Not so long ago, BlackBerry dominated the North American smartphone market with devices that looked clunky but had physical keyboards geared to e-mailing on the go. Now the company is in deep trouble, outflanked by Apple and Android. Here's a look back at some of its key products.
BlackBerry: A product history —
Not so long ago, BlackBerry dominated the North American smartphone market with devices that looked clunky but had physical keyboards geared to e-mailing on the go. Now the company is in deep trouble, outflanked by Apple and Android. Here's a look back at some of its key products.
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The BlackBerry's closest predecessor, this clamshell device introduced in 1996, was the first two-way messaging pager.
RIM Inter@ctive Pager —
The BlackBerry's closest predecessor, this clamshell device introduced in 1996, was the first two-way messaging pager.
RIM
Four years later, in 2000, the BlackBerry looked a lot more like, well, a BlackBerry. You could surf the web, send and receive e-mails, and set alarms, but it was still essentially a pager with PDA features. The $499 list price and $40 monthly service fee was shocking to some.
RIM 957 —
Four years later, in 2000, the BlackBerry looked a lot more like, well, a BlackBerry. You could surf the web, send and receive e-mails, and set alarms, but it was still essentially a pager with PDA features. The $499 list price and $40 monthly service fee was shocking to some.
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It wasn't until 2002 that the BlackBerry was actually a phone. That's right, the 5810 was the first model that allowed you to make calls. It came with a caveat: no built-in microphone or speaker meant you had to plug in a headset to use the feature.
5810 —
It wasn't until 2002 that the BlackBerry was actually a phone. That's right, the 5810 was the first model that allowed you to make calls. It came with a caveat: no built-in microphone or speaker meant you had to plug in a headset to use the feature.
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In 2003, BlackBerry debuted its first phone with a color screen. It was cutting-edge technology, and the classic blue shell set the precedent for how the company's future lines would look.
7230 —
In 2003, BlackBerry debuted its first phone with a color screen. It was cutting-edge technology, and the classic blue shell set the precedent for how the company's future lines would look.
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In 2004 the BlackBerry got much sleeker. This meant less space for a full keyboard so RIM introduced SureType, a phone keypad and QWERTY hybrid.
7100 series —
In 2004 the BlackBerry got much sleeker. This meant less space for a full keyboard so RIM introduced SureType, a phone keypad and QWERTY hybrid.
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The BlackBerry Pearl in 2006 was the first BlackBerry to have that iconic navigation ball you might remember replacing. It was also the first BlackBerry with a camera, and the company's smallest phone.
Pearl —
The BlackBerry Pearl in 2006 was the first BlackBerry to have that iconic navigation ball you might remember replacing. It was also the first BlackBerry with a camera, and the company's smallest phone.
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In 2007 BlackBerry released the Curve, a light device with a full keyboard, camera, and sleek professional appearance. It was a huge seller for BlackBerry. But then the iPhone launched later that year.
Curve —
In 2007 BlackBerry released the Curve, a light device with a full keyboard, camera, and sleek professional appearance. It was a huge seller for BlackBerry. But then the iPhone launched later that year.
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Launched in 2008, the Bold was in many ways a step up from the Curve. It was sleeker with a more hand-friendly keyboard.
Bold —
Launched in 2008, the Bold was in many ways a step up from the Curve. It was sleeker with a more hand-friendly keyboard.
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The Storm was BlackBerry's first all-touchscreen device, released in 2010 as a belated attempt to catch up with Apple. The phone got mixed reviews, and many customers found its touchscreen difficult to operate.
Storm —
The Storm was BlackBerry's first all-touchscreen device, released in 2010 as a belated attempt to catch up with Apple. The phone got mixed reviews, and many customers found its touchscreen difficult to operate.
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Introduced in 2010, the first Torch had a touchscreen and full slide-out keyboard, making it a hybrid between the iPhone and the older BlackBerry models. Users weren't impressed, and the phone failed to make much of a splash.
Torch —
Introduced in 2010, the first Torch had a touchscreen and full slide-out keyboard, making it a hybrid between the iPhone and the older BlackBerry models. Users weren't impressed, and the phone failed to make much of a splash.
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In January of 2013, BlackBerry released the Z10 and the Q10 -- phones built on the overhauled BlackBerry 10 operating system. But the devices failed to excite consumers, and the company posted a first-quarter loss. In September it announced it was laying off 40% of its workforce.
BlackBerry 10 —
In January of 2013, BlackBerry released the Z10 and the Q10 -- phones built on the overhauled BlackBerry 10 operating system. But the devices failed to excite consumers, and the company posted a first-quarter loss. In September it announced it was laying off 40% of its workforce.
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