Just weeks after the announcement of BlackBerry 10 and the BlackBerry Z10 and Q10, BlackBerry and Apple have today unveiled plans to merge. Rather than dissolving either role, both Thorsten Heins and Tim Cook will become joint-CEOs. Although there will be major changes.
First of all, BlackBerry 10 will be replaced with an upcoming version of iOS compatible with both platforms. Mike Lazaridis will taking charge of the iOS design team, with a possible removal of Jony Ive now in charge of the Apple Store. This will allow a “smooth transition”, with the Q10 and the Z10 to be discontinued. However a QWERTY device will be coming, the pair told a room of reporters.
Furthermore, we can now speculate that BlackBerry Messenger will be ported to iOS, an answer to recent criticism of iMessages and iCloud. Although we have no idea where this leaves current owners of the Z10, with a webOS-style discontinuation just days after release.
With Facebook set to announce their new ‘home on Android’, this news is sure to overshadow whatever announcement Zuckerberg makes.
When asked whether BlackBerry branding will remain, Apple declined to comment. We’ll be updating you from noon AEST through a press conference set to answer any more remaining questions. Who said this was going to be a slow news week.