Can RIM Reboot?

@tech4people: Wait and see. 

@Susan-As far as I know and hear-Europe and America are both sliding back into a recession & Asia is grappling with serious inflationary issues,so where are these bumper sales going to come from?

@Susan-What is your rationale for Bumper Electronic sales this winter?

@Susan-Electronic sales may or may not surprise this winter.

And remember: the electronics sales will give us a surprise this Christmas. Don't forget to vote -> The poll is still open. :) 

Have a great weekend guys!!

Have a great weekend, everyone. See you on the boards and the next chat.  

@HH. Thanks. You too.

@SF: OK, enjoy and have a great weekend.

@tech4people you miss the whole thing

Thanks for chat, all. Bye.

Thanks, @HH. Yes, please.

@wale-Very true.Most customers dont care a damn about security.

You are so right Wale.

@tech4people, thanks for that. I learnt most consumers arent secuirty concious when it comes to smart devices.

It's no work, it's great fun.

@SF: I have a tea maker in my office. Can I pour your some?

@Rich-Wow Rich,I can see you are working very,very hard!!!

The big problem for Enterprises today is if they have to choose one solution(&one solution only) for Mobile-RIM is not in the Top two choices.

ahhaah Suzan come on

I second you, SF.

You mean Long Island Iced Tea? Yeah!

Weekend never ends.

Can I have something else instead of beer? :D like tea?

And RIMs security feature set is much-much superior to both Android and Apple

@Rich, Don't start the weekend too early. :)

The CEO of RIM is twirlling his mustache right now.

Thanks everyone. Bye

@Bolaji-On the contrary I think their ENterprise Security features are second to none.

I meant "PRIDE"

Bye to all ,see you in the next chat- Dialog

@DrFred, I can't dispute the history of Wang and Digital. Perhaps RIM can avoid their fate but that is up to the management and the shareholders. Let's hope they were watching and listening to our conversation.

Beer by Bolaji, and pizza by Blackberry.

Bye to all .. please send a transcript to the CEO of RIM if  he interested :)

@Bolaji-I don't think RIM is good for nothing.

WE ARE STILL IN MOTION. That is our proud here. Thanks everyone. Buy a PlayBook today and you wont be desappointed

Thanks again everyone. Til next time.

Thanks to all the EBN community

Thanx everyone, thx Jenn, Barbara, Bolaji for your time.

Great discussion folks....cheerio

"exiting chat" good one

Beer and chips? I'm in!

Thanks, @Bolaji, @Barbara and @Jennifer! 

free beer ? Bolaji really ?

Hi all, this is the formal end of the Chat. Please continue on the EBN message boards--we really appreciate your participation.

@Tirlapur, RIM is a lot more than hardware. Four years ago, nobody would have thought we would be chatting about RIM's market performance. The market changed but its core remains very valuable.

Bye to all! enjoyed the discussion. Will somebody from RIM have a look at thi stuff?

Well, Digital and Wang were once huge corporations with significant sales numbers, but they did not move with the evolution and guess where thay are today...  RIM is poised to go the same way - unfortunately...

Thanks everyone....good day

Thanks @Bolaji@Barbara@Jennifer and Everyone.

thank you for be here in this exiting chat

Everyone to Bolaji's house for free beer and chips.

@Bolaji: I share your point. RIM is still in MOTION!

Thanks everyone. It's been fun.

I will be the next guest only if I can bring my funny hat.

It's being a pleasure as usual and everyone has been stellar. Thank you and we wish you all a fine rest of the week.

@Bolaji what do you mean by fundamental technology ? Hardware features ?

Thanks again, Jenn--you're good to go. I really appreciate your time.

Ah, Dennis got in there. I meant Bolaji's summation sounds like the bottom line to me.

Right - I don't think the end is imminent. But changes need to be made

No worries on typos or Jennies anyhting else--I want to thank Jenn, Bolaji and our readers!

Maybe Rich K wants to be our next guest on Live Chat?

RIM should focus on what it does best.....

That sounds like the bottom line.

I think RIM has potential to be a success again, but currently it's hard to stay optimistic given how bad of a failure the Playbook was and how clueless the current executive leadership seems to be to the seriousness of their plight. I think with fresh, strong leadership and a renewed focus on what they do best, RIM can rebound. But right now it seems like RIM is content to kind of stay on the same path, just jog a little bit faster. That's not going to work.

RIM is still a multi-billion dollar company with a great following in many markets. Corporate IT types still have a lot of loyalty to the company and it has more than 100 telecom service partners globally. It's Blackberry is doing fine in other parts of the world and if the company reboots them on time with newer products it will come out fine. It needs time. I hope it gets it because the fundamental technology is super.

mfbertozzi - no problem =)

@Bolaji , agree completely.  Their supply chain and partners are world class as well as their requirements and standars for production quality.

