BusinessWeek Estimates the Cost of a Blackberry Bold
The research firm iSuppli performed a "tear down analysis" of the bold and has come to the conclusion that parts and assembly/testing costs a total of $169.41 per unit.
Assuming RIM sells the device to carriers in the $350 price range there would be about a 45% gross margin.
Expenses such as marketing, preloaded software, shipping, etc. are not figured into the price so the margin is an estimate.
In comparison, the Curve's estimated assembly cost was $103 and the iPhone 3G was determined to be $174.33.
So based on these numbers, what do you guess will be retail (locked) and 2 year contract price (with rebate and media discount, etc)?
I am guessing it will retail for a little over $400, with a final contract price initially at...
(continues)
Assuming RIM sells the device to carriers in the $350 price range there would be about a 45% gross margin.
Expenses such as marketing, preloaded software, shipping, etc. are not figured into the price so the margin is an estimate.
In comparison, the Curve's estimated assembly cost was $103 and the iPhone 3G was determined to be $174.33.
So based on these numbers, what do you guess will be retail (locked) and 2 year contract price (with rebate and media discount, etc)?
I am guessing it will retail for a little over $400, with a final contract price initially at...
(continues)
...
I would freak out if the on-contract price is $199 for this phone. The 88xx series was closer to $299 for a LONG TIME when it first came out. $199 for this phone would be a dream! WHY CAN'T THEY FREAKIN' RELEASE IT!
...
I would agree with the original post. They are really wanting to compete with the iphone. I would say $299.99 out the door with a $100 rebate with data plan. They can't really take it too much higher then $199... I went to a Blackberry release party on Thursday the 16th and they could even give us a release date or a price point. Quite disappointing. But I got to play with one and it was freakin awesome...
...
it should either be releasing on the 27th of oct or november 4th. there was some issues with the 3g on the phone cause the curve uses a high frequency 3g or something. i know its planned to be fixed by november 3rd. but i got word that we have training on the 26th for the release of the bold. so ya never know
...
We already had the training and the phone is amazing. Our rep said that Nov. is closer to being the release time. The rep went on to say that the main reason for the delay was the phone was having trouble going from 3G to EDGE and back and they didn't want to have the PR nightmare ATT had with the iPhad. I also agree with the 199.99 after rebate price.
...
Ya... There was also a big issue with the battery life. They were not getting anywhere near the 4.5 hour talk time that they say it gets. So they are trying to fix that as well. I know that it is not coming out anytime in October. November is the most reasonable guess for anyone. You might have a training but i can tell you it ain't comin this month.
...
Considering the Curve for Sprint retails at 619$ and the new HTC Touch Pro is over 700$ I somehow doubt the BlackBerry bold will be under 500$.
...
