Enterprise
TCL announces exit from BlackBerry devices
The BlackBerry is dead… again
Back in the good old days, almost everyone carried one of two phones: the ever-reliable Nokia or the BlackBerry workhorse. Of course, after years in the spotlight, both brands eventually faded into oblivion, bowing out to the more powerful smartphone.
Both brands, however, never gave up. A few years ago, BlackBerry and Nokia sought a much-needed comeback, refreshing their entire lineup for the current generation. While Nokia skirted the fine line between nostalgia and innovation, BlackBerry mostly stuck to its roots, outing new phones with the traditional QWERTY keyboard. Unfortunately, one strategy has lost once again, falling to lackluster reception.
TCL Communication, the company responsible for BlackBerry’s resurgence, has announced its exit from the brand. According to a tweet from BlackBerry’s official Twitter account, “as of August 31, 2020, TCL Communication will no longer be selling BlackBerry-branded mobile devices.”
— BlackBerry Mobile (@BBMobile) February 3, 2020
Apparently, TCL has not renewed its rights to “design, manufacture or sell” BlackBerry phones. At the very least, TCL will continue to support existing phones until August 31, 2022.
In 2016, TCL acquired brand licensing for BlackBerry products. Since then, BlackBerry has outed several phones from the KEY series and the Evolve series. Unfortunately, neither series has met today’s milestones. Last year, BlackBerry even announced the shutdown of its iconic BBM messaging system.
TCL has also touched various properties like Alcatel. Right now, the company is busy making its own line of phones. Potentially, TCL wants to focus on its own brand going forward.
For the BlackBerry fan out there, the brand isn’t completely going away yet. Currently, Indian telco Optiemus Infracom is still selling BlackBerry devices in the Indian subcontinent.
However, for most of the world, BlackBerry is dying again. That is, until another company picks the brand up from the ashes once again.
Did you know that it’s been almost 15 years since Tim Cook took the reins of Apple? The brand’s stalwart fans can definitely thank Cook for Apple’s impressive success today. That said, nothing lasts forever, especially as one reaches the age of 65. Tim Cook, after bringing Apple to almost US$ 4 trillion in valuation, might soon step down as the company’s CEO.
When he took over as CEO, Cook had the unfortunate challenge of following Steve Jobs. But, as we can see now, the CEO was more than up for the task, leading the company to new heights. Cook, however, will soon enter his twilight years. This November, the CEO turns 65. Cook’s retirement now becomes a question of “when” and “who’s next.”
According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the transition might come soon. A few of the company’s executives have started to leave the company. This year, COO Jeff Williams stepped down and will soon leave the company. Importantly, Williams was once seen as next in line for the throne.
Others are expected to follow Williams, eventually leading to Cook’s own retirement. Cook’s 65th birthday isn’t a sure deadline, but the talks should start. When Cook does retire from his CEO duties, it’s expected that he’ll transition instead into a new role as chairman, similar to Amazon’s Jeff Bezos.
Gurman also notes that the current heir, after Williams’s departure, is now the company’s hardware engineering boss, John Ternus. Importantly, this means that Apple might finally enter a new era outside of smartphones. As popular as the iPhone is, the company has struggled entering new facets of technology, including the middling Vision Pro. Ternus, as opposed to a more business-oriented leader, might steer Apple into those new frontiers.
SEE ALSO: Apple iPhone Air Review
It didn’t take long for Nothing to establish itself in the smartphone industry. The brand even felt confident to launch a more affordable sub-brand called CMF by Nothing. Now, Nothing is ready to let its baby boy grow up. CMF by Nothing is branching off into its own independent brand soon.
As reported by TechCrunch, Nothing has confirmed that CMF will become an independent subsidiary soon. The brand is partnering with an Indian company called Optiemus to establish a headquarters for manufacturing and research in India.
The choice of market isn’t surprising. Compared to the original brand, CMF by Nothing caters more to the budget-conscious crowd while upholding Nothing’s penchant for quirky designs. The affordable segment continues to be a big hit in India. Nothing, as a brand, is also popular in the country.
It’s an impressive story for CMF. The small brand started only around two years ago in 2023. Since then, it launched earbuds, smartwatches, and smartphones — all of which appeal to the budget-conscious. By branching off on its own, the brand has a chance to establish its own identity apart from its parent company.
Though CMF’s independence is certainly a quick one, the phenomenon isn’t uncommon. Various companies have also done the same with their own sub-brands. For example, HONOR, POCO, and realme have spun off from Huawei, Xiaomi, and OPPO, respectively.
SEE ALSO: CMF Phone 2 Pro review: Only a small step from its predecessor
Enterprise
DITO wants you to stop worrying about data, WiFi, and dropped calls
Here’s how DITO is changing the way we connect
DITO Telecommunity is pushing forward with a bold message: fast, reliable, and accessible connectivity should already be the norm.
At its recent Kaya DITO campaign launch in BGC, the country’s fastest-growing telco showed how its ecosystem of services is built to meet the digital aspirations of every Filipino.
Prepaid that doesn’t waste your data
DITO’s Level-Up Packs were designed to take the stress out of prepaid.
With ViLTE tech, subscribers get unlimited HD video calls between DITO users, plus unli mobile calls, bundled Viber, Prime Video, and flexible data that lasts longer.
Postpaid that actually makes sense
With DITO FlexPlan 888, postpaid is made practical. For less than a thousand pesos a month, subscribers can choose SIM-only or device-bundled plans with generous data inclusions.
It proves that having a premium postpaid experience doesn’t have to break the bank.
WiFi that keeps the whole household connected
DITO WoWFi Pro 365 makes home internet simple. Think of it as a worry-free, year-long unlimited connection with no complicated installations and constant top-ups.
Just reliable WiFi for work, study, and streaming when you need it.
Everything you need in one app
The DITO App is one of the most complete telco apps available, giving subscribers full control of their digital life.
From buying SIMs and load to managing accounts, rewards, and even OTT apps, the experience is built around convenience. Add 24/7 support and exclusive perks, and the app becomes a one-stop hub for all things DITO.
True 5G built differently
Unlike other networks built on old systems, DITO made the call early to go all-in on 5G Standalone.
That means faster speeds, lower latency, and a network that can keep up with how Filipinos live today.
Opensignal has already recognized DITO as the Philippines’ fastest network, proving that the foundation they built is paying off.
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