If you've been wanting to grab the first-ever all-touch smartphone from Canada-based BlackBerry, now is the perfect time to do so as Amazon is retailing the BlackBerry Z10 for $0.01 only.
We recently reported that Best Buy was offering the AT&T variant of the BlackBerry Z10 for free and now the Amazon offer lets consumers pick up the Verizon variant of the smartphone for a penny.
Amazon's $0.01 offer is valid for both new and existing customers who have to sign a two-year contract with Verizon. At this juncture it is not known if this is a limited period offer.
The BlackBerry Z10 was launched in the U.S. in March this year and was the first smartphone to run on the new BB10 OS. At launch, the smartphone sported a price tag of $199.99 and earlier in July, the Verizon and AT&T variants of the handset received a price cut and were retailing for $49.99 (on Best Buy).
With Amazon offering the BlackBerry Z10 for a penny, it raises questions over the popularity (or lack thereof) of the device amongst consumers. Experts are of the opinion that the price cuts have been prompted by poor sales.
Reports have been rife that sales of the BlackBerry Z10 are not meeting the company's expectations, which is owing to the high rate of return. However, BlackBerry vehemently denied the reports and CEO Thorsten Heins even went on to assert that the sales were meeting expectations.
"Sales of the BlackBerry Z10 are meeting expectations and the data we have collected from our retail and carrier partners demonstrates that customers are satisfied with their devices," said Thorsten Heins. "Return rate statistics show that we are at or below our forecasts and right in line with the industry. To suggest otherwise is either a gross misreading of the data or a willful manipulation. Such a conclusion is absolutely without basis and BlackBerry will not leave it unchallenged."
BlackBerry has also denied that the price cuts are a reflection on the handset's lack of success and hints that the move could be in a bid to "make room" for a new smartphone.
"It's part of life cycle management to tier the pricing for current devices to make room for the next ones," the company told The Wall Street Journal.
Rumors pertaining to the company's next flagship smartphone, the A10, have been gathering momentum of late. A strong possibility exists that retailers could be clearing out inventory of the older BlackBerry Z10 to make room for the newer A10.
The current Amazon offer, however, is a steal and to pick up the BlackBerry Z10 for $0.01 from the e-retailer, head here.
