Torch Sees Poor Launch Sales, Drops To Half Price On Amazon
It was just a few days ago RIM launched the BlackBerry Torch, the fist BlackBerry to run the new BlackBerry 6 OS. We liked the design of the new OS, and are fans of the social networking integration, but it seems that’s not enough to entice others to buy the Torch. Now, a few days after the launch some unconfirmed numbers from the launch are emerging.
Is the Blackberry Torch already going up in flames?
According to a report by the Wall Street Journal, the BlackBerry Torch only managed to sell 150,000 units at launch {Electronista}.  That may seem like a large number, but in terms of handset sales, it’s relatively nothing. Most Android phones in recent memory have been selling out on day one, and the iPhone 4 sold a million on the first day.  All of those phones had issues with inventory, with phones being sold out for quite some time (sometimes sold out just from pre-orders).  The Torch, on the other hand, has no supply issues, unless stores have more stock of the phone than they planned to have, in which case it could be a bigger problem for RIM.
Along with the unconfirmed sales numbers, there’s another sign that the Torch isn’t doing as well as expected. Â Amazon.com has lowered the price of the phone already. Â Just five days after the phone went on sale for $199.99, Amazon is selling it for $99.99 with a two-year contract {Engadget}. Â It brings the Torch more in line with the mid-range Android phones that have similar (or sometime even better) hardware specs, and a larger app ecosystem. Â So if you wanted a Torch, now is a great time to pick one up.
