BlackBerry has a comeback plan

Kerem Gülen
May 2, 2023
Companies
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According to a recent report from Reuters, Canadian technology firm BlackBerry has announced plans to undertake a comprehensive assessment of its strategic options. This review will explore the potential separation of one or more of its businesses, among other possibilities.

Following the announcement of its strategic review, BlackBerry's shares surged by nearly 11% during after-hours trading in the US. Established in 1984 and known for its pioneering work in pagers, the Canadian firm has clarified that it has not established a specific timeline for the assessment and will refrain from disclosing updates related to the process, unless there is board approval for a particular agreement or if the review has concluded.

BlackBerry made its debut on the public market in 1997 and quickly gained widespread recognition for its widely-used business smartphones, which were popular among high-level executives, political figures, and a loyal following of enthusiasts in the early 2000s. However, the company ceased production of these devices last year and has since been actively seeking buyers for its legacy patents pertaining to mobile technology.

In addition to its strategic review, BlackBerry also confirmed that it will proceed with its existing plan to sell its patents to Malikie Innovations Limited, as was previously announced. The deal, which is valued at up to $900 million, was initially intended to be finalized with Catapult IP Innovations Inc for $600 million. However, the latter agreement fell through due to an unusually extended closing process.

"BlackBerry is executing on a strong, well-resourced plan to deliver revenue and ARR growth, as well as significant improvements in non-GAAP EPS and cashflow this fiscal year. Although we expect achievement of this plan to deliver significant shareholder benefits, we do not believe that this is fully reflected in the market's current valuation of the Company," stated John Chen, Executive Chairman & CEO.

Image source: Unsplash

"Accordingly, the Board and management believe it is an appropriate time to initiate a comprehensive review of the Company's portfolio. The review aims to identify and evaluate opportunities to further enhance shareholder value. As we undertake this review, we remain fully focused on delivering our plan and remain committed to our customers, partners and employees,” he added.

Malkie is a newly-established subsidiary of Key Patent Innovations Ltd., a company specializing in intellectual property monetization.

What happened to BlackBerry?

BlackBerry, a once-revered mobile technology giant, lost its grip on the industry due to a combination of factors. One of the key reasons was the company's inability to keep pace with the rapidly-evolving smartphone market. While BlackBerry initially dominated the market with its innovative business-oriented devices, it failed to adapt to the rise of touchscreen smartphones and the increasing consumer demand for mobile apps.

Additionally, the company's management was criticized for its lack of foresight and inability to execute effective strategies, leading to a decline in its market share and financial performance. Ultimately, these factors culminated in BlackBerry's downfall as a leading player in the mobile technology space. Now the company transitioned to focus on its core offerings in the areas of cybersecurity and software solutions for automakers.

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Comments

  1. pHROZEN gHOST said on May 5, 2023 at 5:46 pm
    Reply

    Don’t just read the headline here. It’s misleading at best.
    Instead read the whole article and then read the linked document …

    https://www.reuters.com/article/blackberry-review-idCAKBN2WS1ID

  2. Benjamin said on May 3, 2023 at 8:13 am
    Reply

    Canada as a legal base can be trusted with all that globalist schmuck?

  3. boris said on May 2, 2023 at 7:32 pm
    Reply

    One more reason not to read articles posted by freelancers. There is nothing there about comeback. Complete misinformation.

    1. Kirk said on May 5, 2023 at 4:41 am
      Reply

      True, the title says as if the company is going to release new devices anytime soon. When going by the convoluted press statement, that doesn’t seem to happen.

  4. basingstoke said on May 2, 2023 at 5:59 pm
    Reply

    So like Kodak once did, it will sell any valuable patents it has, and cease to be a noteworthy player in the slightest (not that they are noteworthy now…)

  5. 45 RPM said on May 2, 2023 at 3:32 pm
    Reply

    BlackBerry exists? What are they selling to whom?

    This is the dumbest press release statement imaginable:

    “Accordingly, the Board and management believe it is an appropriate time to initiate a comprehensive review of the Company’s portfolio.”

    No, the appropriate time was, like, 15 years ago.

    1. JG0019u said on May 2, 2023 at 11:07 pm
      Reply

      “BlackBerry exists? What are they selling to whom?”

      Main product is QNX and is sold primarily to automotive companies. Automakers and Tier 1s, including Aptiv, BMW, Bosch, Ford, GM, Honda, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, and Volkswagen. As of 2021, QNX is running in 195 million automobiles. It is the base OS in infotainment systems.

      QNX is also used in embedded systems in other industries.

    2. Anonymous said on May 2, 2023 at 11:00 pm
      Reply

      They keep buying up startups hoping they will come back. They turn everything into garbage that they bought out.

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