Yeah, I'm with Barbara. I'm a skeptic. But I'm always a skeptic

@Jennifer: well, really sorry it was a typing mistake....

Bolaji, what do you mean, do they have a chance? Don't they still have a lot of value? As a customer of their products, would I throw out all my blackberrys tomorrow for something else? Not so sure about that. 

Go

We all agree that Applications drives the smartphone, until BB gets this right, it's going to be trailing behind.

For the record, I'm a skeptic. I think RIM was too slow and too late, at least in tablets.

well done Bolaji

Agree with DrFred - wouldn't be so quick to blame the supply chain or mfg practices. Think their losing on product design

If nobody will, I'll take my own challenge.

@Barbara, i also learnt Quanta Computer manufacture - china based contracted to produce RIM's tablet PC

@DrFred, In fact RIM has a better working relationship with suppliers and a better reputation for fairness than some of its competitors. The problem RIM has does not extend to suppliers. It's fundamental but not in that direction.

@Bolaji: yes, I agree, but to do that corporations need strong a prepared executives and managers.

Anyone taking Bolaji's challenge?

Jenny - me?!? Please Jenn instead... not a Jenny =)

RIM needs to stay the course and get OS8 released and to abandon the old platforms. Somehow they got confused in the crossover and delayed implementation. 

@mfbertozzi - thanks for the heads up about Nokia' cuts I hadn't seen that. I don't remember if RIM has announced lay-offs recently. But I think it goes back to Bolaji's earlier point that RIM is less diversifid than others in the space

Thta is the point! It is the realignmnet that is happening and RIM cannot be an exception!

Jenny is on fire?

@Barbara, I still would like someone to tell me they believe RIM has a chance and explain why or are we all skeptics?

I do not beleive that RIM's supply and partner structure has anything to do with their current problems.  The past has kind of proven that.  More likely is it atttributable to an era that is coming to an end with obsolete designs in times of stiff and "unexpected" competition.  Also called complacency or "fat, dumb, and happy"

Barbara, my fingers are strong.

@Barbara: poor Jenny...is under fire!

Jennifer, if you had a Blackberry, would it be easier?

@mfbertozzi, It's the nature of the market. We have some serious disruptions happening everywhere and it's not limited to Nokia, RIM or even HP. We forget that Motorola Mobility (as it is now known) invented the wireless handset and was once the leading company in that segment. I believe the realignment in the handset market was inevitable and companies need to stay alert constantly.

OK folks, we are approaching our last few minutes of time. In addition to technical problems, everyone but Rich probably has typing fatigue Any last questions for Jenn?

That is a taller order for RIM board !

Susan - I'm trying to grab a user name and paste it into the box. I also before tried to cut and paste some numbers/notes I jotted down, but everything vanished when I hit post. It either won't post or keeps spinning. Tried refreshing a few times and seems to be working

@Jennifer: the other point of comparison is about jobs; it seems distributed production strategy adopted in the past doesn't work, Nokia announced today jobs' cut for several thousands in Romania, for example, due to need to re-size production process.

@Prabhakar: Steve Jobs wants to rest now!

If RIM could cure Steve Jobs' life threatening illnesses, I bet STeve would jump at the offer.

@DennisQ maybe, although most numbers are reported from user experiance and abandonment in hopes the newer Android OS fixed the old problems.

How about making Steve Jobs to take the reins of RIM?

Thanks DrFred. I'm wondering if part of RIM's problem is in its manufacturing execution. The high inventory on PlayBook...sure, they didn't sell well, but JIT is supposed to offset that.

@DrFred what about Quanta Computer manufacture?

When I hear we need to change someone, I think of diapers.

Or, at least will take time to correct

@opstech, to be fair, I don't think HTC's hardware is well-regarded from a reliability standpoint, so I'm not surprised by those figures.

@Bolaji: I see, there may be the need to change the leadership then?

That is, I don't think you'll have to wait long to find out what's likely to happen to RIM, if these rumors are true (the ones reported by Reuter).

By the way, the enterprise side that DrFred wrote about is also happening in the automotive space. RIM's operating system can be used here by companies like Volkswagen.

Most blackberries are manufactured in Mexico. The Playbook is from Taiwan. It should be noted that both facilities adhear to human rights guidelines unlike Apple Foxconn faciliies. 

@Jennifer: What is what you are trying to do? 

@barabara - Celestica is the RIM EMS

No ,I think RIM it will figure out a way to be successfully. The quality,flexibility and the feature of the product always matter.So if a product have all the above it is matter of time to fix all the others(marketing,strategy, etc)

Phones - not sure either

Next few weeks should tell a lot about RIM, I'd reckon.

