cerberus Capital, though there are questions about whether any of these will actually come through.

Regardless, it’s generally unwise to remind the public that your company is in trouble — or perceived as being in trouble. But if the situation has become so dire that the media’s chronicling of it has longtime customers fleeing, then perhaps desperate measures really are called for.

BlackBerry’s letter in full, below:


BlackBerry_open_letter

Twitter’s Tanking

December 30, 2013 at 6:49 am PT

2013 Was a Good Year for Chromebooks

December 29, 2013 at 2:12 pm PT

BlackBerry Pulls Latest Twitter for BB10 Update

December 29, 2013 at 5:58 am PT

Apple CEO Tim Cook Made $4.25 Million This Year

December 28, 2013 at 12:05 pm PT

Latest Video

View all videos »

Search »

There’s a lot of attention and PR around Marissa, but their product lineup just kind of blows.

— Om Malik on Bloomberg TV, talking about Yahoo, the September issue of Vogue Magazine, and our overdependence on Google