T-Mobile has decided to stop stocking BlackBerry smartphones at its retail outlets and instead ship them to the customers upon special request.
If you still want to buy a BlackBerry Z10, Q10 or the newest Z30 from T-Mobile, you may want to let the carrier know in advance. T-Mobile, the nation's fourth largest wireless carrier, officially confirmed Wednesday that it will stop stocking BlackBerry smartphones in all its company-owned retail stores in the coming days owing to a reduction in demand and will instead ship the devices directly to customers upon request.
Earlier this week, BlackBerry announced the sale of its business to a conglomerate led by Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited for a sum of $4.7 billion. BlackBerry, which once stood strong in mobile business, lost most of its share of business to the leading brands like Samsung and Apple. The demand for its devices eventually declined, but a loyal chunk of BlackBerry customers still continue to take pleasure in the company's new devices.
T-Mobile executive vice president for corporate services, David Carey, told Reuters Wednesday that "keeping [BlackBerry] stock in the retail distribution system was inefficient" due to decreasing demand for its handsets.
"T-Mobile continues to support the BlackBerry platform. Customers can buy BlackBerry Z10 and Q10 devices in T-Mobile retail stores, online at www.T-Mobile.com, and through B-to-B sales channels," T-Mobile spokesperson told PCMag, confirming its latest move. "The T-Mobile retail channel is moving toward fulfillment via direct ship for BlackBerry devices, rather than in-store inventory. A customer will still see a phone on the shelf. If inventory is not available in the store, the device can be ordered."
With the current decline in sales of BlackBerry products and its decision to sell off its business has resulted in a huge fall in its current market share, which is trading at around $8. Hence, if the demand for BlackBerry devices falls any further, then it wouldn't be surprising to see other carriers in the U.S. following a similar move in the near future.
