RIM's Balsillie responds to Jobs, 'customers are getting tired of being told what to think by Apple'

By on Oct 19, 2010 at 4:18 PM
General October 19, 2010

For those of you not following the Apple earnings-call soap opera, let us give you a brief recap. Yesterday, during the Cupertino company’s Q4 conference call, CEO Steve Jobs joined the broadcast to speak with investors — an uncommon but not unprecedented move. Jobs then began to take questions and throw verbal jabs at several industry players including Google, application maker TweetDeck, HTC, Motorola, and Research In Motion.

Google’s Andy Rubin responded to Jobs’ claim that Android’s “openness” was slang for “fragmented” with a comical tweet, as did TweetDeck founder Iain Dodsworth; Jobs insinuated that developing TweetDeck for Android was a “nightmare” due to the platform’s fragmentation. Motorola and HTC, who Jobs called out for “skinning” Android, have — up to this point — kept quiet. Who’s left? Research In Motion.

Mr. Jobs noted that Apple sold 14.1 million iPhones in its Q4 which was far more than RIM’s latest quarterly blowout of 12 million handsets. Having a flare for the dramatic, and – especially lately — not wanting to take any slack from Apple, RIM co-CEO Jim Balsillie released a statement in response to Jobs’ innuendoes. Some key takeaways from Mr. Balsillie’s publishing: there are people who live both inside and outside of “Apple’s distortion field,” people care about Adobe’s Flash, and 7-inch tablets are cool. Hit the jump to see the full rant-rebuttal from RIM’s Jim Balsillie.

For those of us who live outside of Apple’s distortion field, we know that 7″ tablets will actually be a big portion of the market and we know that Adobe Flash support actually matters to customers who want a real web experience. We also know that while Apple’s attempt to control the ecosystem and maintain a closed platform may be good for Apple, developers want more options and customers want to fully access the overwhelming majority of web sites that use Flash. We think many customers are getting tired of being told what to think by Apple. And by the way, RIM has achieved record shipments for five consecutive quarters and recently shared guidance of 13.8 – 14.4 million BlackBerry smartphones for the current quarter. Apple’s preference to compare its September-ending quarter with RIM’s August-ending quarter doesn’t tell the whole story because it doesn’t take into account that industry demand in September is typically stronger than summer months, nor does it explain why Apple only shipped 8.4 million devices in its prior quarter and whether Apple’s Q4 results were padded by unfulfilled Q3 customer demand and channel orders. As usual, whether the subject is antennas, Flash or shipments, there is more to the story and sooner or later, even people inside the distortion field will begin to resent being told half a story.

- Jim Balsillie, Co-CEO at Research In Motion (RIM)

[Via CrackBerry]

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  • Norm

    Two things.

    1) Competition is good. Really good!

    2) It’s a phone. Not the cure for bloody cancer! I have one of each and it’s not made me a better anything.

    • Norm

      I’d also like to add I’m more interested in what Eric Schmidt has to say. He is who I take my marching orders from. DROID DOES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Brendan

    Hey Jim, why don’t you just worry about keeping your shite BIS service from going down 4 times in 2011.

    • Neo

      Damn right.

  • Steve

    I find it curious that Apple went to the extent of calling out RIM in their actual quarterly press release, not just in the ensuing conference call. This isn’t just mud slinging IMO…Jobs is up to something!

    • MicroNix

      Yes, he’s up to alienating himself and his company from the industry. He talks about smokescreens and such which is coming from the geek who calls every device he produces “magical”. Does that make him a fairy?

      • Firegvw

        instead of smokescreens i think we should all start saying fog of war. it reminds me of simpler and happier times of my youth. and starcraft. maybe dawn of war too.

      • Kalli

        yeah Jobs has the media attention and the story the media want to hear is “Apple is #1″ – any other story doesn’t play very well. So when Steve deliberately misleads everyone by saying he trounced RIM in the last quarter (by counting his sales and profits to the end of September including all back to school sales and comparing to RIM’s quarter ending in August) that’s the story every media outlet will run with, over and over. It was smart of RIM to counter it, but that’s not a story the media wants to hear, so I keep reading the same Apple based mantra in headlines over and over and over. Is it true- yup. Does it tell the real story – nope. Is the real story going to be told – nope. It’s not the spin media want -

        I wonder if the American economic recession has media so desperate for a good news story that they need to pretend there is only one tech design guru on the planet – kinda like the American film industry’s penchant for Iron Man sequels – only one guy can save the entire planet. And he’s american! YAY!!! We’re still number one!

