BlackBerry Z10 Officially a Disaster

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Watching BlackBerry try to hang on to relevance is like thinking Anthony Weiner is still in the running for mayor of New York. It just isn’t happening.

The BlackBerry Z10 was supposed to be the Canada-based company’s potential return to prominence among both business users, and perhaps, general consumers too. Carriers gave it excellent reviews when they tested it last fall, and the company’s stock briefly shot up. But the device never cracked the top three at any of the major U.S. carriers, and it now can be picked up for free at Best Buy if you sign up for a new contract with AT&T or Verizon Wireless, Stabley Times noted.

The Z10 started at $199 when it launched in the spring, but dropped to just $49 a week ago thanks to a lack of demand. The phone, based on BlackBerry’s newest operating system, BB10, was probably the company’s last chance at survival. Just days ago, the company’s tablet guru resigned, not long after BlackBerry said it wouldn’t update the software for the failed PlayBook.

BlackBerry acknowledged on an earnings call earlier this month that Z10 sales weren’t what execs had hoped, and that the company loses money on each Z10 that it sells.

About the only question that remains is if BlackBerry will be an attractive acquisition target. It’s OS is generally considered to have a lot going for it, but the same was said when HP acquired Palm, and look how that turned out.

Follow senior online managing editor @Craig_Galbraith on Twitter.