Research In Motion just got out-fruited

By on Jun 6, 2011 at 4:51 PM
mobile June 6, 2011

Look, people that know me know that I’ve been a BlackBerry fan from the beginning. The entire reason BGR was started was because I was breaking information on upcoming BlackBerry devices, mainly because I was obsessed with RIM and wanted to share that information. As we’ve all seen, however, RIM isn’t the market leader any longer. The company really isn’t innovating, and even worse, it’s not even competing with the titans of the smartphone space now: Google and Apple. All three companies have different product strategies, with Google and RIM being the most similar — they view devices as products, and features as check lists. Apple views devices as windows, and features as end-to-end experiences. Hit the break for the rest.

The real problem with RIM is that it hasn’t innovated for years. In that time, RIM’s entire product portfolio has been arguably lackluster, reduced to meaningless hardware upgrades and meaningless software upgrades. The company has tried to right its path by transitioning to QNX, an OS it purchased that will not only run the company’s tablets but smartphones as well in the next year to two. And the PlayBook by itself isn’t a bad product — but compared to the iPad, it’s a non-starter. RIM’s BlackBerry OS 7 (also known as BlackBerry OS 6.1, also known as the same OS as BlackBerry 6, also known as the same OS as BlackBerry OS 5, also known as the same OS as BlackBerry 4.7, also known as the same OS as BlackBerry 4.5, also known as the same OS as BlackBerry 4.3, also known as the same OS as BlackBerry 4.2, also known as the same OS as BlackBerry 4.0…) isn’t an overhaul, but just another stop-gap solution until QNX.

So the question now becomes: if a company that hasn’t shown any leadership in the smartphone space hasn’t caught up to where it needs to be today, then how will it ever catch up? As it stands, RIM offers decent hardware with borderline-terrible software. In the future, judging from the PlayBook, RIM will offer decent hardware with mediocre software.

A high-level source at RIM told me that co-CEO Mike Lazaridis’ biggest fear was Apple creating a BlackBerry Messenger competitor. Today, Apple introduced iMessage, an app and service that not only looks better than BlackBerry Messenger, but probably works better as well. RIM’s push email and corporate integration pitch is losing steam, and the company pretty much just got out-fruited. We exclusively reported the company was planning on launching an Android and then iPhone BlackBerry Messenger app, but that was supposed to be at least 3-4 months out for Android, and possibly a year for iOS.

I’m sad. Sad because RIM doesn’t get it — and I’m not sure it ever will get it — and sad because RIM had the opportunity to once again be that innovator that it was in the past. It’s still possible… but with each day, each press conference, and each product introduction from elsewhere in the tech community, that chance looks smaller and smaller.

You know what was the other thing Mike Lazaridis is scared of most from Apple? A hardware keyboard on an iPhone. Shit.

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  • http://twitter.com/jimcmf1 Jim

    I just upgraded from a 833 to a 9700 two weeks ago, and I am not sure what is under the hood, (os6), but I can swear that the software is 100 times better in the 9700 . The phone is awesome. Now all my co workers want one as well.

    • Ohmadaze

      I assume it’s the 9780 that you’re speaking about.. because the 9700 is an obsolete piece of kit that came out 1/2 years ago.

      Either way though… Big Mistake. The 9780 was announced 7 months ago and released 6 months ago, but the software is already obsolete! RIM’s latest software isn’t coming out on any of their existing devices. Apple today provides software updates for up to 3 years (with the iPhone 3Gs being able to support the coming iOS 5!)… So within a month, when the latest OS 7 is released from blackberry, your phone will be devalued and labelled junk. Developers will produce for the new OS version and leave us RIM loyalists hung out to dry.

      I’m just another RIM patriot changing boats this winter when the iPhone 5 is coming out. All I can say is to save yourselves before it’s too late.

  • http://twitter.com/DaBadGuy LL Cool Heem

    It wont matter RIM will fail. They want to have some of the features only exclusive to BB owners so any product they push out will just feel like a half ass attempt. And that is when Google will offer a full feature cross platform messenger and RIM will feel like a dumb ass! Really they pay people to come up with these ideas. I said it once and im going to say it again im in the wrong job field I can come up with these ideas all day long. Its obvious BB was trying to use the BBM as there main sales and marketing pitch.

  • basil

    I’d differ on your assessment of the Playbook.  I have one.  Not good hardware- astonishingly good hardware. Mediocre software- well, actually, when you come down to it: no software at all.

    What makes IPad go is the apps.  There are no apps for the Playbook and never will be, because it is late, minor, and going nowhere.

    That’s the story of the Playbook. All dressed up and no software that does anything worthwhile.

  • ClearEyes

    Really! Really!!

    PlayBook is a ‘non-starter’.

    Alas, you have obviously not used one. Nor used one with an iPad user nearby. I can relate many real world examples where the iPad user wanted to do something, and could not! Maybe when an ‘app’ is available!

    With the PlayBook, you recognize a need to do something, and just like your home computer, you load up a site, and BAM you have done what you needed to do!

    No need for stupid piddly apps, and in order to accomplish something, you certainly wouldn’t need more games.

    In the end, the only place I would end up if I couldn’t have my RIM devices, is to something like a webOS or Android type device.

    Not an iFad! or iPhony.

    • Anonymous

      The iPad has a web browser too so i’m not quite sure what your argument is. 

  • James Gale

    Yet again, BGR writes an article that reminds me why I think he’s the best mobile-tech journalist writing today. 

    One other thing to add to my list of RIM-complaints:  announcing/leaking product details/roadmaps far too long before the device actually ships.  Sony used to be the worst at this – but seem to have improved things somewhat there.

  • Doc

    Follow the rats to the life boats…. Get out…. Get out now……. their investers are jumping ship as we speak…..  Damn now i have to get my suit clean for the funeral.

  • http://twitter.com/RandyBaker Randy Baker

    I have a new Android phone … I just had to “upgrade” for the apps.  Shit, I miss my old Blackberry 8830 World more every day. 

  • DJ

    RIM doesnt innovate but Apple steals and BGR lust all over it? GTFOH…..

  • Guest

    RIM must stop producing phones for the non corporate market and rather produce function phones for its corporate users which is where RIM has a dominating market share.  As for the non corporate market just launch a BBM cross platform application and charge yearly subscription fee for it.  I was a hardcore Blackberry fan until last year when I felt that Blackberry novelty wore off and the products desire went stale. The only function I would want and pay for is BBM.

  • Simon

    i’ve been a loyal blackberry owner for 10 years. In my household my wife and eldest son have iphone4 devices and myself and my youngest son use BB9780.  My youngest son is upgrading his BB9780 to the iphone5 in September and the only thing stopping me moving over is the hardware keyboard.  If iphone bring that out then goodbye Blackberry.  With products like Liveprofile, who needs BBM anymore.

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