Yes, Quanta is producing for both RIM and now Amazon tablets

Thanks DQ. Not sure I have any value to add on that...

@Barbara, correction, Quanta for the Playbook. Not sure about their phones.

@anna young @Dennis, maybe it's not a revival, maybe it's just a reassurance that they will be working on more competitve products

Tall order, Prab

@Barbara, Quanta, I think

@Hospice_Houngbo, I believe it does. Whether it has the leadership in place to take it into that direction is another thing. Focusing solely on smartphones was sweet for a while until rivals figured out entry points and took advantage of these. Perhaps a review of the company's focus and operational strategy is important and this should involve moving beyond messaging.

@Jennifer: in a such way, could we consider RIM similar to Nokia? At the end, it seems the strategy to adopt a proprietary plat and still decide to stay there, is not providing strong help in business and good positioning in the future.

How is RIM doing in comparision with Nokia?

Bolaji--RIM needs to reach out to enterprises, understand their changing needs and  make suitable product changes to retain this customer base

I think Google acquiring Motorola will give very good oppurtunity to  RIM to expand its business because this acquisation will drive away companies like Samsung from adopting android....

Anyone know who manufactures the Playbook and BBerry?

@DrFred, I very much agree!

Susan--you are teh HELP line! Thansk!

:-)

There needs to be stronger execution, and that comes from the top down. So maybe depending on how the next few quarters go, we'll here about changes in governance or top positions

@Dennis, what we want to see is RIM's revival

Why would RIM wnat Android? HTC has a 39% adopotion/retention rate on its Android devices, the lowest in the industry.

@Anna, i agree with you. RIM's market share portion is gradually on the downward.

@Jennifer: If you don't see one of your posts, don't try to type in the text box again. Instead, try ctrl+z and you will get the same text you typed before in the box. 

Adopting Android would just turn RIM into another HW supplier and that will not cure the problem.  That space is crowded already.  No, they need to find a way to tie up the enterprise customers with unique products and offerings that are diverse from waht you can get from another HW supplier...

From the production standpoint, the consumer and industrial/enterprise models are very different. You may have great stuff to offer each, but you can't use the same production model. Maybe that is where RIM stumbled?

So, is everybody so negative about RIM? Aren't there redeeming and admirable qualities in the company that it can leverage for higher revenue growth later?

@Bolaji: The question is : Does RIM has what it take to "go deeper into other industrial, manufacturing and heavy machinery markets."

I don't know exactly though how they are going to refocus

@anna, well, they've lost at least SOME of their soul, yes, I'd agree.

And when I say buyer, I mean an IT buyer for an enterprise network, not a stock buyer.

Barbara - I think from a product standpoint, they are going to have to find a way to develop a more competitive product. I don't if that will be an operating system issue or a form factor design, but they have to take a step back and figure how they lost such an strong edge and why users are not following them

@Rich, I'm not convinced... HP buying Palm for instance wasn't exactly a success, in hindsight.

@Dennis, it's already lost its very soul don't you think?

@mfbertozzi: I see. 

@Opstech, That's what I meant by saying RIM has options. I believe the strategy of focusing on a single product was damaging to the company. But there are still options out there where it can remain a player in the smartphones market but still go deeper into other industrial, manufacturing and heavy machinery markets.

@Wale, @Anna Young - I agree to some extent. Adopting the Android OP system could be a plus

@opstech, I do agree that there are still opportunities for RIM to be successful if it focuses on space/medicine/industrial/military/enterprise. But it's hard for me to be convinced they can compete in the consumer market in any significant way in the future.

@Anna: Why would that be the best option? RIM will lose its "very soul"

Tablets are more like computers, they should support the OS used by the highest number of consumers just like how all the PC's support the Windows. RIM .. move to android or else shut down like what HP did.

Jenn's back! So Jenn, any more input about RIM's product strategy going forward?  Where should they focus?

As a buyer, I would be fairly confident that RIM's big base would protect me for the short run, as far as keeping my infrastructure. A takeover would mean change would come to me on a silver platter, instead of my having to risk a switch to an untried company on my own.

@Nemos: I know. But there are ways to integrate different platforms. That could be possible if RIM wants to.

ok... now if I can just remember what I wrote.  Thanks for your patience.

@Wale, I think the best option is to adopt android op system

@Rich Krajewski, I understand Wharton's point. But they should identify potential candidates too.

@Flyingscot: The line between cool and business is blury now.

let's try again

When a company like RIM has to price cut that is the end.

Hi all--Jenn is having technical difficulties please stand by 

I am not sure many people know the value of QNX or the markets it is currently used in ... it is heavily used in space, medical, industrial and, military applications.  RIM could simply be returning to its roots ...

