Q&A: Will the BlackBerry 10 be a success?

TORONTO – The much anticipated global launch of the BlackBerry 10 is all the buzz in business and consumer circles.

Beleaguered Research in Motion has meticulously planned the roll out of its new smartphone, hoping to recoup much of its lost market share to Apple and Android phones.

The Waterloo, Ont., based company staged worldwide developer forums, releasing more advance information about the phone than competitors normally do, in order to spark excitement about the latest BlackBerry model.

But what can consumers expect from the BlackBerry 10?

Global News’ technology expert Steve Makris, who played with a beta version of the phone at a media presentation late last year, shares his impression of the BlackBerry 10 and whether it will help to restore some of RIM’s market share.

GN: What is your overall impression of the BlackBerry 10?

Makris: I am very impressed with the new features and how efficiently the BlackBerry 10 works. It’s packed with new tricks but is easy to adapt to. It has the simplicity of an iPhone combined with the flexibility of an Android phone.

GN: What are its standout features?

Makris: I was impressed with the two modes, work and play, which are integrated in the phone’s OS, but kept the separate and totally private from each other. This is good news for a growing BYOD (bring your own device) trend for company phones because the BlackBerry 10 has an advantage over competitors to behave like two phones in one.

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I also like the touch screen predictive typing – cleverly designed to effectively speed up your typing by using a combination of touching screen letters and flicking completed words to the text box. The BlackBerry 10 even has the touchscreen keyboard delay, found in most phones, turned off for more responsive typing.

Makris: Interestingly, the BlackBerry 10 will attract business and consumer users because of its sweeping smart features. Even traditional BlackBerry users will like a physical QWERTY keyboard model the BlackBerry 10 will also launch a few weeks later.

GN: How does it differ from current BlackBerry models?

Makris: There is no similarity; it’s a completely redesigned phone and operating system.

GN: What features does the BlackBerry 10 have that will keep up with future competition in the smartphone market?

Makris: It runs on the QNX operating system, a much more robust and capable OS that is “future proof.” QNX is as sophisticated as computer multi-tasking operating systems and is already used in more demanding commercial environments. RIM has an extraordinary focused design and development team with a chance to inject a fresh perspective in what a smartphone should do.

GN: What will it take to make the BlackBerry 10 a runaway success?

Makris: Applications – but, quality over quantity. Compared to the some 1.3 million combined iOS and Android apps well thought out programs, even those at a higher price, will attract and keep users. A seamless way for BlackBerry 10 owners to switch their older phone data to new BlackBerry models and additional value-priced models in a competitive global market will attract even more “CrackBerry” users.

GN: Is the world ready for a new smart phone?

Makris: Ten years ago, the BlackBerry 10 would have been overwhelming for first time users. But today, powerful chips and demanding online social, work and play habits place high expectations on smartphones.

RIM’s fresh approach to make the BlackBerry 10 a means to an end with purposeful smarts will attract consumers who frankly have not seen a totally new breed of smartphone in several years. That’s a long time in anyone’s tech clock.

Follow Steve’s weekly Tech Talk on GlobalTV Edmonton Sunday and Morning News at http://techuntangled.ca.