BLACKBERRY NOT TO EVERYONE’S TASTE

It appears that Blackberry, the pioneer of the smart phone, is feeling the pinch from strong competition in its sector.

Manufacturer Research in Motion has seen its second quarter profits more than halve – primarily due to low demand for its older models with the firm only rolling out new smart phones late in the quarter.

Shake up

It has been a difficult few months for Research in Motion, which announced in July that it would cut 2,000 jobs – approximately 11 per cent of its workforce – as part of a major shake-up. Net profits fell to £208million for the three months to August 27 – despite more than doubling that in the same period a year earlier.

Over the course of the quarter, Research in Motion shipped 10.6million Blackberry smart phones and around 200,000 Blackberry PlayBook tablets – both of which were well below analysts’ expectations.

As a result of the announcement, Research in Motion’s shares fell by as much as 10 per cent in after-hours trading in New York. However, the company has predicted that its performance will improve in the third quarter with shipments expected to range from 13.5million to 14.5million smart phones.

Smart decision

If you’re in the market for a new smart phone, it’s worth taking an overview of your mobile phone contract before you buy. Many networks will offer free handsets, including some of the latest models, in a bid to attract your business – so weigh up whether you’re on the right contract for your usage and consider switching to a more favourable contract.

There are several mobile phone voucher codes available too – including from the likes of 3 Mobile Ireland, which is offering the following deals via 5hop5.ie:

- Samsung C5010 with €50 free credit and 3,000 text messages when you choose 3Pay (offer ends October 12).

- Samsung Galaxy S II free on bill pay with 3 Mobile Ireland (offer ends September 22).

- Get the iPhone for free (offer ends December 31).