Strong BlackBerry (BBRY) Sales Markedly Improve Supplier Visibility
Digitimes noted today that shipments of BlackBerry's BB10 devices are holding firm at about one million units per month. Sales have helped suppliers to look out two to three quarters, versus a prior time frame of just one month when orders were much more light.
Sources also said that BlackBerry will release about three to four new smartphone models in second-half of 2013. The Q5 is rumored to be launched in July as BlackBerry looks to target the endtry-level market. The device will be equipped with a 3.1-inch touchscreen, QWERTY keyboard, and dual-core processor, among other features.
Taiwan-based ODM Wistron also said it received orders for two entry-level BlackBerry models. The ODM is expected to receive 60 percent of BlackBerry smartphone orders in FY13.
Shares of BlackBerry are up 1.7 percent early.