News & Rumors

It's Official: First BlackBerry 10 Smartphones Won't Be Available Until Late 2012!

by Kevin Michaluk

on 15 Dec 2011 05:24 PM

297

Yep, so RIM's Co-CEO's Jim Balsillie and Mike Lazaridis just dropped a big bombshell on tonight's RIM Earnings Call that CrackBerry Nation did not want to hear.

The official word is that RIM wants to put a chipset into the USA-bound LTE BlackBerry 10 phones that will not be available until mid-2012. This pushes the rollout of the first BlackBerry 10 phones into the latter part of 2012. Mike Lazaridis followed up with clarification, adding they need this chipset in order to deliver the efficiency and battery life that customers expect from a BlackBerry.

It's a bitter sweet. It's awesome to think about the fact that our next generation of BlackBerry 10 phones will really be cutting edge when they hit the market. It just sucks to think that we're going to have to wait that long....

Filed Under: News & Rumors;

297 Comments

Posted by Section ThirtyOne Thursday, Dec 15, 2011 69 days ago

Big trouble for RIM.

And trying to deflect the blame on the chipset manufacturer? Weak.

Posted by deRusett Thursday, Dec 15, 2011 69 days ago

as long as the Chip they put in is actually cutting edge, isn't available, I would rather them deflect blame on their supplier, over deflecting blame onto a customer/carrier like Verizon who is pretty heavy on requiring LTE moving forward, really LTE is the only way they can compete with AT&T on data speeds.

I bet that it is the carriers forcing BB10 to have LTE, they don't want BB7 devices AND BB10 devices to both have the same radio, they NEED to be able to sell BB10 at the premium they get from BlackBerry's

Posted by Kiddo2050 Thursday, Dec 15, 2011 69 days ago

It isn't really deflecting blame becuase it's really that they can't get a full day out of the QNX phones with the current chips. It's as much RIM's fault or more than it is on the supplier.

This is just the reality of porting over QNX to a smart phone.

That's life. QNX is the only OS they've got and it sucks power.

Posted by SharpieFiend Thursday, Dec 15, 2011 69 days ago

Are you smoking crack? QNX is one of the most energy efficient operating systems there is, in this case the real culprit is the LTE chipsets.

Are you aware that the current generation LTE chipsets must also have 3G active at the same time to handle voice calls? By mid 2012 this will not be the case which is why RIM, Microsoft and Apple are all waiting.

Posted by Emu the Foo Thursday, Dec 15, 2011 69 days ago

Lmfao! +1. But seriously you are right. Same reason why iphone doesn't have it. They are not in par with what phone life should be, unless u compare them to a 3gchargers android device. The thunderbolt and charge would wobble to 4the hrs on lte and that's if u didn't use it. So it's not entirely rims fault.

Crack is one helava drug!

Posted by Kiddo2050 Thursday, Dec 15, 2011 69 days ago

Hey friend get a playbook and you'll see what a hog QNX is. It is NOT good on power. Stop talking out of your ass.

Posted by westex74 Thursday, Dec 15, 2011 69 days ago

+1 for Kiddo2050. Anybody that has a Playbook can tell you that the battery does not last very long at all.

Posted by Xerxes10 Thursday, Dec 15, 2011 69 days ago

I have a PlayBook and use it for entertainment on international flights. I've watched 4 2hr movies back to back without running out of power, I'd say that's pretty good. Try that on your Thunderbolt..

Posted by JackKennedy Friday, Dec 16, 2011 68 days ago

because you would turn off bridge and wifi on the plane...I would genuinely not be too surprised to see this on any tablet with all data connections turned off.

Posted by Meltbox360 Friday, Dec 16, 2011 68 days ago

I own one and battery life is great. I pull a good 5 solid hours of browsing and streaming music with some games. I end up with around 30-50% depending on how much gaming I do. Btw I'm talking about games like deadspace and starfront.

Posted by bradu1 Thursday, Dec 15, 2011 69 days ago

What are you talking about? My playbook lasts me all day everyday. I'll charge my iPod 4 times in the time i get continuous use of my Playbook with bluetooth and wifi on and operating.
Maybe you should get a Playbook and see how wrong you are. It will give you something to do while your iPhone and iPad are on the charger.

