No Cheap BlackBerry 10 Phones

• BlackBerry won't be killing BB7 anytime soon
• Evolve that portfolio to enter the mid-tier
• Not going entry level tier for some time

BlackBerry European MD Stephen Bates revealed that the company is not looking to release a cheap BB 10 phone since the company is focused on making sure people saw it as a high-en

• BlackBerry won't be killing BB7 anytime soon
• Evolve that portfolio to enter the mid-tier
• Not going entry level tier for some time

BlackBerry European MD Stephen Bates revealed that the company is not looking to release a cheap BB 10 phone since the company is focused on making sure people saw it as a high-end company first and foremost.

Also, BlackBerry won't be killing BB7 anytime soon – which means those looking for advanced cheaper phones are out of luck. Many users were expecting to see a phone to service the majority pre-pay segment looking to try out the new BB10. Windows Phone 8, for one, has release the cheaper version Nokia 620.

"We've brought out these high-end devices as a as a statement of intent – to demonstrate vividly the new BlackBerry," said Bates. "Our intention is to evolve that portfolio to enter the mid-tier."

"But we don't see us getting to the entry level tier for some time; certainly not this year. Based on the great sales we've had over Christmas in the UK there is a demand for the entry level BlackBerry and we don't want to give that up so we're going to continue with Curve and the entry level as we bring BlackBerry 10 down through the mid-tier and eventually into the entry level."

It seems that BlackBerry is going to continue with a two-tier approach for the mobile OS for the time being: UK and Ireland MD Rob Orr said that BlackBerry is seeing acceptable sales for BB7 devices, and the company isn't looking to force them onto BB10 just yet.

"In enterprise the BB7 portfolio is the workhorse device; government, financial institutions… these guys are continuing to purchase BB7," revealed Orr. "And in the prepaid space we had a very successful run for Christmas."

"It was important for us to show that we're not giving up on BB7," added Bates. "We launched BBM voice and it connects into the BB10 world where we've added video and screen sharing."