Blackberry Z10 indeed looks much like Iphone 5 but Blackberry's British boss has refused to admit its new Z10 handset looks just like an iPhone - amid growing speculation the firm could face legal action from Apple.
Blackberry Europe managing director Stephen Bates repeatedly refused to answer questions about the similarity during a bizarre radio interview in which he ignored repeated requests to address the issue.
Now technology experts are suggesting Apple could sue if it sees a drop in sales as a result of people switching to the Z10 or choosing a BlackBerry instead of an iPhone.
Mr Bates was asked: 'What have you learnt from Apple?' six times during a Radio 5 interview, but each time refused to address the question before the interviewer gave up, saying 'you're clearly not answering'.
'Blackberry was one of the inventors of the smartphone market,' he said after being asked again what the firm had learnt from the iPhone.
Eventually, the interviewer gave up, telling Mr Bates 'you sound like you are reading from a press release'.
Many experts say the device actually borrows from several operating systems, not just Apple.
'It seems to be an amalgamation of lots of different systems,' said Stuart Miles of the Pocket-Lint website.
'The lock screen is similar to Windows phone, the app grid is similar to iPhone, the app page is similar to Android,'
'I don't think people will get confused - apart from the fact they look rectangular.'
Eventually, the interviewer gave up, telling Mr Bates 'you sound like you are reading from a press release'.
Many experts say the device actually borrows from several operating systems, not just Apple.
'It seems to be an amalgamation of lots of different systems,' said Stuart Miles of the Pocket-Lint website.
'The lock screen is similar to Windows phone, the app grid is similar to iPhone, the app page is similar to Android,'
'I don't think people will get confused - apart from the fact they look rectangular.'
'Blackberry was one of the inventors of the smartphone market,' he said after being asked again what the firm had learnt from the iPhone.
Eventually, the interviewer gave up, telling Mr Bates 'you sound like you are reading from a press release'.
Many experts say the device actually borrows from several operating systems, not just Apple.
'It seems to be an amalgamation of lots of different systems,' said Stuart Miles of the Pocket-Lint website.
'The lock screen is similar to Windows phone, the app grid is similar to iPhone, the app page is similar to Android,'
'I don't think people will get confused - apart from the fact they look rectangular.'
The Z10 is Blackberry's first entirely touchscreen smartphone.
The company, once the brand of choice for business customers, has struggled in recent years to compete against Apple and other rivals such as the Samsung Galaxy.
Its market share has dropped dramatically from 41 per cent in 2007, the year the iPhone was launched, to just 4 per cent in the first quarter of last year.
But the firm says the new model, the Z10, has been ‘reinvented’ and offers much better internet, music, camera and email facilities.
The phone goes on sale in the UK first, from today. It will cost from £36 a month on a contract – the same as the 16GB version of the iPhone 5.
It also resembles the iPhone physically, with a large touchscreen. It has a new operating system, the BlackBerry 10, and its makers say the phone is aimed at ‘the true multitasker’.
Eventually, the interviewer gave up, telling Mr Bates 'you sound like you are reading from a press release'.
Many experts say the device actually borrows from several operating systems, not just Apple.
'It seems to be an amalgamation of lots of different systems,' said Stuart Miles of the Pocket-Lint website.
'The lock screen is similar to Windows phone, the app grid is similar to iPhone, the app page is similar to Android,'
'I don't think people will get confused - apart from the fact they look rectangular.'
Pixie Lott at the launch of the Blackberry Z10 smartphone in London - but the firm is now facing questions over its similarity to the iPhone
The Z10 is Blackberry's first entirely touchscreen smartphone.
The company, once the brand of choice for business customers, has struggled in recent years to compete against Apple and other rivals such as the Samsung Galaxy.
Its market share has dropped dramatically from 41 per cent in 2007, the year the iPhone was launched, to just 4 per cent in the first quarter of last year.
But the firm says the new model, the Z10, has been ‘reinvented’ and offers much better internet, music, camera and email facilities.
The phone goes on sale in the UK first, from today. It will cost from £36 a month on a contract – the same as the 16GB version of the iPhone 5.
It also resembles the iPhone physically, with a large touchscreen. It has a new operating system, the BlackBerry 10, and its makers say the phone is aimed at ‘the true multitasker’.
The Z10 device has a touch screen but no 'middle button' while the Q10 has a Qwerty keyboard for 'the best typing experience on smartphone'.
Chief executive Thorsten Heins, who also announced that the firm is changing its name from RIM to BlackBerry, said: 'We have been on a journey of transformation... We intend to lead the move from mobile communication to mobile computing.'
Launching the two handsets in New York, Mr Heins said: 'It's been one year since I was handed the reins, and it has been challenging, but exhilarating,' said Mr Heins.
'Now, finally, here we are - Blackberry 10 is here'
But the shares fell 5 per cent as the Canadian announced it was changing its name to BlackBerry from Research In Motion, and by the conclusion of the launch the shares were down 7 per cent.
But the firm insisted it could turn around its struggling fortunes - even revealing that it had signed up musician Alicia Keys as its 'global creative director'.
'Alicia Keys has come to BlackBerry because she believes in the product and technology, and subscribes to our overriding philosophy to ‘Keep Moving’: to empower people through mobile computing and communications,' said Mr Heins.
In the UK, the handset will be free on tariffs starting at £36 per month from Carphone Warehouse.
The handsets do not have a home button, instead using a user's thumb to 'flick' across the screen.
It also has a new 'peek' feature that allows owners to see their email and other messages from anywhere in the phone's menu system by swiping from the left of the screen.
The firm also said it had worked to create the 'best typing experience' of any handset.
Chief executive Thorsten Heins, who also announced that the firm is changing its name from RIM to BlackBerry, said: 'We have been on a journey of transformation... We intend to lead the move from mobile communication to mobile computing.'
Launching the two handsets in New York, Mr Heins said: 'It's been one year since I was handed the reins, and it has been challenging, but exhilarating,' said Mr Heins.
'Now, finally, here we are - Blackberry 10 is here'
But the shares fell 5 per cent as the Canadian announced it was changing its name to BlackBerry from Research In Motion, and by the conclusion of the launch the shares were down 7 per cent.
But the firm insisted it could turn around its struggling fortunes - even revealing that it had signed up musician Alicia Keys as its 'global creative director'.
'Alicia Keys has come to BlackBerry because she believes in the product and technology, and subscribes to our overriding philosophy to ‘Keep Moving’: to empower people through mobile computing and communications,' said Mr Heins.
In the UK, the handset will be free on tariffs starting at £36 per month from Carphone Warehouse.
The handsets do not have a home button, instead using a user's thumb to 'flick' across the screen.
It also has a new 'peek' feature that allows owners to see their email and other messages from anywhere in the phone's menu system by swiping from the left of the screen.
The firm also said it had worked to create the 'best typing experience' of any handset.
Thorsten Heins, CEO of Research in Motion, introduces the BlackBerry 10 devices
No comments:
Post a Comment