Posted by Meltbox360 Friday, Dec 16, 2011 68 days ago

Bad ipod battery. I would have to charge mine once a day unless I was gaming then it was twice or more because I sometimes used it plugged in. But my battery is also messed up now from gaming and draining it and recharging it so much while it was pretty warm. I hope the playbook does not exhibit this.

Posted by the_sleuth Thursday, Dec 15, 2011 69 days ago

Earlier this year, Balsillie said, The transition is where most tech companies falter and die. It's the only time I agree with him. Co-CEOs have chosen to make every execution mistake in the book of mismanagement. Now BBOS defection rate will accelerate. Not sure, what kind of RIM will exist in 9 months. Only certainty now is RIMM will head towards $10 by spring 2012. There is no floor. Short sellers smell another Palm.
Oh well, I am happy with my 9860. Support RIM by purchasing a PlayBook. It's great with the Android player.

Posted by kaotik_187 Thursday, Dec 15, 2011 69 days ago

NIGHT NIGHT BLACKBERRY... RIP RIM! RIM won't survive long enough to release the new phones! Good thing i moved on... TIRED of this same exact shit over an over. Broken promises every time and deadlines that don't exist. RIM Thank you for all the fun and productive years i had while owning and using BlackBerries! Its over now, and all those that don't wanna accept it GOOD LUCK toughing it out much longer! Bye Bye RIM! Their reign is over. Market share is diminishing faster than any other platform out there. Its time to call it a day, pack up, and move on.

Posted by HabsSuck Thursday, Dec 15, 2011 69 days ago

all I know is RIM has made $1.3 Billion in profit for the first three quarters and forecasting $550 Million in Q4.

doesn't look like a dying company

Posted by kaotik_187 Thursday, Dec 15, 2011 69 days ago

HAHAHAHAHAHA... well you enjoy my friend! Enjoy... keep giving them the money to get the 550 million and 1.3 billion profit! Enjoy... hopefully in a couple months it all doesn't come crashing down and u eat this statement! Cause the co-ceos of RIM aint gonna complain with the money they making off this profit! When RIM is dead they gonna be wellll off hahahahahahahaha

Posted by Frank2029 Thursday, Dec 15, 2011 69 days ago

Look how you are talking about a piece of technology... You should get out more.

Posted by kaotik_187 Thursday, Dec 15, 2011 69 days ago

Wasn't talking bout the a piece of technology... was talking bout the company on a whole! Was talking about RIM. Please read sir, read! Anyways, thats all u gotta say just because you caught feelings about the statement i made? I know my statements struck a cord, but they are factual statements! U as a fanboy, and i was like you before, just don't wanna accept the fact that our beloved blackberry is dying! How bout u get out more and smell the fresh air and face reality instead of being stuck on bbm!!

Posted by Kiddo2050 Thursday, Dec 15, 2011 69 days ago

Sorry but your posts give you zero credibility.

Posted by Rootbrian Friday, Dec 16, 2011 69 days ago

Trolling will only get you banned.

Posted by Meltbox360 Friday, Dec 16, 2011 68 days ago

Pray for the trolls. They need it...

Posted by kaotik_187 Friday, Dec 16, 2011 68 days ago

Sorry.... i am not a troll! You all won't get off that easy! I've had 6 Berry's in my lifetime! And if u wanna make sure i'm not a troll, look up my posts history right here at CrackBerry.com! Go right ahead be my F'ing guest! I still got the dinosaur 7290 that i can take a picture of and show u all idiots as well... i might add that was an amazing phone! I've been Berry all the way up to the 9900 which to me is a big DISAPPOINTMENT! Now anybody wanna continue with that troll shit, do it after disproving anything i just said. OK! I'm a F'ing pissed off EX-LOYAL blackberry fan who use to support them in all their shit... but i will no longer condone this sort of crap, and will no longer give them my hard earned bucks $$$ for a POS. They have not tightened up in the past 2 years and they just going downhill! Any of u who catch feeling because i am telling the truth, i don't care... u all can continue riding RIMs D*CK for all i care. But in no way RIM will improve if we keep taking all the shit they are doing. U all stay loyal and ENJOY... i have my F'ing opinions and as an angry fan i will state them! Hope there are more people screaming this kinda stuff in RIMs ears and maybe they listen and they do something good for a change!

