BlackBerry (NASDAQ:BBRY) really wants former BlackBerry users who switched to the iPhone to give the company another chance. The smartphone maker is offering up to $550 if customers trade in their iPhone for a new Passport smartphone.
Starting Dec. 1 eligible customers can trade in their iPhone 6, 5s, 5c, 5 and 4S models and they will receive a Visa prepaid card when they purchase a BlackBerry Passport.
BlackBerry said the amount customers can get will be based on the condition and model of the iPhone they trade in. For example, BlackBerry says the iPhone 6 has a maximum trade-in value of $400 and BlackBerry will add on an additional $150. Older iPhones models have lower maximum trade-in values. Customers need to buy the Passport through ShopBlackBerry.com or via Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN)
It's unclear how many iPhone users BlackBerry hopes to lure back with the offer or how aggressive it will be with the promotion. BlackBerry said the iPhone trade-in deal is a limited-time offer but did not say when it will end.
BlackBerry has been heavily promoting the Passport since its debut in late September, and has hoped that the square-shaped device with a physical keyboard will help it get back enterprise users. Next month BlackBerry will also start selling its newest phone, the Classic, which also sports a physical keyboard and is reminiscent in many respects to the company's best-selling Bold series of smartphones.
The promotion comes as BlackBerry has started selling its BlackBerry Enterprise Service 12 platform, and the company hopes it can generate large-scale enterprise adoption of its cross-platform security and device management service.
In addition to the iPhone trade-in program, BlackBerry is also offering a Black Friday deal for BlackBerry Passport and Z30 smartphones. For a limited time the company is offering $100 off the purchase of a black-colored Passport, reducing the unsubsidized price down to $499. Customers can also get discounted pricing on the touchscreen Z30 when they buy the phone through ShopBlackBerry.com, including $275 off MSRP in the U.S.
Additionally, with BlackBerry's new financing options from PayPal Credit, U.S. customers can now purchase unlocked devices and accessories on credit. For any purchases over $200 customers make through PayPal, they can choose to pay off their balance in full or pay in six installments over six months.
For more:
- see this release
- see these two separate BlackBerry pages
- see this Bloomberg article
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