BlackBerry features attracting consumers

THE Research in Motion (RIM) on Thursday said application features of BlackBerry smartphones like the BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) are attracting consumers to buy its products, particularly in the Philippines, an official said.

RIM Philippines director Cameron Vernest said Filipinos demand social connectivity and their penchant of keeping contact with their loved ones and friends make the BlackBerry a very useful phone.

With the BBM instant messaging feature, BlackBerry users can have unlimited messaging, unlimited photo sharing and unlimited group chats anytime and anywhere. BBM plans are available for as low as P99 a month.

Vernest said BlackBerry remains a strong smarthphone brand, having 78 million subscribers globally and over 650 carriers and distribution partners offering BlackBerry products and services in over 175 countries around the world.

He said BlackBerry's Curve 8520 was also the top-selling smartphone in the country for the period January to June last year.

"We offer the best customer experience at an affordable price," Vernest said during a media briefing at the Marco Polo Hotel Davao Thursday.

Vernest said this is the first time he visited Davao City and vowed to go around "to see how people buy BlackBerry."

"When they go to the store and see BlackBerry products they will have a phenomenal experience," Vernest said.

Some 800 stores are selling BlackBerry phones in the country today.

Filipinos rank eight in the number of Facebook users and 12th in the number of Twitter patrons in the world, according to Vernest.