BlackBerry’s revised roadmap for 2014 doesn’t include any more devices. The low-end Z3 it launched a few months back has performed well in emerging markets. In September the company followed up with the high-end BlackBerry Passport which is actually exceeding expectations as far as sales are concerned. In a few weeks time the Classic will also go on sale, a $450 device aimed at BB loyalists. What’s next for the company? Apparently it could release a high-end all touch device in 2015.
This rumor comes amid much speculation that BlackBerry is probably not going to take a chance on a high-end all touch device again given the massive loss that it had to bear with the Z10. The leaked roadmap also showed that no such device existed in the company’s lineup for 2014.
N4BB reports today that BlackBerry is indeed working on a high-end all touch device which internally carries the codename “Rio.” Unfortunately that’s all the scribe has to offer at this point in time because there are no details about the Rio’s specifications or design available at this point in time.
BlackBerry hasn’t even commented on the rumor so there’s no denial or confirmation from the Canadian company. Apparently the Rio project is still in its early stages, who knows what might happen, the possibility also exists that BlackBerry may not decide to take that chance again.
CEO John Chen has reiterated multiple times that the company is not going to bow out of the smartphone market. It will be interesting to see how BlackBerry builds up on the gains it has made this year with the Z3 and the Passport. Chen expects the company to return to profitability within a year from now.
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