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BlackBerry to exit Japanese smartphone market, reports Nikkei

BlackBerry to exit Japanese smartphone market, reports Nikkei

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BlackBerry RIM Thorsten Heins one brand
BlackBerry RIM Thorsten Heins one brand

BlackBerry will cease all smartphone sales in Japan and has officially scrapped any prospects of bringing its new Z10 and Q10 flagship devices to the country, reports Nikkei. The decision comes as BlackBerry's marketshare among Japanese consumers has dwindled to just 0.3 percent. Aside from poor sales, Nikkei cites another, less common reason for the exit: translation costs. BlackBerry reportedly isn't willing to make the necessary investments to offer Japanese language support in BlackBerry 10, according to the Japanese newspaper. We've reached out to the company for confirmation.