"Struggling BlackBerry goes up for sale"-- Guardian News

Once dubbed the ‘CrackBerry’, the smartphone company suffered a calamitous decline in the business it helped revolutionise BlackBerry, once the global leader in smartphone technology, has put itself up for sale after years of falling sales and failed revamps.

 © Guardian News & Media 2013

Once seen as so habit-forming its users dubbed it the “CrackBerry”, Blackberry has suffered a calamitous decline as rivals revolutionised the business it did so much to start. On Monday the company previously known as Research in Motion (RIM) announced it had decided to “explore strategic alternatives”. Buyers are being sought, though the company could also go private or be broken up. Few analysts expect a turnaround.

Unable to match Apple’s iPhone for cool or the sheer range of devices from Samsung and others using Google’s Android mobile system, its market share has collapsed from close to 50% in the US in 2009 to less than 3%, according to figures released last week by the analyst IDC. On the day the news broke, the Z10, BlackBerry’s latest, much-hyped device was being offered for $19.99 by US mobile retailer Wirefly. It was selling for $199 when it was launched earlier this year.

For BlackBerry watchers, the news is no surprise. The company lost $84m in the last quarter and announced 5,000 layoffs last year. “The beginning of the end started some time ago,” said Stuart Jeffrey, analyst at Nomura Securities. He said the company’s statement suggested it no longer had any confidence in its ability to get out its current predicament. BlackBerry, he predicts, is likely to re-emerge as a software company, perhaps with some contracts for super-secure government devices, but “without the handicap of all those uncompetitive handsets”.

How a company that once defined the smartphone messed up so badly is likely to become a classic case study for business schools around the world. The first BlackBerry device, an email pager, was released in 1999 and allowed busy execs to collect and reply to their messages on the go in a way that revolutionized business communications. The BlackBerry Curve, Pearl and Bold followed shortly after, adding cameras and features to broaden the company’s appeal to consumers.

But then in 2007 came the iPhone. At first BlackBerry relied on its ties to the business community and its perceived advantages in security to fend off Apple’s attack. It didn’t work. Apple’s Steve Jobs had spotted that mobile devices were becoming media devices — powered by the increasing prevalence of Wi—Fi and more high powered mobile networks — music and games were set to be as important as email in the smartphone future. Google was soon chasing Apple in the mobile market with its Android operating system, Blackberry fell further behind. The arrival of apps let people personalise their mobiles and further changed the ways they used their devices.

When Apple launched the iPad, BlackBerry responded with its own tablet the PlayBook, which proved a massive failure and underlined how far behind the company had fallen. Blackberry was left looking clunky and uncool in a sector that was becoming ever more fashion conscious and fast moving.

In 2012 Marissa Mayer, a hotshot former Google exec, was drafted in to revamp Yahoo, another tech giant with an image issue. One of her first moves was to scrap company BlackBerrys. “We literally are moving the company from BlackBerrys to smartphones. One of the really important things for Yahoo’s strategy moving forward is mobile,” she told Fortune magazine, suggesting BlackBerry was neither a smartphone nor important in mobile.

Even Barack Obama, for long BlackBerry’s most high-profile fan, seems to have cooled on the company. As a candidate in 2008, Obama criss-crossed America with his BlackBerry seemingly glued to hand. After his election there were fears he might have to end his CrackBerry addiction due to security fears. But he fought hard, and successfully, to keep the device. “Let the man have his BlackBerry,” John Podesta, co-chairman of Obama’s transition team, told security chiefs. Without it “he’d be like a caged lion padding restlessly around the West Wing, wondering what’s happening on the other side of the iron bars that surround the People’s House”.

The president is still a BlackBerry man and could be spotted bashing away at his device during his inauguration in January. But daughters Sasha and Malia stole the show snapping pictures of their kissing parents on their iPhones. And even Obama now reportedly prefers to use an iPad for security briefings.

