Consumers could be seeing cheaper BlackBerry models from Research In Motion Ltd. as the device-maker prepares to go head-to-head with rivals such as Apple Inc. over the next six months.
Co-CEO Jim Balsillie said yesterday that RIM will roll out a “flurry” of new products through the second half of the year, and that the pricing of some devices could be lowered in a bid to drive further acceptance.
A similar strategy has been adopted by Apple, which said earlier this month that its second-generation iPhone would cost as little as $199 US with carrier subsidies, compared to $399 US for the existing model.
RIM yesterday reported fiscal first quarter earnings that more than doubled to $482.5 million US. Sales rose to $2.24 billion as RIM’s global subscriber base grew by 2.3 million to a total of about 16 million. However RIM failed to meet the market’s expectations for earnings for the first time in five quarters.