@SF: I was meaning South. Am. and Gulf, in general, for example, but also from Russian Federation, costs for 3G rooming (sub-layer to allow RIM services to run) are still very expensive.

RIM may allow Android apps @Hospice It is not that simple , we are talking about two different operating systems.

@Anna, it's extremely diffcult for RIM to come up with any strategy that can successfuly fight Apple and Samsung. My opinion,  is either dumps tablet OS for Android or price cut to very low level

With Apple OS and Android there is little room for RIM OS

Right, there is the whole thing where RIM may support Android apps, but actually moving to Android completely... no, that would basically be the end of the company.

RIM allowing Andoid apps is indirectly endorsing android isnt it ?

Wharton's point was that someone who wanted RIM's base and a buy-in into enterprise might like RIM.

@Barbara (enterprise): corporations are trying to cut costs, RIM services still require payment policies based on traffic volume

Is Andriod going to become MS Windows of this decade?

RIM may allow Android apps to run on its platform. 

@mfbertozzi: Local operators where you mean? 

Adopting Android is like telling RIM to be someone else, no?

@Rich Krajewski, So who would buy RIM and to what end?

RIM may allow Android apps

Hang in there Jenn! We aren't getting repeats, whihc we did last chat :-)

Because most of the android phones are selling like hotcake...Nokia lost because it didnt opt for android...RIM is also loosing its market to Android....just curious whatz wrong in adoption something which is popular ?

A way forward might be for RIM and Samsung to join forces....

" If RIM adopts Android, I'll eat my shoes."@Bolaji it is possible to happen , we have seen a lot in the supply chain.

@Barbara (enterprise): really? From my point of view key point, still not resolved, is about connection's costs.

Wharton is saying RIM's best choice is to sell. Reuters is reporting a rumor that Icahn is looking to buy a seat on RIM's board. Now what?

Android market topped 30,00 apps. hence I don't see why they shouldn't adopt Android op sytems

@Wale Bakare, You just put your thumb on a sore point for everyone in the industry. Pricing is where the market can break Apple's stranglehold and companies like Amazon may be the ones to do it but not RIM. They need their coffers full.

RIM has its own independent to preserve. It shoud not adopt Android.

Apple was always cool and BB was always business.  The line is more blurry now as more players come in.  

Sorry, guys... some of my posts don't seem to be posting...

@anandvy, what good would them switching to Android do? Then how would RIM be any different from the many other companies that already sell Android devices? Wouldn't make any sense at all... and it's not like RIM is renowned for their great hardware design either, really.

So, RIM has a big base and some inertia in that base. They have big competition. People are wondering where their new killer app is coming from. There are barbarians at the gate. Now what?

RIM paid about $770 million for its share of Nortel patents. Sale will close third quarter of 2011

@SF: in addition, local operators have preferred to limit foreign proprietary services, it is happened quite recently in the Gulf for example, and maybe this is another piece of the puzzle for rolling down RIM.

@Anandvy, If RIM adopts Android, I'll eat my shoes.

@Rich: What about $$$?

I think on the whole, Blackberry will need to come up with a better marketing strategy. If the likes of Google and partners could put up stronger extensive marketing strategy

@Opstech, Thank you for bringing that up. Somebody asked earlier if there were some upside for RIM in the current situation and I believe this is one of them. The company is still a major player and it's easy to forget the fundamental robustness of its technology and how these can be applied in other areas of the economy.

@Bolaji, right, it's very difficult to stay on RIM/BES when the CEO and VP's are demanding that you get corporate mail to work on their iPhones.

What if RIM plans to adopt Android, will things change for RIM ?

@Wale: Thanks. I don't see how it can compite with either the iPad or with the new Amazon's Fire. 

@Bolaji, RIM smarphone strenght is always phone chatting and bb messages centric which attracted consumer market as well as enterprise. That strategy should be transfered to its playbook and make price cheaper to Apple and Samsung tablets

You know, $$$.

Sorry Jenn--yes, the patents. It seems like a one-time band-aid and not a long-term solution

@SF: thx, I fully agree with you.

Just money, that's all!

Barbara - lost you...how much money talking for what? patents?

(Oh, magic fingers, fly, fly over the keyboard.)

@DennisQ, I concur. I recall companies would literally announce they would not support any other corporate messaging systems, which was one of the problems Windows faced. It started to unravel when employees would go out and buy their own iPhones and simply asked to be connected to the company IT system. Even C-level executives jumped in.

I was loyal to a snowman, once, but it melted." Rich ahahhaha really ?

But, according to some analysts, RIM doesn't really own many of the patents that would be essential for next generation products

@mfbertozzi: Most likely that has contributed. WiFi hotspots are free and everywhere, which means a device that lacks the power of WiFi connectivity doesn't have a chance to compite with the ones that have it. 

