BlackBerry Offering Up to $550 for iPhones in Limited-Time Passport 'Trade-Up' Program

[MacRumors]

Seeking to attract iPhone users to its new Passport smartphone, BlackBerry yesterday announced a new Blackberry Trade-Up Program offering customers up to $550 (CA$600) to trade in an iPhone 4s or higher towards the purchase of a BlackBerry Passport. The program begins December 1 and offers the full $550 only when trading in an excellent condition iPhone 6, or presumably an iPhone 6 Plus, as that device isn't explicitly mentioned in the program's terms and conditions.

Other iPhone models accepted include the iPhone 4s, 5, 5s, and 5c, with all eligible iPhones receiving a "BlackBerry Top-Up" amount of $150 (CA$200) added onto the usual valuations of the device for participating in the program to reach the $550 (CA$600) maximum payout. Like most trade-in programs, the memory size and condition also factor heavily in the actual amount of money offered.

iPhone users wanting to take part in BlackBerry's offer have from December 1 through February 13, 2015 to order a Passport, and thirty days following that to mail in an eligible Trade-Up device. The special offer can be completed on BlackBerry's official online store or through Amazon, and is only available in North America.

The company has been attempting to gain favor with Apple customers since the Passport launched in September, with CEO John Chen stating, "I challenge you to bend the Passport" during the midst of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus bending controversy.

In addition to the Trade-Up program, BlackBerry is offering holiday deals on the Passport itself and the BlackBerry Z30 on its online store.

Article Link: BlackBerry Offering Up to $550 for iPhones in Limited-Time Passport 'Trade-Up' Program

 

[kreasonos]

Wow

 

[ghostface147]

Uh no.

 

[Phil A.]

How is getting rid of my iPhone 6 and getting a Passport a "Trade Up" by any definition of that term?

 

[MartinAppleGuy]

BB need money that bad?

 

[iDuel]

I'll give em an A for effort.

 

[Zxxv]

no thanks

 

[AppleInLVX]

Pfft.

 

[avanpelt]

Who in the hell would trade an iPhone 6 for a BlackBerry?!

 

[2457282]

The Passport phone looks weird to me. The whole form factor does not look like something I would ever want to use. And the keyboard looks even weirder. I had blackberries ever since they came out, when all you could do was email. I went through every evolution as my work kept giving them to me. At one point, I was carrying the blackberry and my iPhone. Even before the iphone, I never actually liked the blackberry. It was a necessary evil required for work (I preferred the palm pilot, but it was never supported by anywhere I worked).

Now thanks to BYOD, I only carry my iPhone. I see absolutely no reason to ever go back to Blackberry.

 

[lincolntran]

BB need money that bad?

Nope, BB needs iphones that bad.

 

[JeffyTheQuik]

Wow! This will take about $500 off of BB's bottom line from the two people that will do this.

----------

Nope, BB needs iphones that bad.

Ahh! It's an attempt for BB to get cheaper iPhones!

 

[davidventer]

Hahahahahha!!!

LOL, No! Blackberry must be really desperate. Who would trade an iPhone for a crapberry, seriously? Even the iPhone 4 is better than the latest flagship blackberry dumbphone.

 

[foodog]

How is getting rid of my iPhone 6 and getting a Passport a "Trade Up" by any definition of that term?

Using my kids comeback. Its a Trade Up on opposite day.

 

[brendu]

Oh blackberry you so crazy.

 

[HangmanSwingset]

They spelled "downgrade" wrong.

 

[sblemmy]

Sounds like another DOA BB.

 

[roadbloc]

I'm going to be shot down in flames on this forum but...

BBOS > iOS. By a long long way. In fact, I'd go as far as to say that BBOS is the best phone OS out there at the moment.

So yeah, I wouldn't trade my Q10 for anything in the world. Best phone I've ever owned by far. And if I had a spare iPhone lying around, I'd probably take BlackBerry up on this offer.

 

[Chad-VI]

Why would anyone sell his 5S for $235

 

[dannyyankou]

I feel like I would accidentally cut my fingers on one of those corners.

 

[uwdude]

Yes, Blackberry is desperate, but I guess they do have to offer an easy way for someone to switch phones if they want to. Doesn't hurt anyone to offer it, but on the other hand, probably won't do much as far as increasing sales either.

 

[J.acks]

The easiest trade of my life.

 

[bigjnyc]

Trade up???? LMAO! someone at blackberry is seriously delusional

I think Apple and their customers is the wrong company to go after if you they want to make a comeback. Apple users are loyal to a fault.

 

[scaredpoet]

I'm going to be shot down in flames on this forum but...

BBOS > iOS. By a long long way. In fact, I'd go as far as to say that BBOS is the best phone OS out there at the moment.

So yeah, I wouldn't trade my Q10 for anything in the world. Best phone I've ever owned by far. And if I had a spare iPhone lying around, I'd probably take BlackBerry up on this offer.

While it's great that you love your Q10, only the blindest fanboy would assume that any OS is "the best" universally. It's just not true. Not even for iOS. Not for Android. Not for Windows. And yes, not even for Blackberry.

Ultimately the market decides which platforms are great and which ones perish. The continued deafening silence when it comes to Blackberry speaks volumes.

 

[NotoriousZeus]

They weren't kidding when they named it passport... Its fugly as hell.