Info Tech
BlackBerry CEO confirms Foxconn-made Q20 and Z3 phones
BARCELONA – BlackBerry CEO John Chen confirmed two new phones were on their way this year.
The first, code named “Jakarta,” but known as the BlackBerry Z3 will launch first in Indonesia in April before moving to other markets. It will retail for less than $200.
The second phone, the BlackBerry Q20 (which Chen dubbed “BlackBerry Classic” because of its keyboard) is designed for big business and government clients and will launch by the end of the year. It was also designed by Foxconn.”We are definitely here to compete and make up some lost ground,” Chen said during a press conference here on Tuesday.
While phones can take up to a year to be developed, Foxconn only spent 3 months on the products, and both Gou and Chen were able to hold up demo units of the touchscreen Z3.
BlackBerry has previously said it was working with Foxconn to produce a BlackBerry 10-powered smartphone that could sell for less than $200. It’s part of Chen’s strategy of maintaining and hopefully building on its still relatively strong market share position in the emerging markets.
The Jakarta phone will be 3G, but Chen said there are plans to create an LTE version that will be sold to different markets.
Chen also teased a number of flagship-class devices in the works, but didn’t provide any further details.BlackBerry is in the middle of a radical shift in its strategy, moving away from the failed consumer-centric effort from last year and focusing more on government and large business customers. Chen has maintained that BlackBerry isn’t giving up on the consumer market, but it remains to be seen how the company will balance those two sides. He reiterated the company’s goal of breaking even this fiscal year and turning a profit the following year.
With more people bringing their own smartphones to work, there are fewer companies issuing BlackBerrys to their employees. BlackBerry last year attempted to buck the “bring-your-own-device” trend by attempting to release buzz-worthy devices of its own in the form of a splashy launch and the BlackBerry Z10 and BlackBerry Q10, but the products largely fizzled.
Chen described the break down as 30 percent of companies that still mandate corporate-issued phones, while 70 percent have moved to bring your own devices. While the company doesn’t want to cede the larger 70 percent share, Chen said he would spend the next 18 months focusing on locking up that 30 percent market. He added that moves such as the opening up of BBM and the ability for BES12 to manage other devices is a step toward addressing that broader 70 percent.
Chen has said he would pull back from the marketing effort and won’t attempt to compete against Apple or Samsung in terms of building a consumer household name.
BlackBerry also said that its BES 12 server will be available before the end of the year. John Sims, head of BlackBerry’s enterprise business, said BES 12 would serve as the unifying foundation for all BlackBerry devices, whether the phone is running on BlackBerry 10 or older versions. Sims also announced simpler pricing and an “easy pass” to allow for a free upgrade to the latest BES server. He also announced a protected version of BBM, or a secure version of its messenger system.
Chen acknowledged that BlackBerry’s consumer focus last year spread the company too thin, and that the company did not do a good enough job of “educating the market on how great things are.”
Chen also weighed in on Facebook’s $19 billion acquisition of WhatsApp, noting that it doesn’t change the company’s strategy.
“We have always worked on putting BBM on every phone there is,” Chen said.
Chen dismissed the notion of wearables, saying he has no plans for such a device. But he did entertain the notion of building an industry-specific BlackBerry phone.
Finally, Chen addressed the recent spat between himself and T-Mobile CEO John Legere, noting that he didn’t start the “vocal conversation.” He would only say that he was glad that his relationship with the “two major US carriers are getting better by the day,” a subtle jab at T-Mobile.
“That strategy will continue to work for us,” he said.
– CNET
In efforts at spicing up the 2023 ITREALMS E-Waste Dialogue, the management of ITREALMS Media has partnered with E-waste Producer Responsibility Organization of Nigeria (EPRON) membership organisations for a day-long collection scheme of small electronic waste on Friday, December 15, 2023.
The EPRON members aligning their partnership with 2023 ITREALMS E-Waste Dialogue are EL-AS Tech Enterprises Limited and WEEE Eco-Friendly.
ITREALMS’ day-long collection scheme is part of the commemoration of 2023 international E-Waste Day (IEWD) within the ITREALMS E-Waste Dialogue with the theme “You Can Recycle Anything with a plug, battery or cable” at Welcome Centre Hotels, International Airport Road, Lagos.
Revealing this collaboration, the Group Executive Editor, ITREALMS Media, the organisers of the 2023 ITREALMS E-Waste Dialogue, Sir. Remmy Nweke, urged mobile device enthusiasts to come along with their devices that have reached their end-of-life to the venue for proper disposition by professionals who would also be on grounds to address some topical issues.
The collection of small electronic wastes especially mobile phones and like-devices, would be carried out by EPRON member organisation, EL-AS Tech Enterprises Limited as facilitated by ITREALMS Media group as part of this year’s ITREALMS E-Waste Dialogue on Friday, December 15, he added.