On the barrelhead.

Yeah, $$$.

Jenn--how much $$ we talkin?

Dennis, I was loyal to a snowman, once, but it melted.

mfb: haven't seen it publicly, but my guess is where the R&D is best spent.

In an attempt to recoup some money and take advantage of Nortel patents bought as part of a consortium, shareholders suggested that option a few weeks ago

@DrFred, Excellent point. RIM can no longer compete on being an enterprise messaging company. That era is gone. Years ago, very few companies looked outside RIM for enterprise messaging because of the security it promised. Today, with every employee preferring Android or Apple, IT departments are being forced to integrate these into their messaging requirements.

@DrFred, enterprise is also loyal to RIM just due to being lazy and not wanting to throw out all our existing infrastructure and move to an unproven/possibly-less-secure alternative. But good points, if they lose these customers... what's left isn't that appealing.

@Susan, thanks. Playbook price cut from $499 to $359

@Barbara (enterprise market): have heard about reasons? After all, it was their court.

Barbara - the shareholder issue started back in the early part of the summer. Started with the executive leadership structure and now has moved onto patents sell-off

electrynx--I agree, but it seems to me it is becoming a one-or-the other strategy in the battle for R&D. Consumer products chnage so quickly...the enterprise not so much

The coach was going to text defensive plays to the players using e-mail.

@Flyingscot - In fact, it needs to come from the top. I fit doesn't, silo mentality is what results.

It is part of RIMs aquisition and integration of QNX. It is utilising the Playbook and OS8 Smartphones to push interface development in the automotive navigation OS market. By coupling high volume consumer device development to the lower volume (higher profit) automotive markets it can develop a better user experience faster than any of its competition.

Jay, he was smart in trying to buy the Coyotes, because he was going to make them all carry Blackberries.

@SF: I have experienced, for a long, broadband from Northen Europe telecom operators, usually mobile coverage was (is) really good. RIM has left in telecom players power sub-layer functionalities, instead apps from Google or Apple could count on Wifi hotspot (most of them are providing free access). Do you think lack of wifi free-connection in the past, has impacted RIM's success?

Jenn--also good point. How did the whole shareholder thing begin?

when dealing with RIM engineering it is clear there are many silo mentalities and on occasion no clear and agreed roadmap....this normally filters from the top

@DennisQ, RIM's leadership did a great job for years pushing the company and they cornered the corporate messaging market as a result. Their inability to foresee the huge advances smartphones would make into the consumer market was a major error and the company is paying for that now. Additionally, how can anyone really anticipate how disruptive Apple would be?

@Bolaji what I meant was since Apple's margins are more compared to other companies, was guessing if Apple will be affected more compared to others.

There is an opportunity for RIM to score well if they marry their Blackberry with the Cloud with  some useful enterprise apps and revive the enterprise business. What is your opinion -Bolaji, Barbara, Jennifer?

@ Barbara, I do not belive in consumer and enerprise doesn't mix. Apple started as consumer is slowly moving to more enterprisee supportive so the other way also shouldn't be a problem for RIM. But what makes difference is RIM blackberry is always been a professional device before all these smart phones came into the market. Now with the entrance of Samsung, LG and HTC into the smart phones the market is completely changing.

How much is the PlayBook at the moment? 

Enterprise customers have been loyal due to the BB e-mail security as compared to Win, but now with Android and Apple flexing muscles in this space, i suspect that this advantage is soon gone.  What is then left of RIM?  Their OS and HW along with MMI just sucks

@DennisQ- The top leadership structure is what has a number of shareholders up in a bunch

@Wale: I also believe that would be a good option. 

I think Jim Bassille was too focused on buying the Phoenix Coyotes and moving them to Hamilton instead of focusing on his company.

Jenn--it seems as though compnaies are abandoning the consumer (which, with the PC used to be business) market in favor of the enterprise. Granted, the enterprise has lots of $$$ to spend, but there are many players deeply entrenched there, such as IBM

My personal thoughts on the PlayBook is that it should be marketed and designed towards enterprise users and that trying to compete head-to-head with Apple in the consumer space is a waste of time.

I heard the CEO of RIM was going to change his name to Steve Jobs, to confuse the market.

so if they want to be successful, they must change their marketing and push the playbook ? or they must improve the playbook firmware first ? 

I reading some analysts reports on what they do, and some of the key points seems to be come up more competitive products, strengthen their credibility in the market, return to superior execution

@Tirlapur, Show me the company that won't be impacted by the global slowdown. Every electronics company will be affected. However, companies are also using this opportunity to invest in new designs and new products. That was the conclusion I had after attending the Embedded Systems Conference in Boston. They want to be prepared for when the market bounces back as it surely will. I believe RIM is investing in new designs too but we may not see some of these for a while.

