BlackBerry has switched to an aggressive strategy to lure iPhone users to its latest handheld by offering up to $600 if they will dump their Apple smart phones for the new BlackBerry Passport.
The BlackBerry Passport Trade-Up Program runs from December 1 to February 15, 2015. Canadian users can get up to $400 for their iPhone plus an additional $200 from BlackBerry. The program is only available in North America and also includes:
- Discounts on unlocked BlackBerry Passport and BlackBerry Z30 smartphone devices; and
- PayPal financing, providing customers with a flexible option to purchase unlocked devices
People trading in their iPhone should purchase their new BlackBerry from the BlackBerry online store or from an Amazon Web site. BlackBerry will give the trade-in money in the form of prepaid Visa gift card that will be mailed to the customer within six weeks of receiving the iPhone and proof of purchase of a Passport.
iPhone models that qualify for the exchange are the: 4S, 5, 5C, 5S and 6
Yesterday, Blackberry announced a limited edition red BlackBerry Passport in addition to the current white and black models of the large square touch screen device.
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BlackBerry is also offering a Black Friday deal for BlackBerry Passport and BlackBerry Z30 smartphone devices.
Beginning November 22 and for a limited time only, BlackBerry will be offering $100 off the purchase of a black colored BlackBerry Passport.
That means Canadian customers can purchase a new BlackBerry Passport for $599 CAD (from $699 CAD). This offer is available through ShopBlackBerry.com in Canada.
There’s also a new discount on BlackBerry Z30 smartphone devices purchased through ShopBlackBerry.com, including a $250 off MSRP in Canada. Discounted pricing for all devices does not include tax or shipping costs.
BlackBerry is hoping to cash-in on the Holiday buying frenzy to boost sales of its new handsets as the company continues to towards profitability following a long and bitter restructuring.
Earlier this month BlackBerry CEO announced the BlackBerry Classic which will be unveiled in December 17.
The Classic features a 3.5-inch display, is powered by a 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 processor and runs on the BlackBerry 10.3 mobile operating system. But more importantly, it has an old-school BlackBerry smart phone design including a physical QWERTY keyboard that harkens back to the BlackBerry glory days.
How consumers react to the Classic and Passport is closely being watched by industry observers as this could reveal if BlackBerry still has the capability to produce devices that can attract a new generation of smart phone users.
200 off or 600 for an iPhone trade, sales of the Passport must be in Fire Phone territory.
Karly J, it does certainly appear that the Passport is not doing as good as planned that is for sure. The second I saw the design I did think oh oh big mistake. I hope it makes Blackberry realise that the Classic design is also a mistake, and scrap it before it starts costing the company too much. I would be more than happy to work for Blackberry as a executive lead hand and prompt a complete new focus, before its too late. I wonder if a new trend is going to start with giving away enterprise solution software, providing you sign up to a new device contract. I could very well see Android and Apple doing this as to prompt device sales. So if Blackberry was smart they should investigate all means in obtaining technologies no matter how unconventional it may seem. This is a dog eat dog market place, so Blackberry lets get started.
DEVVVV Give it up man……LOL