4G BlackBerry Development Slowed Due to LTE Chip Costs?


As most of you may already know, Blackberry has been reaching out to 4G LTE device manufacturing ideas but now there are a few things holding them back. Apparently the project has not gone much beyond the early developmental stage. Reports suggest that RIM doesn’t believe that an LTE Blackberry offering is cost effective at this time.

Rumors suggest that the chip to add LTE support is where the real expense is and this is what’s causing the hold up. Other rumors suggest reasons for the holdup include the fact that Blackberry is not yet that battery efficient as well as thinking that the penetration of LTE isn’t yet great enough.

Sources say that while Monaco and Onyx II are still coming, neither of them will offer LTE support. Most would expect that the developments in LTE chips could allow RIM to leverage their early development efforts for the release of a potential LTE offering as well as increase their market share. We will keep our ears open to hear what RIM has to say beyond this point.

For now, what do you think about this? Are you a blackberry addict who refuses to switch and is waiting on 4G to be available on your device? If so, does this change your mind about having a blackberry?

Source: Fudzilla