BQ (company)

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BQ

logo
legal form Sociedad Limitada
founding 2010
Seat Las Rozas de Madrid , SpainSpainSpain 
management Alberto Méndez ( CEO )
Number of employees 1078 (2014)
sales 202.5 million € (2014)
Branch Consumer electronics
Website www.bq.com

BQ is the brand name of the Spanish company Mundo Reader SL in the field of consumer electronics . The main business areas are multimedia devices such as smartphones and tablets as well as 3D printers and learning robots . Various business areas that are active in the development, manufacture and sale of multimedia devices, content and accessories come together under the umbrella of Mundo Reader SL .

In 2014, around 1,000 people were employed in the branches in Germany , France , Portugal and Spain . The 3D printers are sold in over 50 countries.

In 2015, the company sold 1.46 million devices, generating sales of € 244 million (€ 37.3 million in 2012, € 115 million in 2013 and € 202 million in 2014).

In 2019, Vingroup , the largest private group of companies in Vietnam, joined the founders of BQ and the Diana Capital fund as the majority shareholder (51%).

history

2003-2008

In 2003 six 20-year-old students from the Faculty of Telecommunications joined the ITEM Consulting student organization at the Polytechnic University of Madrid : Alberto Méndez, Rodrigo del Prado, Ravin Dhalani, David Béjar, Iván Sánchez and Adán Muñoz. The first joint project consisted of the import and sale of USB storage devices , which was a very modern product at the time. In 2006 the company Memorias USB emerged and in 2008 the company Luarna with the CEO Antonio Quiros, and another company was founded: Mundo Reader SL

2009–2012

The first e-book readers came onto the Spanish market at Christmas 2009 under the booq brand . After their success, the manufacturer entered the tablet market in 2010 and changed its name to BQ to symbolize that it does not only sell books ( booq for English book 'book') and reading devices. In 2011 and 2012, BQ grew and consolidated in the Spanish market, where BQ became the second best-selling brand for e-readers and tablets.

Since 2013

In March 2013, BQ's first smartphone, the Aquaris , appeared on the market, and in 2014 the Aquaris E5 became the best-selling smartphone without a contract in Spain after just a few months . Also in 2014, BQ started 3D printing and robotics , and offices were opened in Germany and France. In 2015, BQ presented its new corporate identity . In 2018 it was communicated for the first time that Vingroup is the new majority shareholder with 51%.

Products

Smartphones

Aquaris E series

Aquaris E was BQ's first smartphone series from May 2014 and, according to the company, was designed entirely in Spain. The Android devices Aquaris E4 , Aquaris E4.5 , Aquaris E5 HD , Aquaris E5 FHD and Aquaris E6 have a screen size of 4 to 6 inches, depending on the model name. All devices accept two SIM cards and are not provider-specific ( sim lock free ). This also applies to all newer models from BQ.

In November 2014, BQ presented the Aquaris E5 LTE, a smartphone with a 5-inch so-called Quantum Color display with a particularly large color space . Other features a part of the coating against fingerprints, the Qualcomm - Snapdragon -410 processor with Adreno 306- graphics processor as well as 1 and 2 GB of RAM , 16 GB internal memory and a battery with a capacity of 2850 mAh.

At the beginning of 2015, BQ presented the first smartphone with the Ubuntu operating system, the Aquaris E4.5 Ubuntu Edition. 30 percent of all Ubuntu smartphones sold in Europe were purchased in Germany. The equipment includes a MediaTek quad-core Cortex-A7 processor (max. 1.3 GHz), 8 GB of permanent memory and 1 GB of RAM.

Aquaris M series

At the end of February 2015, BQ presented the new Aquaris M series. Various versions of the Aquaris M4.5 , M5 and M5.5 came onto the market in the course of the year .

Aquaris X series

At the end of 2015, BQ presented the Aquaris X5 as part of the BQ Open Days in- house exhibition . Features include the Qualcomm Snapdragon -412 quad-core processor and an aluminum frame.

The successor with fingerprint sensor followed in mid-2016 with the Aquaris X5 Plus . The official German sales start was on August 11, 2016. A special feature is the first European smartphone that supports the Galileo satellites for location determination. This function was activated by a software update in November 2016.

The Aquaris X and the Aquaris X Pro followed in 2017 with a Qualcomm® Snapdragon ™ 626 octa-core processor. In terms of design, both models fit into the series of predecessors of the X series. BQ is using the Vidhance video stabilizer in the camera for the first time.

In 2018 the Aquaris X2 (with a Qualcomm® Snapdragon ™ -636) and the Aquaris X2 Pro (with a Qualcomm® Snapdragon ™ -660) appeared. They are part of Google's Android One program. In these models, BQ is using artificial intelligence in the camera for the first time and using a dual camera.

Aquaris U series

In September 2016, the Aquaris U , U Plus and U Lite, three 5-inch smartphones aimed at the entry-level market, were released. The most expensive model U Plus has a fingerprint sensor and a 16 MP camera; all three devices have a 720p resolution and LTE.

In 2017 the Aquaris U2 and the Aquaris U2 lite were introduced. The 5.2-inch smartphones are powered by the Snapdragon 435 or 425 (U2 lite).

Aquaris C

In September the Aquaris C was exhibited for the first time at the IFA. This smartphone belongs to the entry-level class. It integrates a Qualcomm processor and has a fingerprint sensor, a USB-C port and NFC.

Tablets

In the first generation, BQ offered several tablets between 8 and 10.1 inches: Edison 3 , Edison 3 mini and Aquaris E10 .

