The competition is heading both ways. Enterprise players are expanding into the consumer sector and Apple, which started in consumer, is rapidly gaining customers in the enterprise market. This was inevitable; if RIM didn't anticipate the competition in its key market segment then the company is paying a price for being laid back.
@Ariella, Developers are hardly likely to dump Research in Motion. The company is still a major player in the smartphone market and it's unlikely corporate users will abandon it. What the company must do is not let the competition leave it behind. If it can focus on keeping up and then find ways to distinguish itself in the market it will survive. I'll be blogging soon on how I see things playing out in the market.
@Mr. Roques, You nailed it. Research in Motion isn't in trouble because it isn't growing relative to its previous performance. It is sliding because it is not growing fast enough and winning market share against rivals. In this market, you cannot measure your performance by holding up a stick against yourself. You evaluate your performance based on how the competition is doing. Right now, RIM is not stacking up well against Apple, period.
The numbers can be misleading because the market is still growing pretty quickly so the sales are going to be up but the market share is showing that RIM is falling behind.
That could be because users are migrating from RIM to Apple or Android. But it could also be that new users choose Apple and Android over RIM.
Apple is coming out with a messaging system, WhatsApp, Live Profile and other 3rd party systems are booming.
What holds together RIM? (IMHO)... security. It's the place to go for the corporate world. Android is lacking a lot.
Unfortunately, RIM is given a bad reputation nowadays mostly because of the user interface and limitation. Unless they make a big breakthrough with their products, I think that their product is still going to have a difficult time to get their market share back.
I find this article somewhat troubling as a current Blackberry user along with my wife. I have also had an Iphone, which is great in itself, but still more like an implement for entertainment. RIM has been on the top in the business world for a long time. Their phones have always made sure that business professionals can have access to multiple email accounts, spreadsheets, document writers and anything else an on the go person needs. Yes, there have been some failures across the handset line. I can only hope that there are some serious discussions companywide to keep RIM going in the right direction and stay a serious competitor in the business and mobile marketplace.
I think, and I will try to avoid saying “RIM should”, that focusing on developing markets will not bring stunning features to RIM’s offering. Presently consumer is looking for Apple/Google copy cats or something out of this mind. Having a company wide brainstorm session would bring something new. Yes it hard to come up with something different and outstanding, but it is not impossible.
EBN Dialogue enables and encourages you to participate in live chats with notable leaders and luminaries. Not only editors and journalists, but the entire EBN community is able to comment and ask questions. Listed below are upcoming and archived chats.
Archived Dialogues
Thailand Stages a Comeback Join EBN contributor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday August 23, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. EST for a live chat on how electronic manufacturers in Thailand have shored up their supply chain to reduce the impact of future natural disasters.
Euro-Crisis: What It Means for High-Tech Firms Join EBN Editor in Chief Bolaji Ojo and Contributing Editor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday, July 12, at 10:00 a.m. EDT for a Live Chat on high-tech and Europe's economic difficulties.
Microsoft Surface: Potential Winners & Losers What are the implications for the electronics industry supply chain of Microsoft Corp.'s decision to launch its own tablet PC? Join industry veteran and EE Times' systems and OEM expert Rick Merritt on Tuesday, July 3, at 12:00 pm EDT for a Live Chat on this subject.
Join EBN contributor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday August 23, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. EST for a live chat on how electronic manufacturers in Thailand have shored up their supply chain to reduce the impact of future natural disasters.
Peter Drucker famously said "Trying to predict the future is like trying to drive down a country road at night with no lights while looking out the back window." Yet in the razor's-edge world of electronics—with a lean supply chain and just-in-time demands—the need to know the future is vital.
While no one really can accurately predict the future, we can take guidance from another Drucker saying which is the best way to predict the future is to create it.
You've heard the saying "the No. 1 supply chain risk is your people." That hasn't always been the case. But today's complex global supply chain requires a new type of multitalented employee. It's one who understands, finance, marketing, economics, is savvy with technology, graceful with relationships and can think analytically.
Where are these people? Are universities properly preparing the next generation supply chain professionals? How do train your existing workforce for these new, demanding positions?
Brian Fuller, editor-in-chief of EBN, will lead a 60-minute Avnet Velocity panel discussion that will ask and answer these and other questions swirling around today's supply-chain talent challenges.
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