Posted by pinggwing Friday, Dec 16, 2011 68 days ago

take your rage somewhere else mate, in the end, you're still raging about a phone which is quite rediculous the way you do it and you SHOULD get laid soon.

also, sad news but I'll stick to the 9900 for some more iguess, like it anyways :]

Posted by nashstruck Friday, Dec 16, 2011 68 days ago

+1 !

Posted by mortys11 Thursday, Dec 15, 2011 69 days ago

"Read My Lips, No New Phones"

LoL

Posted by bobaloo Thursday, Dec 15, 2011 69 days ago

I can't stand this mentality. RIM can't catch a break in the public's eye.

Late 2012 is fine. It's exactly what a reasonable person would expect. mid-summer to mid-november is usually the launch date for most phones I'm intrested in from RIM. Who on earth really thought we'd see this early 2012??

But because people made up their unfounded timeline, they hold it against RIM for talking about late 2012.

The only trouble is the insatiable public. It's exhausting to read blog post comments sometimes.

Posted by lotuslanderz Thursday, Dec 15, 2011 69 days ago

@bobaloo. I completely agree with everything in your post.

Posted by Darlaten Thursday, Dec 15, 2011 69 days ago

And who on Earth really thinks RIM's stated timeline of late 2012 is going to come to pass either? If you've learned anything from RIM is that as soon as they say date, multiply that by a factor of 4 and then, and only then, will they might deliver.

As for the insatiable public; while I agree with that term - the problem for RIM is that this delay will not help them. People are moving, and have moved, and will continue to move away from the BB platform because it is woefully inadequate and obselete.

Anyone who honestly thinks that people will will wait an additional year and, lets face facts, probably into most of 2013 too for an updated Blackberry phone is delusional.

RIM needed to get their new phones into the market early 2012 if it had hoped to stay in the game. They simply cannot keep up with the speed of today's technology nor the speed at which consumers want to change their phones. And it is for that reason, that RIM will be all but dead in the phones.

Posted by bobaloo Thursday, Dec 15, 2011 69 days ago

1) Hyperbole isn't helpful, so I'll disregard your factor-of-four comment.

2) What delay? they said late 2012 for bb10 devices. I hope you don't consider your hyperbolic statement fact a year ahead of proof.

2.5) Woefully inadequate and obsolete? Another hyperbole. How on earth can you call bbos 7 obsolete? What is it lacking. Don't say apps, that's not the platform and even then many needs can be met via available apps. So tell me what you are lacking in BBOS, because I just can't understand your Woefully-inadequate-and-obsolete comment.
In my opinion, your statement is more a product of the negativity and bashing profliferated by a tech community that scrutinizes RIM without merit.

3) Again, you're considering your first hyperbole as fact. But even still, who has to wait? anyone so into the cutting edge already has a BB7 device. If they want bb10 when it comes out, they'll get one then. But bb7 in the hands of someone who knows how to use it will blow away the average non-BB user any day. I am proof of my statement.

4) No one can keep up with a month-by-month reevaluation of today's technology. Which is why it would be ridiculous to release a new device early 2012. Late 2012 makes so much more sense on so many levels.

lastly, if people would get over their opinions of RIM, which are largly based on a negative and ignorant tech community, then they might find out they enjoy what they can get out of RIM's current offerings in BB7. Right now no one would give them a chance.

Oh, one more thing. Don't you think RIM's horrible performance in teh stock market is based solely on opinion and very little to do with profits and other growth and such? I mean, their stock was dropped for a long time all while reporting huge growth and profit numbers. But now RIM can't just worry about its products. They have a slew of other things to worry about now too.

That's all I have for now. at least until the next unfounded comment I feel like addressing.

Posted by biggulpseh Thursday, Dec 15, 2011 69 days ago

I don't know wtf you're talking about. Is this Mike Lazaridis? You sound just as delusional. Single-core processors, 800x400 resolution screens, subpar cameras with no autofocus... do I really need to get into the software? The 'secure' architecture means apps have to be installed onto the eMMC memory in a partition. It's very hard to big apps or games to the BBOS because of this. App data has to be separated... it's a nightmare. Hence the slowdown of the phone when it installs apps from App World. OS7 can't support true multitasking and never will, it doesn't have homecreen widgets like other platforms, no 3D transitions, no advanced camera options, the web browser is way slower, doesn't support C++ applications so it's hard for apps to be transferred.

