I think its too early to say if RIM will sell off its business unit. The fact that RIM was a part of a consortium that nabbed a portfolio of patents from bankrupt Nortel Networks increases the valuation of the RIM tremendously.
@Jennifer, RIM's direct replacement is the 9810, more or less the same phone just OS7 running the phone. I used to have an Iphone and changed to the Blackberry for a different feel. The Torch had just come out and had the touch screen and keyboard. Overall I don't think the phone is that bad, just not in the class of the Iphone and new Android phones. I will be upgrading to one of the new Samsung's that AT&T is offering.
We still don't know what my wife will change to come summer, but she is turned off by Blackberry anymore. She needs it for business and has 7 different emails set up through it. The problem is every update Blackberry sends screws the phone up, and she has been through multiple ones, all due to software issues by Blackberry. I think she has finally had it and isn't totally keen on a touch screen only phone, but might have to go that route to get all the business features she needs.
@Jay_Bond... I'm curious - what's the replacement phone for the Torch 9800, and what features/lack of features has made it "stink"?
Repeating what's been said: A lack of innovation, a weak marketing campaign, and slow-to-adapt leadership model has put RIM in a tough spot. Wondering what their quarterly earnings will show after the market closes this afternoon and what kind of guidance they give for rescuing themselves.
The recent performance of RIM is terrible, their products are losing market share. The playbook not selling in the market, that does not look good for the tablet RIM has invested a lot to bring to the market. Hope blackberry playbook won't go the same way as the HP Touchpad.
RIM is now a low end player in smartphone market that is becoming more sophisticated. If the company can make changes to its software, hardware and platform products, I hope they can bounce back, there software is a garbage when compare with Apple or Android, the web browser is a toy compare to the advance browsers that ship on better platforms.
RIM is planning to release the Android player which supposedly is able to run all android apps. This is promising as it convinces to get a BlackBerry soon. I prefer to use it for the convenient qwerty keyboard.
@DennisQ, I agree completely that the Playbook should have been catered to the business sector instead of trying to go against Apple head on. I also agree that RIM is in serious trouble and might not survive without drastic measures. As for appeal and usability of their current phones, to put it lightly they stink. My wife and I both have the Torch 9800 and I'm switching to a new phone in a few weeks and she will switch next year. One year with my Torch was enough.
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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