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BlackBerry backs out of Japan [updated]

Updated Feb 8th, 2013 1:17PM EST
BlackBerry Sales Japan

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As BlackBerry (BBRY) continues to roll out its next-generation platform around the world, users in Japan hoping to get their hands on a new BlackBerry 10 smartphone are in for some disappointment. Nikkei on Thursday reported that BlackBerry plans to pull out of the Japanese smartphone market because it cannot justify the cost of supporting the Japanese language on its phones. BlackBerry later confirmed the report, saying that Japan is not a major market for the vendor and it currently has no plans to launch any BlackBerry 10 devices there.

A BlackBerry spokesperson reached out to BGR and provided us with the following statement.

“BlackBerry enjoys a constructive relationship with trusted partner, NTT DOCOMO, and we will continue to support the carrier’s ongoing BlackBerry sales in Japan. We have not announced plans to launch BlackBerry 10 in Japan, but this does not affect our key priorities in the market: to continue to provide BlackBerry service and robust support to BlackBerry’s Japanese customers, both consumers and business users.”

Zach Epstein
Zach Epstein Executive Editor

Zach Epstein has been the Executive Editor at BGR for more than 10 years. He manages BGR’s editorial team and ensures that best practices are adhered to. He also oversees the Ecommerce team and directs the daily flow of all content. Zach first joined BGR in 2007 as a Staff Writer covering business, technology, and entertainment.

His work has been quoted by countless top news organizations, and he was recently named one of the world's top 10 “power mobile influencers” by Forbes. Prior to BGR, Zach worked as an executive in marketing and business development with two private telcos.