BlackBerry CEO: Tablets Have No Future - InformationWeek

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4/30/2013
09:02 AM
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BlackBerry CEO: Tablets Have No Future

Thorsten Heins says he doesn't think anyone will still be using tablets five years from now.

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BlackBerry CEO Thorsten Heins recently offered a baffling perspective on the tablet market: He thinks it is a dead-end business. In fact, he sees tablets going away entirely before the end of the decade.

"In five years I don't think there'll be a reason to have a tablet anymore," said Heins in an interview with Bloomberg. "Maybe a big screen in your workspace, but not a tablet as such. Tablets themselves are not a good business model."

Heins has already shot down reports that BlackBerry itself would build a new tablet this year, or at any time in the future, unless there was a good business case for it. Heins said tablets aren't a good business for BlackBerry to be in. At the moment, he's right. BlackBerry needs, more than anything, to focus on resurrecting sales of its BlackBerry smartphones. So far, sales of the Z10 have been lukewarm in the U.S., though the Q10 appears to be seeing solid early sales, at least at one store in the U.K.

[ Where do the new BlackBerry models fit on this spectrum: 10 Best And Worst Cellphones Of All Time? ]

Heins' stance on tablets is the complete opposite of that of his predecessors, Jim Balsillie and Mike Lazaridis, who championed the BlackBerry Playbook as the best tablet on the market, even though it didn't offer email at launch. The PlayBook is one of BlackBerry's most visible failures. It's understandable that Heins might feel burned by tablets, but he is either ignoring or turning a blind eye toward the latest research on the tablet market.

Strategy Analytics reports sales of 40.6 million tablets during the first quarter of 2013 alone, which represents year-over-year growth of 117%. At this pace, tablet vendors are on track to sell more than 160 million tablets by the end of the year. They'll sell more if the growth rate continues to climb.

Apple, the one company that has done the most to damage BlackBerry's position in the enterprise, sold 19.5 million iPads in the first three months of the year.

How many BlackBerrys did Thorsten's company sell during the first quarter? A hair over one million? Maybe. Thorsten has an answer for that, too.

"In five years, I see BlackBerry to be the absolute leader in mobile computing -- that's what we're aiming for," said Heins. "I want to gain as much market share as I can, but not by being a copycat."

That assumes the company sells enough Z10s and Q10s to stay afloat that long. The Z10 hit world markets in early February and reached the U.S. in March. The Q10 hit Canada and the U.K. last week, and reaches the U.S. toward the end of May. BlackBerry needs the Q10, its QWERTY-equipped smartphone, to sell like gangbusters to stave off solid market entries such as the HTC One and Samsung Galaxy S4.

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TreeInMyCube
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TreeInMyCube,
User Rank: Apprentice
5/9/2013 | 7:55:53 PM
re: BlackBerry CEO: Tablets Have No Future
I'd like to see the pocket that you put that device into. Underestimate the importance of portability at your peril.
hfxRos
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hfxRos,
User Rank: Apprentice
5/2/2013 | 3:13:24 AM
re: BlackBerry CEO: Tablets Have No Future
Mr. Hiens never said that Tablets are dying. This article twists his words into something that barely resembles the original statements. More "journalism" trying to make BlackBerry look foolish, and people like you are eating it up.
William Volk
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William Volk,
User Rank: Apprentice
5/1/2013 | 10:13:22 PM
re: BlackBerry CEO: Tablets Have No Future
BlackberryGÇÖs CEO prediction on tablets has inspired us to launch a puzzle in our iOS crossword game, Crickler.

The GÇ£Worst Tech Predictions EVERGÇ¥ puzzle features BlackberryGÇÖs CEOGÇÖs Thorsten HeinsGÇÖ claim that GÇ£In five years I donGÇÖt think thereGÇÖll be a reason to have a tablet anymoreGÇ¥ and other infamous tech predictions from the past. Notable examples include Michael DellGÇÖs 1997 suggestion that Apple Computer shut down and return their money to shareholders, Sir. Alan SugarGÇÖs claim that the iPod would be dead by 2005.

Link: http://appmodo.com/76534/black...
AustinIT
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AustinIT,
User Rank: Apprentice
5/1/2013 | 5:58:30 PM
re: BlackBerry CEO: Tablets Have No Future
I believe Heins is correct - and the points you made - salient as well.
So, everyone should now understand how Microsoft's strategy with creating "one OS to rule them all" is making sense. You need an OS that can run across all platforms in order to get PC like functionaity squeezed onto a smartphone platform. Code once, run anywhere...
Dw@ll
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[email protected],
User Rank: Apprentice
5/1/2013 | 12:03:59 PM
re: BlackBerry CEO: Tablets Have No Future
The problem with tablets is they dont perform one task very well.. serious case of Jack of all trades master of none..
gtigerclaw
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gtigerclaw,
User Rank: Apprentice
5/1/2013 | 9:56:07 AM
re: BlackBerry CEO: Tablets Have No Future
Interestingly, I noticed that less TV news people are holding tablets and are back to the laptops - especially in the newsroom. When the iPad first came out, almost all the UK TV news presenters were sporting tablets like the latest fashion accessory, now, I don't see anybody flashing one on the news.
Drew Conry-Murray
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Drew Conry-Murray,
User Rank: Ninja
5/1/2013 | 1:17:44 AM
re: BlackBerry CEO: Tablets Have No Future
I think a more important issue for him to be addressing is whether BlackBerry will be going away before the end of the decade
MyW0r1d
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MyW0r1d,
User Rank: Strategist
4/30/2013 | 9:00:17 PM
re: BlackBerry CEO: Tablets Have No Future
CEOs of major companies like politicians are well trained in making bold statements while providing little detail or vision on how to achieve it. Isn't that what the programmers, hardware, and line network staff are for, realization of the idea?

I believe TI_Master's vision may be the most accurate accounting for the push to cloud/mobile services, but for healty vision's sake I still would prefer to carry an 8 inch or greater tablet rather than constantly scrolling a phone's 3.5-4" screen.
counterblow
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counterblow,
User Rank: Apprentice
4/30/2013 | 8:52:29 PM
re: BlackBerry CEO: Tablets Have No Future
I'm glad to see Heins is already practicing for his next gig as a stand up comedian.
ANON1242905689517
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ANON1242905689517,
User Rank: Apprentice
4/30/2013 | 7:12:18 PM
re: BlackBerry CEO: Tablets Have No Future
The Blackberry tablet was a failure because one of the main uses of Tablets is to check email - shipping without this shows how agile product development is sometimes just plain stupid.
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