RIM is black-burying carriers with half-baked BlackBerrys

By on Jun 20, 2011 at 11:18 AM
Exclusive June 20, 2011

Launching new products is always difficult. Launching new products with hundreds of different carriers is exponentially more difficult. Apparently there is an easy way and a hard way to do things, however, and RIM has been making carriers offers they can’t refuse. BGR has learned from a trusted source that RIM has been strong-arming several carriers, essentially forcing them to approve devices they normally would not move through the Technical Acceptance phase.

Here is how it works: once an OS software build (bundle) has been tested internally at RIM, and the OS performs well, it moves up to be a Technical Acceptance candidate. The OS is then sent to the carrier to test and approve, or test and reject. If a carrier rejects a build, it can take weeks to get a new build tested and approved, and it can slow down a device’s release by months — as evidenced many times with different BlackBerry products in the past.

What’s the problem, then? We have been informed by a very reliable source at a major carrier that RIM has been putting an enormous amount of pressure on carriers to approve the upcoming BlackBerry smartphones like the BlackBerry Bold 9900 — phones that have to hold RIM over until its next-generation platform launch in 2012 — and that certain carriers will be approving the devices, “no matter what — with bugs and problems.”  Additionally, RIM is putting huge pressure on its internal engineers to deliver Technical Acceptance bundles even when there are serious problems with the OS. In short, RIM is pushing unfinished OS builds from its engineers to the carriers, and demanding that the carriers approve them.

The thing is, this isn’t something new, and it’s part of the reason your BlackBerry is so buggy, reboots randomly, and there are possible signal and connection issues. There have been multiple devices, we have been told, that have been forced through the Technical Acceptance process with multiple carriers, and it’s one of the reasons some carriers launch devices sooner than others (barring any exclusivity arrangements) — some play ball but others won’t. Remember how Rogers was one of the first carriers to launch the BlackBerry Bold 9000 while AT&T didn’t launch the device until November? The device constantly failed Technical Acceptance on AT&T, but Rogers pushed the device out anyway as a result of pressure from RIM. And Rogers is most certainly not the only carrier that has found itself in that position.

Spokespeople from RIM and Rogers did not immediately respond to a request for comment. An AT&T spokesperson declined to comment.

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  • http://twitter.com/ofutur Olivier

    This blog is getting worse by the day. It’s a shame. Just publish the news and stop giving your advice, it’s getting sad. You’re definitely not made for journalism.
    Every phone maker does it and knows the risks. You really think Apple didn’t know about the antenna issues? 

  • Kyowvtv

    Boost Mobile Blackberry’s constantly get the dreaded app error message.  

    • Sirhill1919

      That’s because they are blackberry’s from FOUR YEARS AGO.  Stop being fucking cheap and get a real plan from a REAL CARRIER and maybe just maybe you won’t have get such dumb errors to pop up.

  • Dragon

    Wow, maybe it’s time to replace this blog in my daily routine. Geller seems to dump on RIM at every possible opportunity. It’s like he is a jilted lover.

    Just report the news man. Axe grinding just means when viable competition arrives, people may make a mass exodus. Your readers love smartphones–not vendettas. :-(

  • Sirhill1919

    This article is complete bullshit and you dick weeds know that.  If this is just a RIM issues and no other device maker has this issue than explain why the iphone 4 had radio issues, or why in the last year we have seen more android devices come out with more problems than i care to count including being taken completely  off shelves because they are so fucked up.  This site loves to make it sound like Blackberries are the only phones with issues but in the real world where i live they all have had some sort of issues, some a lot bigger then others. Get your shit together and stop saying that you have some super secret source when its just Johnathan ”i hate RIM” Geller making this shit up while he sits at home with his iphone in one hand and his other dick in the other.  What a fucking loser you are.

  • appleberry

    Geez, you don’t even see this much hating on other blogs against RIM, iOS or android.  RIM maybe having a rough transition into this new consumer driven market, and the only reason that apple and android have managed to get past this particular issue, is because RIM was born when the carriers dictated the terms, since apple’s success its become the other way around.  RIM is just standing up for itself, no different than apple or android.

    BUt I digress, lets be honest Geller, the real problem with RIM is that you came home one night found your gf with another dude and you saw him grab his BB off of your night stand before he dove out the window.  Its ok…

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_MDTSJHSNT4KCM6CV7PI3OQW4KU Edwin

    Same old BS. I deal with BB’s from my job all the time and they suck ass. Constant reboot errors and SOS connection problems. The average user in my company needs their BB replaced at least once a month, sometimes more.

