AT&T has begun taking orders for BlackBerry Z10 which is scheduled to launch in the U.S. March 22, according to the Chicago Tribune.
Last week, T-Mobile US announced that it will be giving its business customers early access to the much hyped BlackBerry Z10 by providing them with the device this week. Now, the Chicago Tribune reports that AT&T has begun taking orders for the smartphone which will officially launch in the country March 22. BlackBerry shares rose 12 percent Monday in response.
The CEO of China's Lenovo Group Ltd told a French newspaper on Monday that the company might consider an acquisition of Canada's BlackBerry at some point in the future.
"External growth remains a question of opportunities," Yang Yuanqing told Les Echos in an interview. When asked whether the company plans on making a move on BlackBerry, Yuanqing said. "As for BlackBerry, the file could eventually make sense, but I must first analyze the market and understand the exact weight of this company."
With the launch of the new device, BlackBerry hopes to regain its position in the US market, which was once a stronghold for the company. Since the U.S. launch has been delayed due to a longer carrier-testing phase, AT&T announced that it will begin pre-sale of the device starting Tuesday. AT&T also said it would sell the devices for $199.99 with a two-year contract.
BlackBerry is also launching its Q10 model very soon which will feature the trademark BlackBerry keyboard but the phone will be powered by new BlackBerry 10, or BB10 operating system.
"We believe the Street is pricing in such a weak fiscal 2014 that BB10 does not need to be an outstanding success to surprise," Scotia bank analyst Gus Papageorgiou said in a note to clients on Monday. "Gross margins should begin to move higher as more Z10s enter the mix," he said. "Next quarter will be the true test as BB10 launches in the U.S."
