Comments on: RIM pleads for more patience as transition takes its toll

By: Steve

Steve — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 19:57:10 +0000

The other thing that folks seem to be overlooking is the fact that the PlayBook SHIPPED 500,000 units…..that does NOT mean they have SOLD 500,000 units. I suspect that the numbers sold may only be 200,000 – 250,000….if they were lucky.
I had been a BB users for the last 6 odd years and can safely say that they are no longer a factor in the smartphone World. Moved to Android recently and never looked back.

By: Predicatable Stupidities

Predicatable Stupidities — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 19:28:19 +0000

QNX aka Playbook for the timebeing is also a move towards walled garden approach like IOS itunes appstore and Microsoft Marketplace. Later when QNX powered phones are launched (maybe mid 2012) these devices will also work in walled garden mode, which will move BB away from acquiring apps from independent stores like GetJar, Mobihand and carrier powered appstores. If BB’s Appworld is available in specific countries by that time it would have no issues otherwise RIM is asking for more trouble. E.g., Playbook launched in Saudi Arabia without Appworld availability. Deadbook for users there.

By: Brett

Brett — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 14:07:35 +0000

While I agree with the points made about RIM, I believe Microsoft and Nokia have moved with a sense of urgency as of late. Windows mobile 6.5 to Windows phone 7 was a huge urgent change. I decided last month to make the switch from Android to WP7 and must say that Microsoft is pushing in the right direction, while RIM seems to be rather stagnant right now.

By: Tal

Tal — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 12:50:10 +0000

As mentioned already on various threads – my opinion is that they *COULD* have created a special Android based extension like the sense for *BUSINESS*.
Their reputation would make people pay attention and it would also benefit the whole Android eco-system, bringing special applications for business.
That said – as they are storming towards the abyss – we can only sit back and say – “we told you!”

By: Lucian Armasu

Lucian Armasu — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 09:24:28 +0000

Sorry, RIM, but you don’t deserve any patience. People have been saying this will happen to you for over 2 years now, and you didn’t listen. You simply brushed them off, thinking it’s crazy talk when you were still making more and more money, which was actually what blinded you from seeing what’s truly wrong with your platform.

You kept growing because of your global inertia internationally, not because you had products just as competitive as iPhone or Android phones. So while you were growing on the “sides” of the market, your core market was fading away fast. Sure, it may be obvious to you now that this was happening all along, because you finally took a hit on your overall fincials, but it should’ve been obvious years ago. Now, it’s too late to fix the problem on time.

You’ll need years to transition from Blackberry OS to QNX, which is too long in smartphone years. I think the only solution might be to join Android right now, before they get in Nokia’s position where even a transition to another multi-platform OS is too late for them.

By: NeoteriX

NeoteriX — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 05:54:30 +0000

The hardware is terrible because the hardware is dictated by the limitations of the operating system — there’s absolutely no point in having a dual core Snapdragon in an blackberry when all you can do is BBM message and view webpages in an outdated browser.

By: Paul

Paul — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 04:46:57 +0000

It’s over for RIM.

Their post-sale revenue came from Exchange, so they didn’t take apps seriously. Then they went after consumers who don’t use Exchange, while Apple and Google focused on apps, and Google obviated (most of) the need for Exchange.

Crappy touch-screen phones. A tablet that couldn’t stand alone. Once-inspired executives trying to buy sports teams. The wheels just fell off.

There’s an opportunity for RIM’s secure messaging bolted onto Exchange, Apps and other UC systems. But it won’t sustain anything like their current market cap, and the execs are too proud to go this way.

Stick a fork in them.

By: Travis

Travis — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 02:57:08 +0000

Sorry, not the Torch, the Storm. Ironic name looking back on it.

By: Travis

Travis — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 02:54:20 +0000

I feel bad for RIM’s employees. Their management team has dropped the ball on the smart phone transition. Blackberry was THE smart phone before 2007. They had the lead but they just stuck their head in the sand with the belief that the iPhone phenominon was hardware based. Attempted to copy the hardware with the Torch and failed miserably. Unfortunately the phenominon was about the devices OS. It’s much harder to mimic an OS than it is hardware. Now their lead is gone and there is one more gorilla to contend with in Android. It’s going to be near impossible to turn their ship around, especially with the mgmt team that helped get them in this situation.

By: ck

ck — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 02:13:27 +0000

I couldn’t believe that the Playbook did not come with a native email client. That’s what Blackberry is known for.

It’s the beginning of the end or the end of the beginning for RIM.