I think RIM should just jump on the bandwagon, simply follow in the steps of HP and Amazon to slash its tablet price considerably.

@Barb: I see.

Don't think too much was said about RIM's executive leadership, and as Bolaji has previously pointed out... I think the general feeling is that the guys at the top are -- at the very least -- not doing as good a job as they probably should. Can RIM succeed under its current leadership or should they bring in new talent?

"You're Barbara." lol. You type the way I do.

optech--fill us in more about the RIM automotive strategy--I'm not familiar with it

You're Barbara, they can't focus too much on the enterprise either. There has to be a mix.

Btw a number context might be useful, manufacturing sales declined by 1.7% in Canada last month due to currency and Canadian Companies have increased inventories due to US and global supply instabilities. A 0.6% decline in profit by RIM is beating the rest of the manufacturers in Canada.

HH--I see that similar to what HP is doing in possibly spinning off the PC unit. The message: Consumer and enterprise don't mix

Yes, maybe we should be looking at what happened with RIM, what is going on and how the problem can find a solution, if that is even possible at this point. 

@Nemos, RIM already introduced some updates to its Blackberry smartphone and updates to the Playbook are in the work. It will most likely get some bounce from the new Blackberry smartphones but must do more to spark sales of the Playbook.

RIM? Holiday selling season!? I thought investment bankers liked to carry expensive and chic, and RIM used to be that. Wow. Is RIM going to start selling through Ollie's Discount House?

I think the tablet gets more and more competetive in the next few months. Only few survive and this could even put some companies into a very bad losses. Do anyone think RIM should also have Android based tablets?

Need to sort out their apps offerigs too

@Bolaji, do you think the global slow down will impact RIM numbers ? Or will impact companies ilke APPLE more which are highly priced.

The Fire will mainstream tablets at more appealing price points. That said, if RIM can step back and focus much more on the core segment of the population that made it famous in the first place - the business consumer - they may have a chance

@Nemos, if they are to bring new product to close the gap, they will need to Ditch OS,Improve on the browser etc

mfb: some of the ciriticsm I have read is about RIM's focus on the enterprise.

Thanks, Bolaji, @Jennifer, @Barbara.

I don't see why RIM should not look on the individual customers' side when it is losing ground on the enterprise side. Why not?

@Jennifer, RIM's share price up temporarily earlier this week, was there any recent activity as regards any new investors?

@prabhakar_deosthali, RIM's market share fell in the latest numbers I have seen. I believe they reportedly fell by half but so did Microsoft's Windows OS shares.

The Kindle Fire will be an interesting thing to watch, and I'm sure Apple, Barnes and Noble, and RIM will be watching the holiday selling season

In addition to QNX evolution, the company is moving on tentatives to approach the market in a different way; they have launched "Enterprising Mind" program, it is a strategy to listen to customers, instead of bring products in, but in the "half duplex" communication way. Do you think could it work?

I heard Ichan really likes pizza.

Apple doesn't offer it. Neither did HP, and look what happened to them.

@to ALL Do we know if RIM will bring a new product soon ?

@Anandvy, It's too early to say. I personally believe these are slightly different products. I wouldn't position the Playbook against the Kindle Fire, which is, to me, a high-end reader that will help Amazon retain customers and gain new ones. The Playbook is a direct competitor to the iPad rather than the Kindle and despite everything that has been said, the Kindle Fire is not going to kill the iPad.

Thats a real significant reduction. But will this help them?

A big issue with the playbook was pricing. They priced it the same as an Ipad and you get a smaller screen and nowhere near the capabilities.

We got an email from staples offering $200 off the Playbook.

Pizza could turn their company around.

Give me a second to read through some of the comments

RIM seems to have been playing catch up the last few years trying to battle Apple and Android platforms. Shouldn't they focus more on innovation and the business segment? This was their bread and butter and how they built their smartphone empire.

SOme of the things I've read: Amazon has set the new price point at half the iPad, but still 2X HP's tablet

According to news reports, prices on the 16-gigabyte version, which normally lists for $499.99 each, has been cut to a price of $299.99

The one million dollars question: What should RIM do to reboot?

The Playbook is a consumer testbed for its automotive navigation interface development, why do analysts keep avoiding this issue and its true purpose?

I heard RIM will start offering pizza delivery soon. Is that true?

My questions are

1> what is the change in the market share of RIM in smartphones and tablets ?

2) What is the change in the market share yoy ?

3) The falling sales and surplus inventories is becoming the common trend. How is RIMs position different than others?

All right, let's open this up to the floor. Please feel free to contribute comments as well as questions but it is important to keep these civil. This is not an attempt to pound RIM but to explore what's going on and how the situation is being addressed.

