Not so fast, BlackBerry investors -- the government now says it did not make any new purchases from the struggling smartphone maker. January 23, 2014 11:21 AM PST The BlackBerry Z30. (Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET) The government is not going to save BlackBerry with a massive order of 80,000 phones, despite earlier reports that sent the struggling company's stock soaring. The Department of Defense confirmed to The Verge on Thursday that "absolutely no new orders have been placed for new BB devices." The 80,000 devices mentioned in a January 16 press release -- that, it seems, many of us in the media misread -- was referencing already existing devices. Related stories BlackBerry may have some life left with Pentagon order BlackBerry lands massive Pentagon order and stock soars Report: BlackBerry World to offer Android apps The press release does indeed say the program "currently supports 1,800 unclassified mobile," which includes items like iPads, iPhones, Samsung 10.1 tablets, and Motorola RAZR, and "also supports 80,000 BlackBerry phones." We contacted the Department of Defense for comment and will update if we hear back. BlackBerry is known to tout its lucrative government contracts. Of course, the company didn't try to correct anyone on this latest faux pas -- one that gave its stock a much-needed boost.
Not so fast, BlackBerry investors -- the government now says it did not make any new purchases from the struggling smartphone maker.
The BlackBerry Z30.
(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)
The government is not going to save BlackBerry with a massive order of 80,000 phones, despite earlier reports that sent the struggling company's stock soaring.
The Department of Defense confirmed to The Verge on Thursday that "absolutely no new orders have been placed for new BB devices." The 80,000 devices mentioned in a January 16 press release -- that, it seems, many of us in the media misread -- was referencing already existing devices.
Related stories
- BlackBerry may have some life left with Pentagon order
- BlackBerry lands massive Pentagon order and stock soars
- Report: BlackBerry World to offer Android apps
The press release does indeed say the program "currently supports 1,800 unclassified mobile," which includes items like iPads, iPhones, Samsung 10.1 tablets, and Motorola RAZR, and "also supports 80,000 BlackBerry phones."
We contacted the Department of Defense for comment and will update if we hear back.
BlackBerry is known to tout its lucrative government contracts. Of course, the company didn't try to correct anyone on this latest faux pas -- one that gave its stock a much-needed boost.