Gimme a break dude, there's a reason they're switching to QNX. They just can't seem to get the power consumption of QNX to a reasonable level so they have to wait for 28nm OMAP5 chips for next year. You don't strike me as someone who knows anything technical about the Blackberry platform or smartphone platforms in general, so it's hilarious you would try to belittle other people.

Posted by mithrazor Thursday, Dec 15, 2011 69 days ago

Okay, single core processors are fine. They run the phones quite well. WP7 hasn't hit dual cores, and iPhone 4S is still 800Mhz dual-core. Which is 1.6Ghz. Not too far from 1.2 that the OS7 line up has.

Screens not a problem, especially for a Bold size screen. For the Torches it's decent.

Yes, the apps thing is a nightmare, which is why they're switching to QNX.

The web browser is actually quite up to par with the competition.

You strike me as someone who perceives things worse than they actually are. So relax.

Posted by doom4life Thursday, Dec 15, 2011 69 days ago

When talking about dual cores, you can NEVER say a dual core 800Mhz is equivalent to a single core 1.6Ghz as it doesn't work that way at all.

What having additional cores does is prevent the system to get bogged down by allowing multiple threads to run. Here's an example: Say your running a virus scan while browsing the web. With a single core processor, it will process an instruction by the virus scanner, then start loading the web page, continue on with the virus scan, load a page, etc. Add a dual core processor and it will run the virus scanner off of one core, while run the web browsing off the other core. This allows for better performance compared to a single core.

To sum it up, a 1.6Ghz single core processor is 1.6Ghz while a 1.6Ghz dual core is still 1.6Ghz, it just has two cores running at 1.6Ghz to allow two sets of instructions to run at the same time.

Posted by mithrazor Thursday, Dec 15, 2011 69 days ago

Thank you for the clarification. So you're saying it's more efficient at multitasking.

But FWIW, my point was the hardware isn't as bad as people make it out to be. :P
Especially compared to the competition.

Posted by Revyrah Thursday, Dec 15, 2011 69 days ago

Burn

Posted by Hwycop Thursday, Dec 15, 2011 69 days ago

Did you just get all that technical mumbo jumbo from watching an episode of the Simpsons where Homer is working at the Nuclear power plant?? Come on dude tell the truth now!

Posted by Meltbox360 Friday, Dec 16, 2011 68 days ago

Ok... Just wanted to point out iOS and Android don't do true multitasking either. Only the playbook can do true multitasking....

Posted by mithrazor Thursday, Dec 15, 2011 69 days ago

I agree with you on a lot of aspects. But their take on technology isn't as fast as the ones they're competing with.

Well, Android aside, I just hope iPhone 5 doesn't come with a quad core. Because that's their target they have to out-do.

Sorry for the Apple reference, but everyone knows it.

I hope they don't become like what Microsoft is right now. Still no traction.

Posted by Kiddo2050 Thursday, Dec 15, 2011 69 days ago

LOL quad core iPhone 5 LOL LOL LOL

Apple doesn't have to waist their money on quad core chips. They can sell the iPhone at enormous profit with what they have there won't be quad core in the iPhone until iP6 or 7.

Eveny Mac released is far far behind on the day it debuts and why not suckers still buy em!

Posted by HabsSuck Thursday, Dec 15, 2011 69 days ago

i agree 100% with you.

RIM has to step up the PR and fight back against the constant negative bias against them

Posted by bradu1 Friday, Dec 16, 2011 69 days ago

I, for one, hoped early 2012, merely because I want one so bad. But yes, late 2012 is more expected. And I believe they have learned their lesson with missed deadlines and are being more realistic with their expectations. However, obsolete? Really? No, the phones don't play Angry Birds. We don't have millions of mind numbing games, but what we do have are communication machines, that can do so much more than the competition. Yes, I have used Android and ip** calenders, contacts etc. And you know what, they are pale comparisons. At my job there have been 3 non-techy women in thr past month that have switched from iP** and android to blackberries because they discovered what the Blackberries can do. One of the gals teenage daughter is trying to sell her iPhone 4s because she wants a Torch like her mom because of what it can do. We need to understand that people that want games will want an iP** or android. But those of us that want to communicate, schedule, have business needs for contacts, and want every aspect of our phone to function seemlesly together, will want a Blackberry.