BlackBerry launched its latest operating system, BlackBerry 10, and three new devices this year. They got positive reviews. But, says Carolina Milanesi, analyst at Gartner, it was too little and way too late. “They have suffered a fate a lot of big guys suffer from. They were the first to market, they created the smartphone as we know it. They just didn’t see what was coming next,” she said.

“People can choose what device they want for work these days, and they don’t want BlackBerry. Brand is important, cool factor is important, and BlackBerry lost out on that. But even that’s not enough these days,” she said. “You need the eco-system, you need to offer the same experience on different devices.” Smartphones these days are more about music, photos and video than they are about email. BlackBerry for too long relied on its business customers to keep it in the game, said Milanesi. “But these days you don’t want to be boring in business.

Nadel Won US Open Grand Slam

The Spaniard lifted his tenth title of the season with a 6-2, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 defeat of Novak Djokovic to win a second US Open title on Monday.
Rafael Nadal mounted a serious threat for year-end world number one status after the Spaniard lifted his tenth title of the season with a 6-2, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 defeat of Novak Djokovic to win a second US Open title on Monday.

The 2010 champion in New York, who only began his 2013 season in February after seven months of knee injury absence, claimed the 13th title of his career at a grand slam, moving to within four of all-time leader Roger Federer.

Spain’s emotional Nadal dropped to his knees and rolled on the cement of the Ashe stadium like it was his favourite clay after securing victory in just under three-and-a-half hours against his world number one Serbian rival.

“This is a very very emotional day for me,” said the teary-eyed winner. “My team knows how much this means for me today.

“Playing Novak always brings a very special feeling; no one brings my game to the limit like he does.

“He’s an amazing player and is having an amazing career. I’m sure he will finish as one of the best in the history of tennis.” Nadal has now won 10 titles this season, going unbeaten in 22 consecutive hard-court matches in 2013. The 26-year-old stands a solid 60-3 as the season of his life moved into the autumn phase.

Nadal won the opening set, dropped the second but came back to win the last two — the fourth lasted only 40 minutes against a fading Djokovic — to add the trophy to on her lifted at the event in 2010.

The Spaniard finished with 27 winners and just 20 unforced errors while Djokovic committed 53 mistakes, converting on just three of 11 break chances. Nadal broke seven times from his dozen opportunities, including twice in the fourth set.

Djokovic sent a forehand wide with most of the court available to him to yield two Nadal match points, with the Spaniard claiming the victory on his first from the Serb’s forehand into the net.

Djokovic, who won the January Australian Open, played finals in three of the four grand slams this season, He fell to 22—15 against Nadal, who has won six of their last seven matches dating to January, 2012.

“It’s disappointing to lose a match like this,” said Djokovic.

“But it’s a huge privilege to be fighting for this trophy, one of the most valuable in our sport.

“Congratulations to Rafa, he was too good and deserved to win this match and this trophy.” Nadal was playing a final for the 12th time in his last 13 tournaments in 2013. He came to the title match having been broken only been broken once and lifted the trophy with the loss of just two sets over the fortnight. He now owns 60 career titles.

Djokovic was the first player to reach four straight New York finals since Roger Federer advanced to six straight from 2004-09 (winning five). Djokovic was playing his 12th Grand Slam final and stands 6-6 in that category. The loss was his eighth of the season.

Serena Williams beats Victoria Azarenka for 5th US Open title

Top-seeded Serena Williams won her fifth U.S. Open championship and 17th Grand Slam title overall by beating No. 2 Victoria Azarenka 7-5, 6-7 (6), 6-1 in a windy final.

Sunday's match was the toughest test these two weeks for the No. 1-seeded Williams, who also beat Azarenka in three sets in last year's final.

Williams hadn't lost a set in her previous six matches but was bothered by the swirling air and Azarenka's strong play. Seemingly in control in the second set, Williams was broken while serving for the match at 5-4 and 6-5.

After Azarenka took the tiebreaker, Williams chucked her racket, and it bounced onto the court.

Sebastian Vettel wins Italian Grand Prix (Monza)

Vettel's sixth win of the year extended his lead over his Ferrari rival to 53 points, with 175 available in the remaining seven races.

