BlackBerry (BBRY) Has Shut Down Ottawa Product Development Centre

On 17th March, BlackBerry Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY) unveiled its plan of shutting down of its Ottawa product development centre that was build to test new BlackBerry 10 hardware along with reduction of 140 jobs at its Waterloo facilities. The company reported that a total of 90 jobs are reduced in Ottawa.

The struggling smartphone company also said that the company is trying to generate revenue and it is only possible by reducing some of resources. The company is highly grateful for all workers that are part of BlackBerry’s wireless technology teams and product development. They are well aware of difficulties that its workers will face by losing their jobs.

The announcement of reduction in jobs is the plan of company through which about 40% of its worldwide labour force will be decreased by May. Only7,600 workers will left after this procedure which is much less which once company has about 13,000.

On March 28, the company will reveal its year end monetary statements due to which company is quickly decreasing its jobs and saving cash piles. The Canadian Company is also selling more than 2.2 million square feet of its real estate which is based in Waterloo. The company also unveiled earlier this month that it had sold its U.S. head office in Irving, Texas which was established in 2007.
In the U.S., the Canadian company has only three percent while it is trying to sell its gadgets to users. New CEO is changing the business pattern of the company by putting more focus on its software department and less on its gadgets. The closing of Ottawa device development facility is also a part of this plan.

According to Jan Dawson, chief telecommunications analyst at research firm Ovum, software department will be future of this company and it requires a strong policy to fulfil its aim.