Posted by Hwycop Thursday, Dec 15, 2011 69 days ago

I can't recall a specific quote, but my understanding was that everyone was expecting early 2012 because that is what RIM told us! That is why everyone at DEVcon was shocked that they said nothing about the new phones. Heck, Kevin even called it a fail back then because of all the media that was there and there was nothing for them to report on. They've been spending too much time building lower quality phones for the rest of the world and all that is going to get them is the lowest stock prices in 8 years. They will probably be bought out before they can get these phones to market and for the love of God, I hope they spend this time to make sure it isn't outdated as soon as it is released. Hell, by late 2012 it should have a quad core.

Posted by bobaloo Thursday, Dec 15, 2011 69 days ago

again, we have other people's unfounded demands getting in the way. it was DEVCON for crying out loud. Ask a developer how they felt about it.

And dont' mix up bb10 with PB OS2.0. They are different animals. os2.0 is due in early 2012.

and don't you think the rest of the world's clammoring for a lower-quality phone is telling of the insatiable drones here in north america?

Posted by Revyrah Thursday, Dec 15, 2011 69 days ago

Alec Saunders stated that the PlayBook OS 2.0 update would be pushed back to February, with hopes of seeing the BB X phones released shortly after.

There can't be any denial to the fact that RIM is hardly ever accurate with their intended release dates in comparison to their actual release dates- be it phones or software. The only thing they were accurate on was the release date of the PlayBook. Sadly they ruined that + when they released it without native email and BBM. They then further dug themselves holes when they continued to push back the os updates.

The point is this... RIM needs to make A LOT of corrections internally. Developer, marketing, and carrier relations have all been low points for this company due to their self-inflicted mistakes. If they are not corrected ASAP, RIM will find it even more difficult the convince anyone to remain with or purchase a BlackBerry.

What I can believe out of all this is the technology they are waiting on. There are new batteries in development that will last for days with heavy use. I don't know if that is the kind of battery they intend to use. Right now, the most important thing for RIM to do is to perfect what they have, and when it comes time for BB X, we'll be ready to put down our significantly improved BB 7 phones.

Posted by biggulpseh Thursday, Dec 15, 2011 69 days ago

From the looks of it, the Blackberry developers I follow on twitter seem very pissed off that any development for BBOS10 they do won't be realized until late 2012. I don't know how anyone could be so unbelievably misguided as to claim RIM is somehow in a positive position from this. Their stock is trading after hours at below $14, and they're likely to get hammered tomorrow. Even RIM stated today they're in a tough position, yet Mr. Expert bobaloo knows better than RIM themselves?

Posted by Hwycop Thursday, Dec 15, 2011 69 days ago

At the time DeVcOn rolled around everyone expected PB OS 2.0 to be released within a couple of weeks of that event. THEN they told us that "whoops", now we will wait until Feb. Crackberry Kevin isn't stupid and I will trust him and he was let down that there weren't any BBX, whoops again, BB 10 phones to show off! We have to stop making excuses for RIM and start holding them accountable for their ineptitude. I think we all want them to succeed, but brand loyalty should only go so far.

Posted by Rgainsmi Thursday, Dec 15, 2011 69 days ago

Your wrong. It was RIM that said the first BBX (now BB10) phone would be first Qtr 2012.

Same as it was Rim that said 60 days for PlayBook Email.
Same as it was Rim that said Summer...
Same as it was Rim that said End of Summer...
Same as it was Rim that is now saying Feb...

I am expecting another delay with the promised Feb update...

Posted by LeunammiGM Thursday, Dec 15, 2011 69 days ago

I completely agree with you. People are impatient, we just got the BB os7 devices these should hold us over till mid or the end of 2012.

Posted by mortys11 Thursday, Dec 15, 2011 69 days ago

my black and white TV is also holding me over until i get a real HDTV

Posted by Meltbox360 Friday, Dec 16, 2011 68 days ago

Right so comparing waiting 10+ years to waiting 1 year. Thats just.... not intelligent.

Posted by scottae316 Thursday, Dec 15, 2011 69 days ago

Well, other than RIM said early 1Q of 2012, I would expect it then. Silly me, hoping they keep their promise.

It's Official: First BlackBerry 10 Smartphones Won't Be Available Until Late 2012!

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