RIM CEO Heins says RIM better off with BlackBerry 10 delay

posted by Alan F. / Jul 11, 2012, 8:12 PM

RIM CEO Heins says RIM better off with BlackBerry 10 delay

Smartphone fans applauded what they saw of BB10

For RIM CEO Thorsten Heins, denial isn't just a river in Egypt. Yesterday we told you how the executive said that there was nothing wrong with RIM. Of course, thousands of investors who have taken the stock from $140 to single digits over the last 5 years might think otherwise. And Mr. Heins continued his apparent disconnect with reality by saying that the delay of BlackBerry 10 OS is a good thing for RIM.

The executive based this on the thought that had RIM launched the pair of BlackBerry 10 handsets in the fourth quarter, it would have had to compete with other handsets brought out during the holiday season. According to RIM's top executive, It's a time when flagship devices are battling with each other to be seen. "Carriers really do strong launches in the first quarter," he said. Talking to Canadian Broadcasting, Heins said that carriers want a viable third option after iOS and Android, and he says there is no reason why BlackBerry can't be this third option. Hmmm. It would seem that a little company named Microsoft might want to have a say in the matter.

The BlackBerry 10 virtual QWERTY

The question is whether RIM can even survive long enough to be around for Q1 launch. That is what is on the mind of S&P equity analyst James Moorman, who says he is concerned about "device demand" before the launch of BB10. While RIM will have nothing new to rollout for the remainder of the year as it girds its loins toward the release of BlackBerry 10, globally the company is doing much better than in North America. In emerging markets, entry level BlackBerry models remain popular and gives the company the opportunity to update users to BlackBerry 7 devices. Heins believes BlackBerry 7 is just as competitive as the other top platforms in the market.

RIM's CEO talked about RIM's loyal customer base, its 80 million subscribers, and the two new BlackBerry 10 handsets coming out, one with a physical QWERTY keyboard. But the executive did say that RIM has had to concentrate on touchscreen devices with virtual keyboards for the new OS because growth of handsets with physical QWERTY keyboards has flattened out. Returning to BlackBerry 10, Heins says that RIM will be using ads to help show the public what the QNX based OS can do. He took a shot at RIM's challenger for the third spot in the OS Wars by calling Windows Phone "confusing" because of the different versions of the software.

source: CNET

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22 Comments

1. InspectorGadget80 unregistered

RIM CEO would be better OFF BEING FIRED from his job or quit. BB is loosing lots lots of money they go bankrupt by the time BB10 launches

posted on Jul 11, 2012, 8:16 PM 7

15. microsoftnokiawin

Posts: 1268; Member since: Mar 30, 2012

just like Stephen elop

posted on Jul 11, 2012, 11:47 PM 4

18. slaggyb

Posts: 218; Member since: Oct 19, 2011

What you fail to understand is that the world does not revolve around US of A...blackberry is not going anywhere anytime... they are doing very well globally even in their home town Canada...I live in america and use the bold 9900 and am so addicted to my berry...I had a backup phone the galaxy s ii but it so unfortuante I just sold and shipped it on monday via amazon.....Rim is on the right track and by the time BB 10 lauches with all advance features as well as maximum security all other OS will be put to shame....there is nothing as good as competition and I can't wait till next year when the first bb10 powered qwerty phone launches....

posted on Jul 12, 2012, 6:45 AM 2

2. A.aoudi

Posts: 125; Member since: Feb 14, 2012

(Little company called Microsoft) LOL what kind of weed does he smoke? I would certainly not mind owning a Lumia compared to crapberry

posted on Jul 11, 2012, 8:16 PM 0

14. denied911

Posts: 361; Member since: May 31, 2012

because you can pay lumia for crapberry on your chest?

posted on Jul 11, 2012, 11:01 PM 1

3. depeche

Posts: 63; Member since: Feb 04, 2011

Windows 8 will roll out in October November along with Windows Phone 7's final chapter. Windows Phone 8 may even be available before 1Q 2013. This will give real credibility to MS... Does Microsoft have a chance to take the third slot? Has it already?

