BlackBerry

Former RIM executive gives his thoughts on the manufacturer's current condition

posted by Alan F.

Jul 30, 2012, 10:29 AM

Former RIM executive gives his thoughts on the manufacturer's current condition

Can BlackBerry 10 save RIM?

While the downward spiral that RIM is on can be felt in the smartphone industry as the illustrious BlackBerry name apparently is down to its last chance with BlackBerry 10, there is also the effect that RIM's decline is having on people and other businesses in Canada. Mike Kirkup, who formerly worked for RIM as Senior Director of Developer Relations, is now involved in the University of Waterloo's Velocity program as The Director of Student Innovation. As such, he has the credentials to tell us how the decline of RIM is affecting the Waterloo area where the BlackBerry maker is headquartered.

Kirkup also has insight into the morale of the workers still employed at RIM as they fear losing their jobs. Unfortunately, because the questioning was done on a morning television show in Canada called Canada AM, Kirkup wasn't asked the hard questions about how RIM squandered its position near the top of the industry under the previous regime, who originally figured the Apple iPhone was nothing more than a fad and a toy. But that is for the historians to sift through years from now. Let's hope BlackBerry 10 does turn around the company and a post mortem doesn't have to be done over the rubble that was once RIM.

source: CTV via Crackberry

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12 Comments

12. Edmund

Posts: 656; Member since: Jul 13, 2012

One of the problems that RIM faces over the next year or so is that minority groups who supported its products in the past (such as African Americans and hispanics) will have moved on to Windows Phone by the time they even launch BB10. RIM need to sit down with MS ASAP and keep BB10 as their little side project, which is what they'll end up doing next year anyway.

posted on Jul 31, 2012, 8:40 PM 0

11. b1acktiger

Posts: 223; Member since: May 19, 2012

HTC+RIM= Success !!

posted on Jul 31, 2012, 1:56 PM 0

10. strident

Posts: 2; Member since: Jan 22, 2012

I'm in agreement with snowgator, their inability to exploit, in a timely manner, their QNX acquisition, sounds the death nell for RIM. No matter how good BB10 proves to be it's simply too late to matter; the launch will be drowned out by Apple 5 chatter. RIM will however live on as case studies in Business School curricula.

posted on Jul 31, 2012, 3:39 AM 2

9. pikapowerize

Posts: 1869; Member since: May 03, 2012

i really wanna see some BB10 device later this year!!! this smartphone world needs to have a REAL competition! i hate seeing that there is only 2 OS that is competing namely iOS (only for iPhone) and android OS (open source, too many manufactures... even chiness products) i hope to see WP8 OS(licensed) and BB10 OS(only for blackberry but i think if they will license this but cheaper than what microsoft is getting on WP it will be a hit) with same market as Android and iOS!!!! best of luck RIM's BlackBerry 10 and Microsoft's Windows Phone 8 OS!!!!

posted on Jul 30, 2012, 11:22 PM 0

8. cornerofthemoon

Posts: 620; Member since: Apr 20, 2010

One of my favorite phones was the Blackberry Pearl. It is totally craptastic by today's standards but I loved it during the day. Sniff Sniff...

posted on Jul 30, 2012, 3:24 PM 0

7. snowgator

Posts: 3629; Member since: Jan 19, 2011

I am glad he didn't take the opportunity to slam his former employer. His answers were bland, but at least he respects those left behind to be honest without making it harder for them by throwing more mud at them. I know the Playbook wasn't the hit they needed, but it does still stun me they haven't been able to combine their world class experience with mobile with their QNX experience and get BB10 out sooner. Of all their mistakes, that may end up being their largest, most costly. Their new OS is still over 8 months away. That is a lifetime in mobile time and dog years. Neither one can afford to waste that much of their lives.....

posted on Jul 30, 2012, 1:35 PM 0

6. disneydad

Posts: 114; Member since: Mar 26, 2012

They had the opportunities to capitalize but too little, too late. They should've licensed BBM and Enterprise when they had the chance.

posted on Jul 30, 2012, 1:09 PM 0

5. Droid_X_Doug

Posts: 5993; Member since: Dec 22, 2010

No one will be buying RIM. Expect RIM to end up like Kodak - in BK with their patent portfolio the only thing of interest.

posted on Jul 30, 2012, 12:36 PM 3

4. darkvadervip

Posts: 366; Member since: Dec 08, 2010

Just let Microsoft buy them and be happy

posted on Jul 30, 2012, 11:08 AM 0

3. NexusKoolaid

Posts: 493; Member since: Oct 24, 2011

It takes more than a great product to turn a company around. They'll need a vision and a good plan, and then must execute that plan flawlessly. Look at iPhone - it's a great product in and of itself, but it's the ecosystem, the software, hardware and content, that put Apple where it is today. In my opinion BB10 itself cannot save RIM, but BB10 as a part of a larger, well thought out strategy certainly could.