  • ohmy

    love it!

    oh C-E-OH no he DID DUN!!!

    hey, iOS/BB6/Droid….cant we all just say we win? we actually have great choices among OS/hardware…

    all this jibber jabbering is just getting the fanboi’s riled up, makes for good interweb fodder…

    but it is fun to sit back and watch the fireworks :)

  • e63mm6

    By no means will I ever defend Stevie Poo but didnt RIM and pretty much everyone in the smartphone business bash the iphone and say it was destined to fail?
    Now all the bashers are doing their best to emulate the Iphone.
    RIM is by far the biggest dissapointment, they could have cornered the market, instead they sat on their hands and released the same shit over and over…. oh wait they still do that.

  • pgh

    don’t trust a word ballsilly says he’s a lying bastard ask the people in Pittsburgh !

    Posted from BGR Mobile (iPhone).

  • A

    2009 Apple revenue $36.5 Billion
    2009 Apple profits $5.7 Billion

    2010 Apple revenue $64.91 Billion
    2010 Apple profit $14.01 Billion

    If we use these numbers for reference as to what 2011 will be it is painful for the competitors.

    2011 Apple revenue potential $121.38 Billion
    2011 Apple revenue potential $25.31 Billion

    No matter how you slice it, if Apple pulls down numbers even close to this in 2011, there isn’t anything one single platform is going to do to slow it down. Incredible.

    • A

      “2011 Apple revenue potential $25.31 Billion”

      Should read profits, not revenue.

      • Drew

        No, it should read: WE DON’T GIVE A F*CK!! All of you fake financial analysts and currency forecast brokers throwing around numbers and figures like you know what you’re talking about… Let’s keep it real. Jobs doesn’t give a s#it about you. He (has/will) lie to your face and still take your money and you will continue to believe him. He will spin his misfortune and point fingers at his detractors. He’s just a double-talking quack. So, after taking your money he will then tell you what you can and can’t put on something you just handed money over to own because he feels you are too stupid to make decisions for yourself.

        Take that mental picture of what I just said and juxtapose it with you klingon warriors throwing around all of these dumb and skewed facts and figures about how many were sold and how much profit they made per quarter like it’s money going in your pocket, really shows you just how blind and clueless you people are with the big picture. Let’s all have a big laugh on you. It’s really sad…

      • AppleSauce007

        You guys need to get a clue. A lot if not most of Apple customers are also share holders. The money they spend on Apple products they make back a thousand times on the shares.

        Think about it. You might want to invest a few bucks in Apple.

      • Firegvw

        wow. “a lot if not most” so your saying most of the douchey jersey shore type college students that come in to my store have apple shares and arnt just buying it cause they want the latest fashion with their parents money. my whole view on life is ruined. :(

      • Ago

        Do you understand, what it means to sell into a channel or how the channel can be played? Go back to school.

    • RT

      This has always amazed me, why do apple fanboys care so much about how big a profit apple is making off them? Steve Jobs treats his customers like children (and basically shit for that matter), telling them what to think and what they want and the most common response from fanboys is “its ok, because did you see how much money apple made”?

    • Cory

      history is not an indicator of future performance.

      • Darwin

        In fact it is. Especially recent history. We aren’t talking about the 1800s but last business quarter. Duh.

    • Tdot34

      If you are going to post Financials on Apple, at least get them right.

      (In Millions)
      2009 Revenue: $42,905.00
      2009 Profit: $8,235.00

      2010 Revenue: $65,225.00
      2010 Profit: $14,013.00

      Source: Google Finance: AAPL

      • Ryan

        So basically he was wrong cause they had 2009 lower? So that would project 2011 to be closer to 87 billion. I’ll take that too.

        You know 42,000 million is a billion right?

  • zack

    Yes the record profits and sales in recent quarters clearly indicate that consumers are getting tired of being told what to think by Apple. Stop whining and making excuses, and start making your products better.

  • RIM sucks

    As much of the consumer market that RIm is losing, none of them are qualified to talk about what consumers want. They release crap like the Storm 1, 2 and looks like a 3 coming soon, the Torch and all of their remanufactured devices and have really believe they know what people want?

    Whether you like Apple, RIM, Google, or whatever, all of these guys are the same. They want all of us to use only their products. RIM wants us to not listen to Apple but listen to them now? Google tracks all your web stuff and gives you an application or service to do everything but yet Apple is the only one that wants you to listen to them? Seriously? People, open your eyes. All of these companies are the same and have the same goal. Sure, Apple is a little more brash about it but at least they back up everything they do with sales and profit margins that blow the doors off competitors. RIM wish they had a following like Apple. On second thought, I think they do but hypocrites just don’t call them sheep because it’s ok to buy every RIM but not apple. Go figure.

    • MicroNix

      Apple pretty much has released the same re-hashed units over and over again as well. iPhone 4 was the first re-design worthy of “looking” a little different from the same low res screen phones he was putting out.