How will the release of Kindle fire affect RIM ?

Lots of bad typing...

Hey Jenn, if you'd like to fiedl some questions from the audience, please go ahead (lots fo good styff)

There are a bunch of stories our today that retailers have already begun to slash prices. Hang on. let me grab some of them.

@Rich @Hospice we are not posting now just wait for a sec to finish the introduction

"one of the complaints was that it had to be connected with the Blackberry smartphone for certain usage": It may be a strategy to make people who buy a Playbook to buy a Blackberry smartphone as well. But unfortunetely, it has failed .

The question begs: Why would buy a Playbook if you get greta functionalty from Apple, or can buy most of the functionality from Amazon for more than half the price

The company is addressing the "shortcomings". I put these in quotes because there are areas obviously that would be difficult to deal with in a couple of quarters, including the market leadership Apple has. It is cutting costs and revamping product lines. It is coming out with new and more attractive smartphones and these are winning raves in the market.

And without thinking, like me.

Youguys have to learn TO TYPE faster, like me

They are really hoping that the QNX operating system will save teh day, but it looks like it won't get the fulll Google Androis support on the app side 

You guys have to learn faster, like me.

What is the relaease price of play book and how much less are they going to sell it?

Jenn--excellent point. A lot of the pressd I am reading specifically mentions the Amazon impact on RIM. Why not the iPad?

A good hair conditioner could get rid of their tangles.

Guys, we'll open this up in just a few minutes.

And, now with Amazon's announcement yesterday with a $199 tablet, things will shake up again

Are they going to resolve some of those shrtcoming in future releases?

RIM could get the government to shut down competition and force everyone to buy RIM products. With RIM's cash on hand, they could probably buy a lot of votes. And I think I saw a "For Sale" sign hanging on the legislature door, too. Or, RIM could buy a small country and retire there.

RIM's strength has always been the great relationship it has with service providers. This is being tested now with the Playbook, which is not seeing the same level of adoption. It has to get this back up again and then maybe the Playbook will gain a stronger adoption.

@Bolaji/@Jennifer: coming back to Barbara's question on strategy, RIM has achieved significant business results in providing email services, but once happened apps time, feeling is they didn't update neither offer and technology, leaving their own platform quite poor. Do you think is a right and brief analysis? My feeling is this has been one of the major negative key factor.

Product cost is a big issue for RIM 

Like Bolaji said, Apple won first-mover advantage and that's hard to counter-act

Bolaji--I can see how that is limiting.

Yeah, I think the strategy got tangled up somewhere these last couple of years.

To answer the question about the Playbook, one of the complaints was that it had to be connected with the Blackberry smartphone for certain usage. This limits its usefulness to some segments of the market.

So RIM has two good products...but a bad strategy? Price point?

Apple had first mover advantage, a great and loyal customer-base, adoring analysts and journalists who play up everything from the company. No other company has a similar following.

Also, it started competed against Apple, which means it started competing in the consumer space, and took its eye off its core business consumer

But how does it help the RIM to grow its business in the long term?It cant just shut down like HP did with their PC Business.

The Playbook is itself a great product but one can say the same thing about all of the other tablet PCs in the market today. The greatest challenge the product faces is also the same one competitors are facing and that is the iPad.

Some criticize that the software and hardware was rushed into development and is missing some of the things BlackBerry became known for

So will we see RIM selling its devices at low rates just like the HP sold its tablet ?

Well, how it's lacking....there are few things

it's not lacking at all

Rim is putting a lot of faith into its QNX operating system for  future playBook and smartphone, but no on seems confident that this enough

Additionally, we need to remember that RIM is not really a multi-product company. It has the Blackberry smartphone and now the Playbook. It is not really well positioned to counter a softness in one part of its business with growth in other sectors.

I haven't test-driven that many tablets...how was the PlayBook lacking?

Worse, is that this week, at an app developers event in Europe, RIM provided guidance that not many apps will be included in the Playbook

The Blackberry is losing customers in North America faster than in other parts of the world. It is still selling fairly decently in Europe and briskly in developing economies, one reason the company is turning its marketing firepower in those regions.

As we are all aware the Playbook didn't really score that well with customers. All the retail outlets have been slashing prices without announcing a formal price cut in the same way that HP did with the TouchPad. Even so, this is not really going to help RIM because it's price cuts aren't as deep as those of HP or as attractive as the new products announced by Amazon.

OK. So RIM is the BlackBerry company...what happened?

Well, tried again and will just keep going

no problem Jenn...

Hold on... I didn't see my answer post. Trying again

Yeah, sure. 

My conclusion was that the company's sales deteriorated because of its product lineup and as Jennifer just noted, they will have to reduce prices to move the inventory

The numbers are telling, especially the inventory. Clearly, the PlayBook isn't taking off. Jenn, can you take us through a few products highlights (or lowlights?)

