"As
BlackBerry continues to execute its turnaround plan, we remain focused
on driving efficiencies across our global workforce," the company said
in an emailed statement.
The
company declined to comment on what percentage of its workforce is
affected by the cuts. According to a filing, the company had 6,225
employees as of Feb. 28, 2015.
The layoffs will affect 75 manufacturing jobs in Sunrise, Florida, a state government website showed.
The
company also confirmed that Gary Klassen is one of the people who has
departed in the latest round of cuts. Klassen was one of its
longest-tenured employees and the inventor of its BBM messaging service.
One
source familiar with the matter, who declined to be identified due to
the sensitivity of the issue, said many of the Canadian cuts were people
working on its BB10 handset software at its Waterloo, Ontario,
headquarters.
A
spokeswoman for BlackBerry declined to comment on which divisions will
be affected by the cuts, but said the company stood by its commitment to
release further updates on its BB10 software.
Last
September, the company laid off roughly 200 staff, who had worked on
the hardware and design of the BB10 devices. The company began releasing
the BB10-based devices in January 2013, but despite positive reviews
the smartphones failed to win back market share from Apple Inc's iPhone,
and the slew of Android-based devices that dominate the global market.
In
a final attempt to revive its handset business BlackBerry released its
first Android-based device in November. It has stated it plans to
release at least one more Android-based phone this year.
BlackBerry
Chief Executive John Chen has said he will make a decision on whether
the company's handset business is viable in the financial year beginning
in late February.
BlackBerry has staked its turnaround on enterprise software and more aggressively licensing its trove of patents.
By: Reuters (Toronto).
Reporting: Alastair Sharp.
Editing: Matthew Lewis.
Review: Emerging Market Formulations & Research Unit, Flagship Records.
For The #FacebookTeam