      What really got me on his “speech” was his talk about fragmentation. You know what Steve, you bet. Every iPhone 4 looks just like the next. But you know what Steve, differences are what makes the world tick. The same for everyone is for drones Steve. Androids “fragmentation” allows it to be designed for an end user target in mind, not a “one size fits all” mentality. That is for sweatpants silly Steve! What’s more, do you really think that *the average consumer* even knows that their Android device is different from another one? No Steve, they bought what they saw and liked. Steve your 1984 commercial was your own vision for your own company. You have command of the drones now and every drone must act alike. All hail the iPhone. The only phone in the world that looks just like the next one. And the next one. And the next one…

      • Tdot34

        My thoughts exactly, I have thought about that 1984 commercial many times and how ironic it is that Apple has become what it was mocking. Apple is even worse than Microsoft ever was.

      • Darwin

        Which means you nothing at all about Microsoft.

    • Drew

      I would very much like for you to provide me proof that RIM is going around demanding that you the consumer “listen” to them instead of Apple. What Developers’ Conference was this mentioned at?? What tech blog was covering this? What symposium has been asked by RIM to “listen” to them and not Apple?? What figment of your imagination does this come from?? You need more time to go figure I guess…

  • Oooowee!

    Who wants a RIMjob?

  • Tay

    Apple FTW! Steve be getting these people so mad it’s funny. Plus I’d rather get an Android tablet before a RIM one

    • Tay

      Fa real yo. And I be gettin deez bloggerz annoyed cuz my inner city education be shining through yo.

  • Mr MN

    Say what you want, but like it or not, Apple and Mr. Jobs are still breaking new sales records.

  • Gag

    I think people need to understand something: disagreeing with Steve Jobs/Apple in itself does not automatically become a valid viewpoint just because you think differently. Look at the way Steve backed up what he said yesterday. Through their user research, they have picked what they think is the right size tablet. And they can take the same OS and apply it to 3 product lines (iPad, iPhone, iPod) The OS for the RIM tablet is not something that their phones directly use. I’m sorry but that does make it harder for developers, plain and simple. RIM has been recycling their garbage and putting a Windows 98 quality OS in your pocket for far too long. Even OS 6 is a joke, because it’s just a fresh coat of paint on the same house.

    Android is more of a competitor to Apple than RIM will ever be. I’m sorry but Steve was right, RIM won’t be able to catch up at all at this point. Unless your IT department makes you use one, I don’t think anyone would use a BlackBerry on purpose. It’s an ugly, unreliable, cumbersome, devoid of innovation pile of excrement. I used a Bold for a year and cashed in my upgrade as soon as I could. When it comes to the hearts and minds of consumers and developers, there is no question that Apple is in a better position than RIM. Balsillie should stop complaining about a distortion field his own company couldn’t even dream of creating.

    • BlahBlahBlah…

      Now I know why it’s called a Gag Order…

      • Gag

        Which actually sounds like a whole lot of…..BlahBlahBlah

    • John

      Nobody would choose a BlackBerry on purpose? Are you being serious? Millions of consumers choose BlackBerry every month because of its reliability, its ease of use and (believe it or not) its form factor. I really believe that iPhone is a great phone too though so I’m not against you on that, but please don’t tell me I don’t love my Bold 9700. I can fly around on that puppy and I really enjoy its features, especially battery life and BBM. I know you think differently, but your opinion is not fact. You like your phone, I like mine. Let’s all be friends.

      • Gag

        John, I think you could be using a better phone. But you’re right. My opinion doesn’t matter more than yours. Unless I buy two phones and you buy one haha.

    • Drew

      If you would care to venture over your “walled garden” you would know that RIM plans on implementing the new QNX OS on all of their future handsets instead of the Blackberry OS….but you knew that right..?? Because versions 1,2 and 3 of the same looking device with the same screen resolution is somehow fresh and innovative. It’s funny Steve says, “I’m not worried about Android…” Yet, I guess that’s why he keeps talking about it all the time. You are the atypical Apple ball-cheese with the pointless rhetoric about what you think is a problem. “..Through their user research, they have picked what they think is the right size tablet.” What research son?? Where, in a design studio?? Just shut your mouth already…

      • Gag

        Me shut my mouth? How about you shut the asscrack where you get your information from? The QNX OS, running on BlackBerry smartphones…..really? The Torch can barely run OS 6 at times, and you think their phones will be able to run the playbook OS?Compare the specs of the playbook to the phones RIM put out this year. Look at what an incremental company they are. You think the specs are gonna jump enough in a year for them to run that specialized tablet OS? LMAO…..but you knew that already right?