Well, the inventory numbers are always telling. They obvioulsy overshot estimates. And, I now suspect we'l have to see prices drop signiifcnatly to move things out of the pipeline

It's cash position deteriorated. Research in Motion ended the quarter with $1.2 billion in cash compared with $2.4 billion in the prior quarter.

Ok Jenn--what's you input on fincnials?

Finally,

Let's take inventory, which can show how a company is using its resources. Inventories were up in August quarter (indicating lower than expected sales). Inventories rose to $1.37 billion in August compared with $645 million in the year-ago quarter. The finished goods inventory more than tripled on a year-to-year comparison. The company's accounts receivables went up and so did accounts payable. In all, they tell a story of a company struggling to boost sales, having less than efficient usage of resources.

I'll wait for Bolaji to finish, but I have one other financial tidbit to share.

@bolaji: "what it needs to do to improve its position." Is there any RIM representative on the chat? how would they know the advise you are giving?

Hello Everyone!!!

I need to point out even a few more startling numbers.

Bolaji--In regard to those financials, what were RIM's reasons? Is there a product issue?

The trend has been down. Here are some additional numbers. Gross profit margin in the latest quarter was 38.7% versus 55.5 in the year-ago quarter and 43.9 sequentially.

In its latest quarter, RIM posted sales of $4.2 billion, down from $4.56 billion in the comparable year-ago period and down from $4.9 in the immediately preceding quarter. Net income for the August quarterwas $329 million versus $796.7 million in the yeara-ago quarter.

First, some numbers....Bolaji?

Please hold your comments until we open this up to everyone.

Standing by for numbers.

And Reuters is reporting a rumor that Ichan wants to buy into Rim.

Let's talk about REWARD IN MOTION!

Is RIm's best days over?

hi everybody.

@Barbara, Sure thanks. Let me set the stage with some of the recent numbers from RIM. These are important to help us understand where the company is and what it needs to do to improve its position.

hello all .. lets talk about rim.

But the big base is probably one reason why Prof. Webach is saying RIM should sell out.

Thanks for the clarification Bolaji.

Bring it on

Guys, That's correct. Jennifer and I will answer some questions first and then open it up to the floor after 20 to 30 minutes but we want this particular session to be a very vigorous live chat, which means questions and responses should fly in all directions.

@DennisQ, yeah, there is potential

@Nemos: I see. Thanks. 

Welcome everyone! I'd like to introduce today's guest, EBN Contributing Editor Jennifer Baljko. Jenn, Bolaji and I worked together back in the EBN print days, and Jenn started following the electronics industry and Silicon Valley scene in 1997. Jenn and EBN Editor in Chief Bolaji Ojo will lead our discussion today on Research In Motion (RIM.) We'll set the stage for the first 20 minutes or so and then open the floor to questions. Bolaji, will you start by reviewing RIM's most recent financials?

When you have a lot of customers, magic can still be wrought, I'd reckon.

@DennisQ: I hope the same thing here!

Hello EBN Community !

Suzan Barbara is coming , but yes I think so

@DennisQ, You might be surprised at the silver lining in RIM's status.

They have a fairly big base, still.

I hope the format is the same. I'm stretching my typing fingers, but you guys are fast.

Hello everyone!

Hi all... hoping there is at least SOME positive things about RIM's future in this chat!

Hi Barb/Bolaji!

@Barabara: We have to follow the usual procedure, right? You first ask questions to Jeniffer, give time for Jennifer to answer and when you or Bolaji open the floor we start discussing with Jennifer and the other participants, right? 

@Bolaji will the format be the same ? Initial 30 minutes dicussion ?

@SF: I'm feeling sad over RIM's misfortune

@Hello everybody. Barbara will be getting us rolling in another five or so minutes.

I am in :)..

@HH: Yay! Just in time. :D

Hi SF!

SF is in the place!

Hello, everyone! 

Can RIM Reboot? The same question could have been asked about Apple some 15 years ago.

Hello everyone

Hi everyone aboard!

Hello all

Hopefully this will be about more than recent consumer markets and give some insight and opinions to the real impact of RIMs venture in to automotive navigation market and becoming the default implementation.

HEllo , Welcome to all,

Good day everyone!

Hi everyone!

Hi all!

We'll be starting in about 15 minutes

Hello everyone...

But which stronger player is capable on maintaining and sustainind the past success of RIM

Wharton Professor Kevin Werbach says RIM should just sell out to a stronger player. (That quote's on the Knowledge@Wharton website.)

Yes, be glad.

Be glad to join the discussion

Apologies to our readers and guest--this has been postpoed to Sept. 29