(The Verge) If RIM wants to fix the BlackBerry brand, it's time for some demolition

[dandbj13]

If RIM wants to fix the BlackBerry brand, it's time for some demolition | The Verge

2: Stop betting on past successes

For years RIM has maintained that BlackBerry devices were better than other platforms thanks to hooks like BBM, a great physical keyboard, push email, and superior security.

But here's the reality: BBM has been obviated thanks to services like iMessage, nearly every platform does push email now, it turns out people really don't mind virtual keyboards, and though you may have great security features, enterprise operations around the world can't deploy iPads and iPhones fast enough to their teams.

Cold water? You've lost your edge. Your OS is worse, your applications are worse, your key features have been marginalized, and you literally have nothing innovative to talk about. Even no-marketshare-Microsoft bests you in this department. They are actually moving forward, not looking back.

To fix this problem you have to actually innovate. Find a way to bring consumers and developers back to your platform. What would motivate one of iOS' top-earning developers to choose your operating system on which to build their next app? What would make a consumer choose your phone over the iPhone 5, or the latest Android device? If you don't have a real answer to those questions, you're going to have a problem finding your way out of this mess —and the answers have nothing to do with great security.

This is a bit of a much longer article, and the part I most agreed with. When I read through the comments of the supporters, too many of their arguments seem to revolve around keyboard, enterprise, BBM, and security. They fail to realize these "strengths" are exactly what faithful RIM fans have been walking away from in droves over the past year or so. The market knows about these things and they just keep on buying something else. It is time to realize that and let go of the old wars no one is fighting. RIM won each of those battles and still lost the war. Time to refocus on new strengths.

[Caymancroc]

But, it is all just a marketing problem...

In all seriousness, I agree with all that was said here too. I am not going back to BB anytime in the near future. The hardware is slow and nobody wants to buy yesteryear technology. The 9900 should have come out two years ago to compete against iPhone 4. Even then, iP4 has a FFC and tons of apps.

Now that I have moved on to Apple, I don't see what RIM can do to bring their beloved BB back from the grave. Delays, empty promises, buggy launches, and poor execution compound the problems and leave once loyal people with bitterness.

In the end, if people like RIM, that is good, but I just don't see how they can recapture their position. At this point BB10 is a stop loss for America. It will only be a matter of time before other markets see similar takeovers by Android and Apple.

[blue_k]

IMO iMessage can't hold a candle to BBM.

[eKafara]

Unless they have changed it since last I looked at it all it does is replace texting between iPhones. I just set up a BBM group between my family members who have a BlackBerry. I can now share pictures, messages, calendar events and make lists. It's much more then just messages back and forth.

Back to more on topic though. RIM really does need to come out and wow everyone with an amazing device, on time, and an amazing ecosystem. If they stick to the video store they kind of showed off this will be better then Apple's where you have to wait 30(or 60 days, can't remember) after it goes to dvd to watch it. They have BBM Music which is pretty cool, it can be improved a lot though. The app selection should be a of a lot better then what we're used to.

I'm excited to see what they talk about at the event in February here and then there should be a pretty exciting BlackBerry World.

[cleverocks22]

Originally Posted by eKafara

Unless they have changed it since last I looked at it all it does is replace texting between iPhones. I just set up a BBM group between my family members who have a BlackBerry. I can now share pictures, messages, calendar events and make lists. It's much more then just messages back and forth.

Back to more on topic though. RIM really does need to come out and wow everyone with an amazing device, on time, and an amazing ecosystem. If they stick to the video store they kind of showed off this will be better then Apple's where you have to wait 30(or 60 days, can't remember) after it goes to dvd to watch it. They have BBM Music which is pretty cool, it can be improved a lot though. The app selection should be a of a lot better then what we're used to.

I'm excited to see what they talk about at the event in February here and then there should be a pretty exciting BlackBerry World.

