Latest Podcast



Featured Articles

Thursday, December 18, 2014

BlackBerry Classic isn't a blast from the past... it's a signpost to the Dark Ages

Mark Bridge writes:

If you listen to this week’s edition of The Fonecast - in which we predict what’ll be happening in the mobile telecoms industry during 2015 - you’ll hear James Rosewell say that BlackBerry’s handset business is doomed. Well, actually that’s not quite true. What he says is “BlackBerry, I think, will withdraw from the handset market. They’re going to become a software and a services company.”

And then, just hours after we’ve recorded the programme, BlackBerry announces a brand new smartphone. The BlackBerry Classic. How wrong could James be?

Based on my initial impression: not wrong at all.

I’d interpreted his doom-mongering as hyperbole; as a warning that BlackBerry could find itself in trouble after making a wrong turn or two. But having seen BlackBerry’s newest handset and read the nonsense it’s saying about it, I find myself viewing the BlackBerry Classic as a coffin-lid nail.

The press release says:

Although familiar in appearance, BlackBerry Classic upgrades the BlackBerry Bold 9900 experience with:

  • Three times faster browser
  • 60 percent more screen space
  • 50 percent longer battery life
  • Greater variety of applications through BlackBerry World and the Amazon Appstore

It also quotes BlackBerry CEO John Chen as saying “BlackBerry Classic is the powerful communications tool that many BlackBerry Bold and Curve users have been waiting for.”

Right. So this is a replacement for the BlackBerry Curve series of phones - released between 2007 and 2011 - and the BlackBerry Bold family of phones, which were released between 2008 and 2011. Surprise, surprise. BlackBerry’s newest phone is better than those it was making three years ago.

Alright, enough sarcasm. At least it’s progress, isn’t it?

Well, yes. Compared with the BlackBerry Bold 9900, the BlackBerry Classic is a better phone. But what’s that I hear? The clanking of chains… a shadowy figure emerging from the gloom… no, it’s not the ghost of Christmas Past. It’s a BlackBerry Q10 that’s escaped from the bargain bin. Curiously, it appears to be waving a spec sheet. Let’s take a look.

First, battery life. Well, the Q10 puts up a good show - being a dramatic improvement on the Bold 9900 - but the Classic has the edge: almost four extra hours of theoretical talk time.

Screen size? It’s 3.1 inches for the Q10 but 3.5 inches for the Classic. Except… hang on. Both are 720 pixels by 720 pixels. And there are plenty more similarities elsewhere. Internal storage - both 16GB. Rear camera - both 8 megapixel. Processor - both 1.5GHz. OS - both BlackBerry 10.

So it seems that BlackBerry has made some minor improvements to a two-year-old phone and is trying to sell it as a replacement to owners of even older phones. Selling it to people who didn’t buy the Q10 when it first came out - but hoping they’ll buy it two years later.

Sorry, BlackBerry. That doesn’t seem a great way to assure your future.

You can listen to the 2015 predictions programme on our website audio player, via iTunes, on our RSS feed, by listening on the Stitcher.com mobile app or by downloading the mp3 file directly.

Print
Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Rate this article:
5.0

Leave a comment

This form collects your name, email, IP address and content so that we can keep track of the comments placed on the website. For more info check our Privacy Policy and Terms Of Use where you will get more info on where, how and why we store your data.
Add comment

Opinion Articles

Why there's no point putting NFC in the Apple iPhone 5

Mark Bridge writes:

A report in The Independent says Apple won't be putting a Near Field Communication chip in the next version of the iPhone. Although Apple is thought to be working on its own NFC service connected to iTunes, it's said to be "concerned by the lack of a clear standard across the industry".

On the surface, that phrase doesn’t make sense.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

This week at The Fonecast: 12th March 2011

Mark Bridge writes:

Sadly we’re ending the week with yet another natural disaster. Barely two weeks after New Zealand’s earthquake comes news of Japan’s biggest quake in living memory.

Still, I’m here to talk about mobile phones, so – after a quick mention of the great work being done by the Red Cross – I’ll get on with it.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Microsoft deal may not work out, admits Nokia

Mark Bridge writes:

In recent weeks there’s been a lot of talk about the partnership between Nokia and Microsoft. But taking a look at today’s Form 20-F - the annual report that Nokia is filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission - provides a valuable reminder that nothing’s set in stone.

Author: The Fonecast
1 Comments
Article rating: No rating

MC Iain Graham and the story behind the mobile phone rap

Mark Bridge writes:

The final news story in this week's podcast is best described as an update from last week's programme. The story itself remains the same but the presentation style has been changed dramatically.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

What's the biggest challenge facing mobile phone manufacturers?

Mark Bridge writes:

For the last couple of months we've been running a survey on TheFonecast.com with the title “What's the biggest challenge facing mobile phone manufacturers?”

The answer appears to be very clear. According to 60% of respondents, 'battery life' is the major issue for mobile manufacturers.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating
RSS
First7879808183858687Last

Recent Podcasts

Reviewing our 2015 mobile industry predictions... and looking forward to 2016

Podcast - 15th January 2016

Iain Graham, James Rosewell and Mark Bridge return to review their mobile industry predictions from last year. Which mergers, partnerships and developments did they forecast correctly... and which didn’t work out as planned?

Later in the programme, the team anticipates some of the topics that will be hitting the headlines during 2016.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Podcast from Mobile World Congress 2015

Podcast - 6th March 2015

Mark Bridge learns about the mobile technology trends at Mobile World Congress 2015 by chatting to James Rosewell of 51Degrees, Dr Kevin Curran from the IEEE and Chris Millington of Doro.

They talk about wearable devices, wireless charging, mobile operating systems and much more... including some of their favourite products from the exhibition.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Looking back at February: from security scares to multiple MVNOs

Podcast - 27th February 2015

We're taking a look back at the biggest mobile industry news stories from February 2015, including allegations that the UK's security service tried to breach SIM card security by hacking into one of the world's biggest SIM producers.

We also talk about the planned BT and EE merger, the creation of two new UK virtual networks, some acquisitions in the mobile payment arena and a new Ubuntu smartphone.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Interview with Chris Millington of Doro about mobile retailing, wearables and technology for older consumers

Podcast - 24th February 2015

In today's programme Mark Bridge talks to Chris Millington, who's Managing Director for Doro UK and Ireland.

They discuss the state of mobile retailing in the UK, the future of wearable devices and - as you might expect - smartphones for seniors.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

A month of mobile: O2 counts on 3, Microsoft counts to 10 and Apple counts its profits

Podcast - 30th January 2015

We're back with a month of mobile industry news, including takeover talks and takeover rumours. O2 and Three are said to be discussing a merger... but is there any truth in the suggestions that BlackBerry could be up for grabs?

We also discuss Apple's record-breaking quarterly figures, the highlights of CES and the launch of Microsoft Windows 10, as well as saying farewell to the current version of Google Glass.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating
RSS
12345678910Last

Follow thefonecast.com

Twitter @TheFonecast RSS podcast feed
Find us on Facebook Subscribe free via iTunes

Archive Calendar

«November 2024»
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
28293031123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
2526272829301
2345678

Archive

Terms Of Use | Privacy Statement