OPEN IN APP
Active Stocks
Thu Apr 18 2024 15:59:07
  1. Tata Steel share price
  2. 160.00 -0.03%
  1. Power Grid Corporation Of India share price
  2. 280.20 2.13%
  1. NTPC share price
  2. 351.40 -2.19%
  1. Infosys share price
  2. 1,420.55 0.41%
  1. Wipro share price
  2. 444.30 -0.96%
Business News/ Photos / BlackBerry’s Rise and Fall

BlackBerry’s Rise and Fall

10 Photos . Updated: 25 Sep 2013, 03:40 PM IST Livemint

After years of falling fortunes and slumping market share, BlackBerry has just signed a tentative agreement to go private in a $4.7 billion deal led by its biggest shareholder Prem Watsa's Fairfax Financial. Key milestones in the history of the pioneer of wireless mail.

BlackBerry smartphones arranged for a picture. The first BlackBerry smart phone was developed in 2003. The company,then called Research In Motion, pioneered mobile email through these first phones. Bloomberg

1/10BlackBerry smartphones arranged for a picture. The first BlackBerry smart phone was developed in 2003. The company,then called Research In Motion, pioneered mobile email through these first phones. Bloomberg

BlackBerry, starting life as Research In Motion (RIM), was founded in February 1985 by Mike Lazaridis (in pic) and Douglas Fregin in Waterloo, Canada. In 1989, RIM developed a network gateway called RIMGate, precursor to its BlackBerry Server. AFP

2/10BlackBerry, starting life as Research In Motion (RIM), was founded in February 1985 by Mike Lazaridis (in pic) and Douglas Fregin in Waterloo, Canada. In 1989, RIM developed a network gateway called RIMGate, precursor to its BlackBerry Server. AFP

The first BlackBerry was RIM 850 released in 1999 (in Munich, Germany). It was little more than a mobile pager and actually ran on two AA batteries with a keypad that allowed the person to respond to the sender. Photo: Blackberry

3/10The first BlackBerry was RIM 850 released in 1999 (in Munich, Germany). It was little more than a mobile pager and actually ran on two AA batteries with a keypad that allowed the person to respond to the sender. Photo: Blackberry

The name BlackBerry was coined by the marketing company Lexicon Branding. The name was chosen due to the resemblance of the keyboard’s buttons to that of the drupelets that compose the blackberry fruit. Reuters

4/10The name BlackBerry was coined by the marketing company Lexicon Branding. The name was chosen due to the resemblance of the keyboard’s buttons to that of the drupelets that compose the blackberry fruit. Reuters

Blackberry has also launched various products apart from phones. In 1994, it launched a handheld point-of-sale card reader, which verified debit and credit transactions directly to a bank. In 1995, it built its own radio modem for wireless email. AFP

5/10Blackberry has also launched various products apart from phones. In 1994, it launched a handheld point-of-sale card reader, which verified debit and credit transactions directly to a bank. In 1995, it built its own radio modem for wireless email. AFP

The original BlackBerry device had a monochrome display, but all current models have color displays. All the models, except for the Storm series that was launched in 2008, had a QWERTY keyboard. Photo: Blackberry

6/10The original BlackBerry device had a monochrome display, but all current models have color displays. All the models, except for the Storm series that was launched in 2008, had a QWERTY keyboard. Photo: Blackberry

In 1997, RIM was listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange, raising more than $115 million. In 1999, it launched BlackBerry email service and in 2002, it added voice calls to the BlackBerry. In 2004, RIM surpassed 1 million BlackBerry users. Reuters

7/10In 1997, RIM was listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange, raising more than $115 million. In 1999, it launched BlackBerry email service and in 2002, it added voice calls to the BlackBerry. In 2004, RIM surpassed 1 million BlackBerry users. Reuters

In 2010, RIM bought QNX Software Systems for C$200 million, which it later used for its BlackBerry 10 devices. In 2011, RIM launches PlayBook, which ended up being a dud, and forced co-CEOs Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie to step down. AFP

8/10In 2010, RIM bought QNX Software Systems for C$200 million, which it later used for its BlackBerry 10 devices. In 2011, RIM launches PlayBook, which ended up being a dud, and forced co-CEOs Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie to step down. AFP

In January, 2013, BlackBerry 10 devices were launched. However, by then, its shares had already hit a decade’s lowest level. In June, shares fell 25% after the company reported losses. BlackBerry said that its 10 devices sales were disappointing. Reuters

9/10In January, 2013, BlackBerry 10 devices were launched. However, by then, its shares had already hit a decade’s lowest level. In June, shares fell 25% after the company reported losses. BlackBerry said that its 10 devices sales were disappointing. Reuters

On 20 September, BlackBerry warned of a steep loss and said it will cut more than a third of its workforce. On 23 September, it signed a tentative $4.7 billion deal to be acquired by a consortium led by its largest investor, Prem Watsa’s Fairfax Financial. Reuters

10/10On 20 September, BlackBerry warned of a steep loss and said it will cut more than a third of its workforce. On 23 September, it signed a tentative $4.7 billion deal to be acquired by a consortium led by its largest investor, Prem Watsa’s Fairfax Financial. Reuters

OTHER GALLERIES
Recommended For You

Wait for it…

Log in to our website to save your bookmarks. It'll just take a moment.

Yes, Continue

You are just one step away from creating your watchlist!

Login Now

Wait for it…

Oops! Looks like you have exceeded the limit to bookmark the image. Remove some to bookmark this image.

Your session has expired, please login again.

Yes, Continue
Switch to the Mint app for fast and personalized news - Get App