BlackBerry closes largest ever sale: 1 million BlackBerry 10 devices

BlackBerry has just announced that an unnamed partner has purchased a million BlackBerry 10 smart phones, with shipments starting immediately. This order, says the company, marks the largest-ever single purchase order in BlackBerry’s history.
BlackBerry has just announced that an unnamed partner has purchased a million BlackBerry 10 smart phones, with shipments starting immediately. This order, says the company, marks the largest-ever single purchase order in its history.

BlackBerry Executive Vice-President, Global Sales Rick Costanzo says the order is part of larger enthusiasm about BlackBerry 10.

“An order for one million devices is a tremendous vote of confidence in BlackBerry 10,” said Rick Costanzo, executive vice-president, global sales, BlackBerry. “Consumers are ready for a new user experience, and BlackBerry 10 delivers. With strong partner support, coupled with this truly reinvented new platform, we have a powerful recipe for success.”

On the Nasdaq, shares of RIM immediately leapt by more than a dollar on the news.

BlackBerry unveiled the new BlackBerry Z10 and BlackBerry Q10 smart phones on January 30th. The BlackBerry Z10 is already selling in a number of markets around the world, including Canada, the U.K. and India, and will be available in the United States starting this month, where more extensive carrier testing has delayed the release.

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As noted, BlackBerry did not release the name of the partner that placed today’s order, but one candidate is Verizon. In a press release today, Verizon Wireless announced it will begin taking pre-order for black and white Z10’s tomorrow. In 2008, Verizon was the first to carry Research in Motion’s first touchscreen smartphone, the BlackBerry Storm.

In February, BlackBerry added former Verizon executive vice president Richard Lynch to its board.

Shares of BlackBerry on the Nasdaq closed today up 8.1% to $15.64.

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