Anybody who is responsible for purchasing  BlackBerry devices in volume will be aware just how challenging it can be.  Putting it bluntly, compared to other companies it is a nightmare – and one that BlackBerry repeatedly acknowledge.
In what appears to be an effort to resolve that situation, BlackBerry have today announced a new BlackBerry Smartphone Sales initiative.
The company state:
“Starting today, business owners and IT administrators looking for a cost-effective way to purchase and deploy unlocked BlackBerry devices in-volume can now buy direct from our Smartphone Business Sales Team.”
All the latest BlackBerry Smartphones and accessories are available for purchase and a dedicated account manager will help you find the phones you need while ensuring you benefit from volume purchasing and payment offers.
Now this is where the problem lies.  Currently, enterprise partners have a dedicated account manager that they can speak to regarding not only BlackBerry devices but BlackBerry services.  Unfortunately, having a dedicated account manager simply did not alleviate the problem in any shape or form.
One improvement that this program offers is that it is open to any company, not just BlackBerry partners:
“The Smartphone Business Sales team will provide direct sales support to businesses of all sizes interested in deploying BlackBerry smartphones.”
These opportunities include:
- Volume purchasing and payment advantages when buying smartphones direct from BlackBerry.
- A dedicated account manager to provide personalized help finding the smartphones and support for your business needs.
- The best selection of the latest BlackBerry smartphones and accessories
- Unlocked smartphones to provide your business with ultimate flexibility in deployment. You will be able to choose from less expensive carrier plans and local roaming packages when travelling abroad, and be the first to receive software updates.
- One year of complimentary support and a one year manufacturer’s warranty. The very best BlackBerry experts are ready to help customize your start up experience or answer questions so that you get the most out of your BlackBerry.
- Free device shipping and a 30-day money-back guarantee if you’re dissatisfied with your purchase.
For the moment, direct purchases are only available in the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands and Spain.
What is of vital importance to companies is availability of devices, delivery times, pricing and payment methods.  At the time of writing, there is not enough information on these factors and nothing to indicate that it will do anything to improve the situation. It’s simply fill in a form and BlackBerry Smartphone Business Sales representative will get back to you within 48 hours.
Anything that BlackBerry can implement to make it easier for companies to buy BlackBerry devices in volume is a welcome addition.  However, it remains to be seen how effective this new program will be.
If you are looking for further information, you can contact the BlackBerry Smartphone Business Sales Team here.
