More than half a dozen BlackBerry 10 developers have reportedly left the company to form a new design group called Topp. The employees in question were brought on when BlackBerry purchased their previous employer, The Astonishing Tribe (TAT), in 2010.
According to the Topp crew, they became the key players responsible for designing and developing BlackBerry 10 during their stint with the Canadian handset maker. While at TAT, each member was a design and technology lead in their department. Collectively, they have delivered projects for a range of global clients including Samsung, Google, Sony Ericsson, Nokia, Disney, and PayPal, just to name a few.
Any way you slice it, the news isn’t good for BlackBerry users. All of the company’s recent problems aside, it’s just never a good thing when seven of your top developers bail. It’s unclear exactly when the talent left meaning this could already be old news for the company. If they left all at once recently, however, it could be a serious blow.
It’s also worth pointing out that TAT’s founder left the company a year ago. He doesn’t appear to be part of the new venture, however.
As for what’s next at Topp, we don’t really know. The company’s website says they are a digital design studio based in Sweden that crafts new products and breathes life into innovative ideas using design, prototyping and technology. Segments they specialize in include mobile, automotive, consumer electronics, home appliances and retail experiences.