You can share more than just texting on iMessage AND it also allows all iDevice's to chat and share info/contacts/pick up a convo on another iDevice - try that on a playbook

[Dapper37]

http://forums.crackberry.com/general...-wrong-693658/

^Story sums up how I feel about this post.

[stick_slinger]

Original posted quote by dandbj13
Quote:
2: Stop betting on past successes

For years RIM has maintained that BlackBerry devices were better than other platforms thanks to hooks like BBM, a great physical keyboard, push email, and superior security.

But here's the reality: BBM has been obviated thanks to services like iMessage, nearly every platform does push email now, it turns out people really don't mind virtual keyboards, and though you may have great security features, enterprise operations around the world can't deploy iPads and iPhones fast enough to their teams.

I would very much disagree with statement. The only platform that does true push email is Blackberry/RIM. The others pretend to do push email, but in reality they do "pull" and not "push".

[Thunderbuck]

Originally Posted by stick_slinger

I would very much disagree with statement. The only platform that does true push email is Blackberry/RIM. The others pretend to do push email, but in reality they do "pull" and not "push".

The vast majority of users wouldn't know the difference if you locked them in a room and hammered it into their brains under a bare lightbulb for 12 hours...

[cntrydncr223]

Originally Posted by Thunderbuck

The vast majority of users wouldn't know the difference if you locked them in a room and hammered it into their brains under a bare lightbulb for 12 hours...

That's probably true. I don't. (what is the difference, please and thank you)

Originally Posted by dandbj13

[url=http://www.theverge.com/2012/2/1/2763616/rim-fix-blackberry-brand-time-for-some-demolition] It is time to realize that and let go of the old wars no one is fighting. RIM won each of those battles and still lost the war. Time to refocus on new strengths.

Agreed. Very much so.

[Economist101]

Originally Posted by Thunderbuck

The vast majority of users wouldn't know the difference if you locked them in a room and hammered it into their brains under a bare lightbulb for 12 hours...

Exactly. For most people, it's a distinction without a difference.

[rmjones101]

Originally Posted by blue_k

IMO iMessage can't hold a candle to BBM.

Maybe (and probably) so. But the article states that BBM has been obviated by services such as iMessage, and makes no claim that it has duplicated or matched functionality feature for feature.

[Economist101]

Originally Posted by rmjones101

Maybe (and probably) so. But the article states that BBM has been obviated by services such as iMessage, and makes no claim that it has duplicated or matched functionality feature for feature.

And this is a an example of a distinction with a difference ("obviated" vs "duplicate/matched").

[BigBadWulf]

I so, so, so disagree. If RIM walks away from their strengths, all they have left is competing on the tech front with Apple and Android. From everything presented about BB10, it should be at minimum on a par with the other platforms. Emulous hardware, combined with what makes a BlackBerry a BlackBerry, will win the day.

It's that they didn't drive forward anything near the others technologically, that pushed people away.

[undone]

This just seems like the same arguments over and over again.

Just as a quick rehash:

1. RIM is using a new OS in their up and coming phone devices
2. RIM is/was in testing with new BES. I believe this was incorporating managing other devices as well.
3. Co-CEOs are not CEOs anymore

What else is it that you want them to do? If other companies didnt bet on past successes would we have gotten an Iphone 4s? Or even the up and coming Galaxy 3?

Oh forgot, there OS 7 devices just got approved for Government use.

[Economist101]

Originally Posted by undone

What else is it that you want them to do? If other companies didnt bet on past successes would we have gotten an Iphone 4s? Or even the up and coming Galaxy 3?

The distinction being that Apple and Samsung aren't having any trouble selling the 4S and the Galaxy; if RIM were selling like Apple and Samsung we wouldn't be having this discussion.

Originally Posted by undone

Oh forgot, there OS 7 devices just got approved for Government use.

The PlayBook get FIPS approved several months ago, but it didn't seem to make a difference in sales. OS 7 will probably perform better than the PlayBook in that regard, But it's clearly not something that an be relied upon for a significant boost.