Red Bull's Mark Webber beat Ferrari's Felipe Massa to the final podium place.

Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton fought up to ninth after dropping almost to the back when a puncture forced him to make an extra stop compared to his rivals

Alonso "extremely happy" with second

The Englishman enlivened the final few laps by passing Lotus's Kimi Raikkonen and both McLarens to haul himself up into the points.

But Hamilton is now 81 points behind Vettel in the championship, which has effectively devolved down to a straight fight between the German and Alonso.

"It was a fantastic race but you can hear the difference when you don't win here in a red suit," said Vettel on the podium, in response to booing from the Ferrari fans. "But it means you have done well and beaten the red men but it was a great team effort today.

"The race was terrific for both of us [Vettel and Webber]. We had problems with the gearboxes at the end, but I was OK because I had a good cushion."

Vettel now appears in total control of the season, just as he was of this race.

Starting from pole position, the world champion damaged his right-front tyre with a flat spot when fending off a challenge from Massa into the first corner but still managed to eke out an advantage in the opening laps.

Alonso, who started fifth, moved up at the start to fourth past Sauber's Nico Hulkenberg, who had qualified an excellent third, and then brilliantly passed Webber for third around the outside of the second chicane on lap three.

The Spaniard then passed Massa into the first chicane on lap eight but initially could do nothing about Vettel, who extended his lead by about half a second over each of the next few laps.

Paes-Stepanek win US Open men’s doubles title

Leander Paes won his eighth men’s doubles Grand Slam title, and 14th overall, as he combined with Radek Stepanek to clinch US Open trophy with a dominating victory over Alexander Peya and Bruno Soares in the title clash, in New York on Sunday.

The fourth seeded Indo-Czech pair demolished the second seeded Austria-Brazilian pair 6-1 in 6-3 in one hour and 12 minutes at Arthur Ashe stadium.

It was a perfect climax for Paes and Stepanek, who came into the US Open with title in Winston Salem Open, as they won their second major title together, having won Australian Open last year.

It was third US Open title for 40-year-old Paes and the previous two had also come with Czech partners. In 2006, the Indian won with Martin Damm and in 2009 with Lukas Dlouhy.

Last year at the US Open, Paes had ended runner-up with Stepanek, losing to Bryan brothers.

Now Paes has 14 major titles in his cupboard, including six mixed doubles trophies. Stepanek has two Grand Slam titles, both with Paes.

It was one of the most lop-sided US Open title match as Peya and Soares failed to put up a fight. They had no clue whatsoever on how to counter the rampaging Indo-Czech combine.

Peya also required a medical timeout for a back problem in the second set while trailing 1-3. Peya was in pain but did not give up and even went on to hold his serve in that game.

Paes hit a forehand winner to earn the championship point and then hit a backhand volley to seal the trophy win.

Paes and Stepanek 23 winners to eight of their rivals.

They won 66 points while Peya and Soares 40.

Paes acknowledged Stepanek’s resilience as he came back well from a back surgery early this year.
“Find someone from Czech republic that’s my advise to anyone who is looking for a doubles partner. They are hard working guys. I have to thank him. He had lot of adversities this season, coming out of injury and surgery it’s amazing to stand here. I have to thank him,” Paes said.

“It is no shame to lose to these guys,” said Peya.

Peya and Soares struggled to hold serve and too many unforced errors only made the job tough for them.
In contrast, whatever Paes and Stepanek did, yielded them desired result. Yet again Stepanek’s serve and Paes’ net play was superb.

Peya and Soares had two break chances — in the first and fifth games in the opening set — but could convert none.

The back problem to Peya in the second set reduced the match to a formality as the second seeds could not have challenged their in-form rivals with an injury handicap.

At the start, Peya hit a crushing forehand winner to earn a breakpoint in the very first game but Stepanek served well to hold and what followed was complete annihilation of pair.

Paes and Stepanek raced to a 5-0 lead as they broke both Peya and Soares comfortably.

Soares held game number six to save themselves blushes as Paes served out the set in the next game.