posted on Jul 11, 2012, 8:39 PM 1

16. Stoli89

Posts: 333; Member since: Jun 28, 2010

I thought we should expect WP8 devices from the MS OEM's by 4Q12, well in time for the holiday season.

posted on Jul 12, 2012, 2:32 AM 1

4. flipjzn

Posts: 257; Member since: Jun 22, 2012

I'm really hoping that BB OS stays. We will have only three major OSes around- Android, iOS and Windows 7/8. It's nice to have more options ;)

posted on Jul 11, 2012, 8:44 PM 4

6. androidsbiggestfan

Posts: 76; Member since: Aug 09, 2011

Who cares if it is not a relevant option?

posted on Jul 11, 2012, 8:54 PM 4

8. flipjzn

I do. I like BB OS. I'm not like you whos world revolves with anything android.

posted on Jul 11, 2012, 9:14 PM 4

9. Ravail

Posts: 182; Member since: Oct 14, 2011

BB would be more healthy in this economy if they priced their devices right.. $199 for a new BB or $199 for a GSIII or iPhone or w/e choice another user has.. Its not smart.. :/

posted on Jul 11, 2012, 9:29 PM 4

21. deathyyy

Posts: 101; Member since: Dec 20, 2011

249.99 for a Bold on contract at Sprint.. LOL

posted on Jul 12, 2012, 9:53 AM 1

11. snowgator

Posts: 3614; Member since: Jan 19, 2011

I agree. More competition, more choices, better deals. I hope BB10 is a success.

posted on Jul 11, 2012, 9:51 PM 3

5. azafirster

Posts: 44; Member since: May 01, 2012

This delay will kill them, period.

posted on Jul 11, 2012, 8:52 PM 4

17. Stoli89

Yes, IMHO they should split the compnay to 1) focus on the BB services roll out across multiple ecosystems and 2) run the rest of the handset company like a cash cow.

posted on Jul 12, 2012, 2:34 AM 1

20. speckledapple

Posts: 902; Member since: Sep 29, 2011

better to be late and successful than to release early and be half witted.

posted on Jul 12, 2012, 7:42 AM 2

7. Glim12808

Posts: 394; Member since: Oct 26, 2011

If Heins does not think BB10 can compete with other OS' flagship devices in Q4 2012, what makes him think it can compete with the same devices in Q1 2013? And what is confusing about WP 7 / 7.5 / 7.8 / WP 8? Isn't that equivalent to BB 5 / 6 / 7 / BB10? I am confused!

posted on Jul 11, 2012, 9:04 PM 2

10. Angkor

Posts: 108; Member since: Jul 05, 2012

Blackberry fall off the RIM.

posted on Jul 11, 2012, 9:36 PM 4

12. lonestrider

Posts: 88; Member since: Mar 31, 2012

BlackBerry Messenger isn't better than any other messenger. BlackBerry's power is currently just in there. I have no reason to use BBM, as it's more expensive, while WhatsApp, Line, Yahoo Messenger, and a lot more is free and/or cheaper and can be used with any powerful OS like iOS, WP, and Android.

posted on Jul 11, 2012, 10:26 PM 3

13. camera531

Posts: 346; Member since: Jun 30, 2012

I thought Heins was ketchup. I'm totally confused

posted on Jul 11, 2012, 10:35 PM 7

19. speckledapple

I must admit i do not see the point of such scorn towards RIM in this article. Sure, they have significant challenges ahead as well as heavy competition to show that they can still offer a compelling option to others. However, as was illustrated they are still selling internationally quite well and are the first choice in many cases. Since the US is not the only market, though it is very important, RIM would for the moment end up much in the same position that Nokia was in for many years (that is selling internationally everywhere while having no identity in the US). And if they successfully bring forth BB10 a return to the US market will change their fortunes. Bottom line is that I would not count such a company out too quickly as they may not be Microsoft but they are certainly no Palm.

posted on Jul 12, 2012, 7:40 AM 2

22. downphoenix

Posts: 3165; Member since: Jun 19, 2010

I agree with him. Launching with an incomplete OS can mean big trouble. It happened to the Playbook and gave it a bad rep even though the problems at launch no longer exist on it.