        Apple is incremental too and yet it’s shocking how they managed to be LESS incremental, and therefore MORE innovative (see what I did there, sliding scale of innovation, learn it) than RIM. In basically three years, Apple took RIM’s lunch money and is now laughing at them hysterically. How did RIM let Apple lock them out of their own house? Apple beat them to video chat, app store, visual voicemail, and what do they have to show for it, a removable battery? That lovely faint LED glowing at all times of the day reminding their users that they don’t have a life?

        And what are you doing name dropping Android, SON? That’s the other nut that is in RIM’s MOUF. One is Apple, the other is Android. Both these guys are stompin on your boys at Waterloo. What’s RIM gonna do about? Release about 10 more curves, bolds, and pearls, 1 tablet, 1 storm, and some butt ugly clamshells in purple. That’s what they are going to do. With OS 5.323492384029, followed by a leak of 5.648540943934, and etc. etc. The big players in a market address each other, something RIM wouldn’t know much about anymore because they are now lumped in with Nokia/Palm/WP7/everybody else.

        I’m sorry, but did you think Steve was using fake research to justify having a 9.7 inch screen? They obviously have to have a design studio to design the product. They probably tested it internally, focus grouped it, polled, I mean there’s a variety of ways to find out what people might like. How many people used the iPad and said, “man, if only it was smaller?” Is that what you like to do, listen to someone who has a problem with Apple and then blindly repeat what they say? Where did RIM do their research anyway, SON? Looking at iPad sales numbers? I don’t know what ball of cheese you would be, probably just one that doesn’t know much and is bad at making arguments. I don’t have to shut my mouth, because I just shut yours.

  • SDreamer

    All this arguing just shows, these compnies are in it for the money, which is rightly so for them, but seriously, they won’t be making moeny if it weren’t for us consumers. Everyone against Apple, you want to do something about it? Release a quality product for 1/4th the price of Apple. The keyword being quality.

  • Mark Palmos

    Steve Jobs is a total Dick… always was, but now he is a sick and sorry guy who seems bitter about his health. He has become a bit of a joke. Sad, because he was once a bit of a visionary, now he is pitiful. I feel sorry for him really.

  • Marco

    crApple

  • Darwin

    That was a terrible response by RIM. Not surprising since all they’ve got is the same old stuff and some vaporware tablet that only exists on video.

    • John

      And on stage and on display at DevCon…but sure, it probably doesn’t exist.

  • Jim

    I agree. Apple needs to open up. I want the 7″ and I want Flash.
    Next cycle I’m going better features and cheaper rates ( bye AT&T)

  • Mrwirez

    ARubin was better!

    the definition of open: “mkdir android ; cd android ; repo init -u git://android.git.kernel.org/platform/manifest.git ; repo sync ; make”

  • dwb`

    APPLE has become the Scientology – given the market cap the followers are blindly believing Steve Jobs is the cult leader – if he tells them to go to the Apple Store every Sunday morning to prey, they probably all show up just to prey the stock will march to $1,000.

    WSJ/All Things D are too afraid of Rupert to write anything bad to get on the bad side of Jobs.

    Google needs to remake the 1984 Chiat & Day Mac TV commercial – this time the sledge hammer should be thrown at Jobs image.

  • David Steeve

    A little humility Steve. Don’t get too confident.
    Microsoft went from producing XP which was great to produce Vista which was …..
    And because of that, some business still refuse to upgrade to Windows 7. Slow down Steve .

  • Gfy

    After using the iPad for several hours I thought it would be nicer if it was smaller and lighter

  • Mike

    Well, every time I buy a different brand than Apple I must count on:
    - that product might be good, but also it can be junk. 70% probability
    -wrapping is horrible 90% probability
    -very bad service, from mayor companies. 95% probability

    Now lets talk Operation System,
    I really wish, that Ubuntu, Linux, would be more user friendly, and Windows need seriously remastered version. 90% of win users have no idea how to do basic stuff on their computer.

    Good for me, they pay me big $, but it gets frustrating.

    • T

      All about the basics tho… Ubuntu is pretty simple. And that’s what would “sell” an average person on it. There’s a mystique around any Linux OS that you need to know terminal commands. And there’s plenty of websites to walk you thru them, but that’s what people expect when confronted with it…. a return to DOS, in a way. You can really do some cool, geeky, stuff if you know the commands, but if you want some market share – let people know that their basic functions and programs still install and run normally.

    • Derrick

      Huh?

  • Michael S.

    Steve Jobs is a Jack ass without the Jack! People are so blind to see that he lies to you about a quality piece of Junk, which is nothing compared to QNX and flash! You will all see and be amazed! RIM will not let us down on this!

  • http://www.pchealthadvisor.com pc health check

    It is still better to see the quality first followed by the price. I usually look for the usability, durability and reliability of one’s product or gadget. I’m not easily to convinced to try this and that since I don’t wanna waste money these days. T trust apple but of course there is a need still to know their product well.

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