BlackBerry, Foxconn tie-up signals shifting priorities

[JAKARTA] Indonesians have long loved BlackBerry devices. When the company introduced a new phone two-and-a-half years ago, a crowd at a shopping mall here became so unruly - in part because of a half-price offer for the first 1,000 buyers - that riot police were rushed in to stand by.

But even in Indonesia, BlackBerry's fortunes have changed. Last week, when the company started selling the Z3, a smartphone it made specifically for this market, consumers reacted with a collective shrug.

Nevertheless, the arrival of the Z3, a touch-screen device mainly notable for its budget-friendly US$190 price, signals a new path for the struggling company. The Z3 has been designed and distributed by Foxconn Technology Group, the giant Taiwanese manufacturer.