BlackBerry will end its relationship with T-Mobile starting April 25th
Looks like that edgy banter between T-Mobile CEO John Legere and BlackBerry CEO John Chen was a bit too much for at least one of the two Johns. BlackBerry has announced Tuesday night that starting April 25th, it will not renew the carrier's license to sell BlackBerry products. This all stems from a recent promotion that T-Mobile had where BlackBerry users were enticed by the carrier to swap their handset for an Apple iPhone. Chen took umbrage at the offer, and was soon exchanging words with Legere.
You don't want to enter into a battle of wits with John Legere. In a tweet, he told John Chen that he couldn't find him on Twitter, so he would try My Space. Ouch. Eventually. T-Mobile worked out a deal that allowed 'Berry owners to trade in any working 'Berry and get $200 toward a new phone. And if that new phone was a BlackBerry, the credit would be $250. But that apparently didn't soothe the ire of John Chen, especially when T-Mobile announced that the offer brought in 15 times the usual amount of BlackBerry trade-ins over a two week period.
source: Crackberry
In a press release, Chen said that BlackBerry's strategies are not aligned with T-Mobile's at this time, and that it hoped to work again with the carrier once their business strategies were aligned. In the meantime, BlackBerry customers on T-Mobile will not notice any changes in the quality of their service or support. BlackBerry said it would work with T-Mobile to provide customer service to BlackBerry customers still on the T-Mobile network, and for those T-Mobile customers who buy a BlackBerry from T-Mobile's remaining inventory.
"BlackBerry has had a positive relationship with T-Mobile for many years. Regretfully, at this time, our strategies are not complementary and we must act in the best interest of our BlackBerry customers. We hope to work with T-Mobile again in the future when our business strategies are aligned. We are deeply grateful to our loyal BlackBerry customers and will do everything in our power to provide continued support with your existing carrier or ensure a smooth transition to our other carrier partners."-John Chen, CEO, BlackBerry
source: Crackberry
WATERLOO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - April 1, 2014) - BlackBerry(R) Limited (NASDAQ:BBRY)(TSX:BB), a world leader in mobile communications, today announced that it will not renew the T-Mobile U.S., Inc. license to sell BlackBerry products when it expires on April 25, 2014.
BlackBerry customers on the T-Mobile network should not see any difference in their service or support. BlackBerry will work closely with T-Mobile to provide the best possible customer service to any customer remaining on the T-Mobile U.S. network or to any customer purchasing devices from T-Mobile's existing inventory.
BlackBerry is also working closely with other carrier partners to provide consumers and business users with alternatives should they decide to transition to another carrier and remain with BlackBerry for their long-term device and service needs. For additional details, offers and assistance, business customers and consumers can go to http://us.blackberry.com/smartphones.html.
"BlackBerry has had a positive relationship with T-Mobile for many years. Regretfully, at this time, our strategies are not complementary and we must act in the best interest of our BlackBerry customers. We hope to work with T-Mobile again in the future when our business strategies are aligned," said BlackBerry CEO and Executive Chair, John Chen. "We are deeply grateful to our loyal BlackBerry customers and will do everything in our power to provide continued support with your existing carrier or ensure a smooth transition to our other carrier partners.
BlackBerry customers on the T-Mobile network should not see any difference in their service or support. BlackBerry will work closely with T-Mobile to provide the best possible customer service to any customer remaining on the T-Mobile U.S. network or to any customer purchasing devices from T-Mobile's existing inventory.
BlackBerry is also working closely with other carrier partners to provide consumers and business users with alternatives should they decide to transition to another carrier and remain with BlackBerry for their long-term device and service needs. For additional details, offers and assistance, business customers and consumers can go to http://us.blackberry.com/smartphones.html.
"BlackBerry has had a positive relationship with T-Mobile for many years. Regretfully, at this time, our strategies are not complementary and we must act in the best interest of our BlackBerry customers. We hope to work with T-Mobile again in the future when our business strategies are aligned," said BlackBerry CEO and Executive Chair, John Chen. "We are deeply grateful to our loyal BlackBerry customers and will do everything in our power to provide continued support with your existing carrier or ensure a smooth transition to our other carrier partners.
FCC OKs Cingular\'s purchase of AT&T Wireless
Things that are NOT allowed: