Research In Motion Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY) has been a bit enigmatic in terms of gauging the consumer temperature toward BlackBerry devices since the company launched its BlackBerry 10 operating system and its flagship devices. At one point it seemed the devices were flying off the shelves, until we heard that there were limited supplies. Then we heard mixed reviews about the Z10 touchscreen-only device and how consumers were reacting to it. Then, we heard about pent-up demand for a physical keyboard that many loyal BlackBerry users have been craving for years, and then we hear about those sales numbers.
The report says that Research In Motion Ltd component suppliers are getting more orders due to strong demand in the U.S. and Europe as well as places like the Middle East and Indonesia have set a strong tone for the company, even as it has yet to release low- and mid-range models for emerging markets.
But based on the phones that are already out, the suppliers have estimated that they are on pace to produce 30 to 40 million BlackBerry devices by the end of 2013. This is not a large amount compared to what Samsung or Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) can produce in a year, but that would certainly be a strong number to solidify a comeback by BlackBerry as being a relevant player in the mobile space once again. In the February quarter, BlackBerry sold 6 million devices, which was a significant drop over the previous year.
What are your thoughts about Research In Motion Ltd and the progress of BlackBerry? Are you a fan of its devices? Do you see a niche in the smartphone space where BlackBerry can be a force among consumers, or will this be known as an enterprise company? Give us your feedback in the comments section below.