The Aquaris M8 , M10 and M10 Ubuntu Edition are a newer generation of tablets with 8 and 10.1 inches.

3D world

At the beginning of 2014, the first 3D printer came onto the market, the "Witbox" printer, which is completely made in Spain. After a few months, "Witbox" was already the fourth best 3D printer in the world according to the Top Quality Ratings from 3D HUBs and was sold in more than 50 countries.

The device is designed for home use, offers a relatively large print volume and is completely closed for security reasons. It can be operated with open source software such as Slic3r, Cura, Pronterface or Repetier.

Since 2014 the company has also been producing and marketing the Prusa i3 Hephestos 3D printer (available as a kit).

In April 2015 the Ciclop 3D scanner was launched . This is the first 3D scanner whose hardware and software, information on algorithms and design are freely accessible or open source. Most of the parts of the Ciclop were made in BQ's 3D printer factory in Spain.

In March 2017, BQ introduced the Witbox Go! presented the first 3D printer with a Qualcomm® SnapdragonTM processor and the Android operating system. In 2017 it was awarded the reddot award for its design.

Learning robot

BQ has been dedicated to robotics with educational robots since 2014 . There is hardware ( printbots and the “BQ ZUM” circuit board), free software ( bitbloq ) and a platform for the user community, DIWO ( do it with others ).

As part of the Nuremberg Toy Fair in January 2016, BQ presented the learning robot Zowi , which is intended to teach children about robotics and also enables 3D printing. Zowi can not only be recreated, its housing and accessories can also be manufactured at home using the 3D printer.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ technoviel.de : A visit to bq ... or: Why cell phone manufacturers have a torture chamber. 17th September 2015.
  2. ↑ computerwoche.de : Smartphone bestseller from Spain comes to Germany on September 15, 2015.
  3. ↑ golem.de : 5-inch smartphone with full HD display for less than 220 euros. 15th September 2015.
  4. ↑ IT-Zoom : Smartphones, 3D printers and learning robots March 13, 2015.
  5. ↑ crn.de : Spanish manufacturer wants to stir up the German market September 15, 2015.
  6. ↑ Bloomberg.com: Company Overview of Mundo Reader, SL
  7. ↑ golem.de : 5-inch smartphone with full HD display for less than 220 euros. 15th September 2015.
  8. ↑ Press release on the agreement with VINGROUP. Retrieved March 15, 2019 .
  9. ↑ stadt-bremerhaven.de : test report bq Aquaris E5 HD. 15th September 2015.
  10. ↑ mediennerd.de : bq Aquaris E5 HD. ( Memento from September 30, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) September 15, 2015.
  11. ↑ androidpit.de : bq Aquaris E5 in the test: A lot of quality for little money. 15th September 2015.
  12. ↑ areamobile.de : BQ Aquaris E6 test report. 15th September 2015.
  13. ↑ chip.de : BQ Aquaris E5 LTE: LTE phone with selfie cam & Dolby sound. ( Memento of the original from September 30, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 17th September 2015. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.chip.de
  14. ↑ areamobile.de : It doesn't matter how many Ubuntu Phones we sell. 17th September 2015.
  15. ↑ sueddeutsche.de : Wipe and away. 29th September 2015.
  16. ↑ zeit.de : We also want to address normal users. 29th September 2015.
  17. ↑ linux-magazin.de : Aquaris E4.5 Ubuntu Edition to touch. 17th September 2015.
  18. ↑ spiegel.de : Aquaris E4.5: The first Ubuntu smartphone comes from Spain. 17th September 2015.
  19. ↑ chip.de : Ubuntu smartphone tried out: BQ Aquaris E4.5 more secure than Android. ( Memento of the original from September 30, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 17th September 2015. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.chip.de
  20. ↑ zeit.de : The first Ubuntu smartphone makes you want more. 17th September 2015.
  21. ↑ pcwelt.de.de : Bq Aquaris E4.5 Ubuntu Edition sold out. 29th September 2015.
  22. ↑ welt.de.de : The Aquaris E4.5 is the first Ubuntu smartphone. 29th September 2015.
  23. ↑ cnet.de : Aquaris M: BQ presents three new Lollipop smartphones on September 17th, 2015.
  24. ↑ areamobile.de. : BQ Aquaris M4.5 Unboxing: Even cheap can be good September 29, 2015.
  25. ↑ ubergizmo.com : BQ Aquaris M5 can be ordered in Germany from July 1st on September 17th, 2015.
  26. ↑ cnet.de : BQ Aquaris M5: Sales start today in Germany. 17th September 2015.
  27. ↑ inside-handy.de : BQ announces ambitious phablet for 300 euros. ( Memento of the original from September 30, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 29th September 2015. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.inside-handy.de
  28. ↑ cnet.de : BQ brings 5-inch Android smartphone Aquaris X5 from 249 euros. 2nd September 2016.
  29. ↑ mobiflip.de: BQ Aquaris X5 Plus with fingerprint sensor presented. 2nd September 2016.
  30. ↑ bq.com: Sales start of the BQ X5 Plus in Germany. 2nd September 2016.
  31. ↑ Downloads Aquaris X5 Plus. In: BQ Support. Retrieved November 30, 2016 .
  32. ↑ https://www.bq.com/de/landing-gama-u2
  33. ↑ pcwelt.de : BQ Witbox in the practical test September 29, 2015.
  34. ↑ 3Dnatives laboratory: The 3D printer Witbox Go! by BQ in the test. In: 3Dnatives. May 30, 2018, accessed on March 15, 2019 (German).
  35. ↑ computerbild.de : Moonwalk robot: BQ Zobi dances like Michael Jackson. 29th September 2015.