He disclosed that the exercise would commence at Welcome Centre Hotel by 9am till close of work hours the same day.
Nweke pointed out that the collection of small e-waste items would include mobile phones, pointers mouse, earpieces, rechargeable torches, phone chargers, to name a few.
Further, he said, that this initiative has become time-serving because some people may have missed any other opportunity before now for the year-long campaign, hence this awareness on e-Waste has to be continuous, “ITREALMS came up with this scheme.”
Nweke beckoned on Nigerians, especially mobile phone users, to leverage the opportunity in disposing of their mobile devices they no longer use, of course in exchange for a voucher or gift item.
In her reaction to this year’s day-long small waste collection, EPRON Executive Secretary, Mrs. Ibukun Faluyi, described the initiative as commendable, expressing confidence it would intensify the collection of end-of-life devices for proper disposition.
Mrs. Faluyi, also urged Nigerians to take advantage of this day-long collection of small wastes courtesy of ITREALMS Media.
Recalling for instance that in October 2022, EPRON had partnered SLOT alongside some UN agencies for collection of small e-waste items in Lagos, including the United Nations Information Centres (UNIC), United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), International Labour Organisation (ILO), Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) and Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA).
This is even as the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) Dr. Aminu Maida and Director-General, National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Prof. Aliyu Jauro, would both lead speakers at the 2023 ITREALMS E-Waste Dialogue slated for this Friday, December 15, in Lagos.
Today, September 12, the tech corporation Apple will introduce the iPhone 15, their newest iPhone model.
According to a Forbes story, this model, which will be introduced at the company’s “Wanderlust” event in Cupertino, California, will be available in four variations: the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Here are five things you should know about the new iPhone 15 model.
1. The new model is made of titaniu, not stainless steel as some other Apple smartphone models, Senior research analyst at DIGITIMES, Luke Lin reports.
2. The Pro Max model will feature double the optical zoom on the iPhone 14 as it comes with a newly-introduced ‘periscope lens upgrade, performing 5-6x optical zoom.’
3. The Pro models will carry an A17 bionic chip expected to make it perform faster.
4. The iPhone 15 model will feature a USB-C charging port, the same port featured on some Android phone models.
5. Due to its titanium shell, the new model is anticipated to be more expensive to purchase. The following is the speculated price list, as reported by Forbes:
The iPhone 15 starts at $799, the iPhone 15 Plus at $899, the iPhone 15 Pro at $1,099 ($100 increase), and the iPhone 15 Pro Max at $1,299 ($200 increase).
In an effort to reduce the exorbitant cost of Premium Motor Spirit, better known as petrol, the Infrastructure Bank Plc announced its collaboration with FEMADEC Group on Monday to offer 500 buses powered by autogas (Compressed Natural Gas).
Partners in the agreement claimed that the project was created to provide citizens with dependable, affordable, and environmentally friendly travel options, taking into account the negative effects of the nationwide increase in PMS costs.
Under Decree No. 51 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s 1992 Constitution, the Infrastructure Bank, originally known as the Urban Development Bank of Nigeria Plc, was founded in 1992 to promote the quick development of infrastructure throughout the nation.
In a statement issued in Abuja on its partnership with FEMADEC, the bank said, “The preliminary offer extended by TIB lays a solid foundation for the expansion of FEMADEC Group’s CNG bus fleet.
“With plans to introduce 500 CNG buses within the next five years, commencing with an initial batch of 50 buses in the forthcoming year, this proposal stands poised to instigate significant change.
“The acceptance of this proposition by FEMADEC Group, notably championed by Fola Akinnola, the Group Chief Executive Officer, is a testament to their zeal and dedication to this alliance.”
The bank described the partnership as a “pivotal endeavour that is primed to redefine Nigeria’s public transportation landscape, offering dependable, cost-effective, and ecologically conscious travel alternatives for citizens, while harmonising with the nation’s broader sustainability ambitions.”
“This partnership represents a remarkable stride towards a more ecologically aware future for Nigeria’s transportation sector, highlighting the shared commitment of both TIB and FEMADEC Group to sustainable advancement and progress.”
It said FEMADEC Group’s strides in operating Compressed Natural Gas buses, including the existing fleet of 20 CNG buses under LAMATA, underscored their unwavering dedication to ecologically sound solutions, a commitment predating the fuel subsidy removal.
“Their leadership within the CNG value chain is undeniable, and the new alliance with TIB underscores their foresight.
“This partnership seamlessly aligns with TIB’s sustainability objectives, echoing their resolute endorsement of the government’s net-zero and climate change agenda.
“The bank’s aspiration to champion Nigeria’s infrastructure progress is evident in its endorsement of pivotal initiatives like this, yielding expansive positive impacts on both the environment and society,” the bank stated.
The bank added that it would continue to make a significant contribution to the country’s growth as a leading financial institution committed to advancing effective and long-lasting infrastructure projects.
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