  • http://twitter.com/Danage420 Dan Age

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    mah black burry burry uh mah black burry burry  
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    yeh uhh uhh yeah uhh uhh you so nice black burry  
    uhh yeah  oh sh*t you so nice burry, i wAnNa cUm on you blackk burry (AND YO MAMA TOO) 
     uhh yeah hit me on mah black burry, mah black burry burry

  • Anonymous

    If your source is so reliable what is their name? they don’t want you to give out their name because it is just slander, and probably and apple fan boy.

  • http://twitter.com/krazyket Aniket Patel

    I had the same problem with my Blackberry Torch, I ended up returning the phone within 2 days. I went back to using my iPhone.  APPLE > RIM

  • Chaz312

    Ok, so it’s obvious that you guys are looking for a reason to hate RIM. SO……I guess I’m done with this web site and it’s obvious lies about RIM. My bb has always worked well and every one knows that the first version of any new phone always has issues that aren’t discovered untill after it’s been reliesed. Like the the Moto Droid X at Verizon. And the iPhone at AT&T. Get over it and move on. RIM is not the big bad devil you make them out to be.

  • jdubs08

    I was looking forward to the new BB Bold 9900 for AT&T (though it was never confirmed they would carry it), but after reading this article, the original delay and RIM’s sixth largest investor pulling out because of a lack of faith in the company…it appears the new iPhone 5 in August/September will be where my eyes will turn.  I’ve been a bold user for about 4 years.  If there is ANY truth to this story, I am done with BB/RIM. 

  • Anonymous

    For what it’s worth, I get that “App Error” message a decent amount on a first-gen VZW BB Storm.

  • gclax139

    this site is a complete joke its honestly as if you just make shit up week after week. I dont know how anyone takes this site seriously anymore.Fuck you Jonathon Geller.

  • Anonymous

    Gloves off it seems. Your Apple paymasters need you to move in for the kill perhaps? Or is it one of the primary carriers that pulls your strings?

    I’ve had lots of BlackBerrys, some with pretty early software releases, and I haven’t particularly noticed any OS issues.

    And Apple are masters at strong arming carriers so perhaps RIM is getting wise.

    My guess is that RIM are pushing carriers to accept standardised software but the carriers want to block features so they can screw us for more money. RIM has to modify its software to conform to anti-competitive carrier demands and is balking at having to do so.

    A far more likely reason why some carriers will accept the devices and others won’t. Especially since simulators for the phones are already available and work well.

  • Ivanpagan3

    WOW ….. THIS FCKN SITE IS NOTHING BUT A HIRED GUN TO TRY TO KILL RIM.. THERE GOES INTEGRITY AND DIGNITY….. BLACKBERRYS ARE THE SHIT!!!! WHO THE HELL NEEDS ALL THOSE APPS THAT U FORGET ABOUT A WEEK LATER????????  bottom line… if you want to get stuff done effectively, and efficiantly, get a blackberry. Theres a reason why business professional use it

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_ICESDVAFCDQZSJ4D5ENCTMHIEQ Lola Montoya

    So, it isn’t possible that AT&T is stone-walling RIM in order to satisfy some of its other big name clients. Anyway…Jim, I paid $32.67 for a XBOX 360 and my mom got a 17 inch Toshiba laptop for $94.83 being delivered to our house tomorrow by FedEX. I will never again pay expensive retail prices at stores. I even sold a 46 inch HDTV to my boss for $650 and it only cost me $52.78 to get. Here is the website we using to get all this stuff, LiveCent. com

  • Anonymous

    This is why iPhone and Android have done so well.  BB users are tired of buggy phones.  RIM is just sho0ting themselves in the foot, once again.

  • MarvinK

    Well, they better hope 7.0 isnt nearly as half-baked as the Playbook was (and still is).  They can strong-arm carriers, but it wont matter if they lose their loyal customers.  BlackBerry isn’t attracting new customers…

  • Ss

    Garbage news thanks for this crap BGR.  By the way NEWSFLASH…Appple is the new Microsoft in that you can’t use anything but their software or their proprietary software!!

  • MadeyeFergy

    Why is this article being re-released on the mobile blog?  Everyone knows BGR are such fanboys of the iPhone, yet I find it very disgraceful and upsetting that BGR continues to try and slander RIM as much as possible.

  • MJ

    “A very reliable source at a major carrier” heard that before. How does RIM strong arm any major carrier? They don’t, it’s the other way around. And saying you heard it from a source allows you to rabbit this post when it is proved to be total B.S.. BTW it’s no secret that posts containing RIM or BlackBerry in the title makes your nut, so show some respect.

  • bb_user

    What random reboots? My original bold 9000 has been fairly solid, and it doesn’t need a reboot unless i’m installing some software.

    reliable, and still works after 3 years.

    more FUD spread. 

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