The BlackBerry Z10 sees more aggressive discounts that drive the handset's price tag down to as little as $49.99 only months after its launch.

The new price cuts serve as further evidence that BlackBerry's latest operating system, BlackBerry 10 (BB10), is not as hot as the company may have hoped. BlackBerry was once at the top of the smartphone world, but has lost significant ground as its Android and iOS rivals invaded the market.

The company has been trying to keep its head above the water and catch up to rivals, but apparently to no avail. BlackBerry put its hopes into the BB10 OS to turn its fortunes and remain relevant in an increasingly competitive smartphone market, but it seems it did not go so well.

After several delays that only made things worse, BlackBerry finally launched its BB10 OS with the BlackBerry Z10, the company's first all-touch handset. While the smartphone generated some interest, it didn't exactly fly off the shelves. The BlackBerry Z10 is now available for a much lower price tag compared to when it made its debut and that can only mean weak demand. Despite BlackBerry's best efforts, consumers are not flocking to its platform anymore.

After some UK carriers cut the prices for the BlackBerry Z10, the handset is now at its cheapest in the U.S., as Best Buy just slashed the handset's price to $49.99 on AT&T and Verizon Wireless, The Wall Street Journal reports. As expected, the new price tag implies a new two-year contract with either of the two carriers. Compared to the initial $199.99 price for the handset, however, this offer is worth considering. The smartphone is available in white and black color options.

The heavy discounts at Best Buy come after news that the BB10 OS launch failed to make a significant impact in the U.S. The BlackBerry Z10 was not as heavily discounted in BlackBerry's home country of Canada but a number of retailers in the country do, however, list the handset at $99.99 with a new three-year contract. That may not mark such a deep price cut, but it still signals that BlackBerry's latest offerings are not faring very well.

Smartphone shoppers interested in purchasing the BlackBerry Z10 for $49.99 from Best Buy can find the AT&T model here and the Verizon version at this link.