- This is not meant to slam, and as proof of that, I am about to buy a Playbook (current iPad 1 owner). But all the RIM Shareholder's meeting stuff has me wondering (not a shareholder, have been in the past, and watched yesterday somewhat). I have been a programmer in a past life and understand a little about how technology companies operate.
It seems to me that a multi-billion dollar technology company like RIM has the ability to take a little bit of time when it comes to devices. After all, engineering a new device requires multiple steps: planning, design, manufacture, supply, marketing.
However, software is not so difficult unless you are also going to market it as an independent product. With RIM that clearly has not been the case; you do not see them marketing Social Feeds, Blackberry Travel, etc. etc. RIM is first and foremost a device manufacturer that makes software for its devices.
This leads me to what I feel is an inevitable question, then. Why is a 20 billion dollar tech company unable to turn out necessary software for its own hardware products?
Obviously, the Playbook was rushed to market. OK. But why couldn't RIM then hire X amount more software engineers to optimize the email experience, for example (and email is not some extreme difficulty to implement)? Why couldn't they have people working 24/7 to get it done?
It would seem that if RIM properly prioritized improving the product they released too early (which, I would think the early release is its own incentive to work harder on it), that they could do it.
Is it any wonder that major telecom companies, Sprint excluded, have taken a pass on the Playbook? Some consumers, like me, may still choose to buy the Playbook which is (imo) the best hardware on the market, a well built device as you would expect from a company that builds really good devices. And the OS, the browser are awesome.
But RIM should recognize that many consumers will not buy the playbook if RIM does not its nose to the grindstone on basic software development. And I would imagine, as has been the case, that independent developers will also take a pass until RIM takes care of its own needed internal dev.
Again, these are honest questions, from an iPad owner and Mac junkie who owns a Bold 9780 and is about to buy a 64gb Playbook.
Thanks!trsbbs likes this.07-13-11 08:54 AMLike 1 -
I hate to suggest it, but perhaps the fact that the two CEOs have often only experienced great successes with RIM has made them unable to see how dire the present situation could be if they do not deal with the many unhappy customers out there.
Unlike me, most are not switching to BB. More are leaving.07-13-11 09:13 AMLike 0 -
- If you listened to the shareholder meeting yesterday Jim & Mike are still very much delusional. All they talked about is how much they have increased their sales in smaller and most 3rd world countries going on that a third of the world is still on 2G but not once mentioning that they were caught with their pants down in North America hence the drop in sales. I hope RIM turns it around but they really need new leadership.
Last edited by Hup55; 07-13-11 at 11:43 AM.
07-13-11 11:41 AMLike 0 - as they say, "if you cannot beat them, confuse them!"... but seriously speaking, someone from that meeting should ask, "which country in the third world still using 2G?"... and, "that is RIM's target?"...07-13-11 01:20 PMLike 0
- If you listened to the shareholder meeting yesterday Jim & Mike are still very much delusional. All they talked about is how much they have increased their sales in smaller and most 3rd world countries going on that a third of the world is still on 2G but not once mentioning that they were caught with their pants down in North America hence the drop in sales. I hope RIM turns it around but they really need new leadership.
I do believe that having a strong presence in these growing markets (3rd World countries is a bit of a distasteful nickname) is an excellent strategy for growth because of the potential of these up and coming countries - The North American market cannot sustain this level of furor forever, it will definitely peak at some point in time. Who can say when? Not I, not anyone. RIM needs to be in these markets, because when a developing country gets going, the growth is explosive and exponential during the early years. Maybe now isn't the right time to be focusing on that, but I have a feeling that Mr. B and Mr. L are aware of this, more than we might think.
TLDR: Expanding into emerging markets is not a dumb move at all.
One possible explanation is that Mr. Jim really is delusional and is focusing on these Asian and European markets instead of facing the challenges on the home front, which would be a disastrous move.
I think it is more likely that he is trying to create a more positive atmosphere amid all of the negativity - the growth they have experienced overseas is nothing to balk at, and the accomplishment should be recognized and shared with the stakeholders of the company.
I imagine that they are probably wary of the timing and the accuracy of any announcements at this time because there is still blood in the water - and many loyal blackberry users, as evidence in these forums, are still hanging out with the sharks, ready to attack the next thing that moves in the water.
I generally support the play it cool approach, and a show of confidence. A little cockiness can be good, and I don't think that they have gone overboard in that department.07-13-11 03:35 PMLike 0 - I would definitely agree that RIM is seriously lagging behind in North America, which is a large, if not the largest, smart phone market at present time. I can sympathize with them on the assertion that it has turned into an "arms race" in North America, because that is definitely what appears to be going on.
I do believe that having a strong presence in these growing markets (3rd World countries is a bit of a distasteful nickname) is an excellent strategy for growth because of the potential of these up and coming countries - The North American market cannot sustain this level of furor forever, it will definitely peak at some point in time. Who can say when? Not I, not anyone. RIM needs to be in these markets, because when a developing country gets going, the growth is explosive and exponential during the early years. Maybe now isn't the right time to be focusing on that, but I have a feeling that Mr. B and Mr. L are aware of this, more than we might think.
TLDR: Expanding into emerging markets is not a dumb move at all.
One possible explanation is that Mr. Jim really is delusional and is focusing on these Asian and European markets instead of facing the challenges on the home front, which would be a disastrous move.
I think it is more likely that he is trying to create a more positive atmosphere amid all of the negativity - the growth they have experienced overseas is nothing to balk at, and the accomplishment should be recognized and shared with the stakeholders of the company.
I imagine that they are probably wary of the timing and the accuracy of any announcements at this time because there is still blood in the water - and many loyal blackberry users, as evidence in these forums, are still hanging out with the sharks, ready to attack the next thing that moves in the water.
I generally support the play it cool approach, and a show of confidence. A little cockiness can be good, and I don't think that they have gone overboard in that department.07-13-11 06:18 PMLike 0 - Theres a lot of moving parts here. To some degree I'm stating to think they are holding back on releasing certain things. Certification, certificates and third party agreements could be a part of it. It cant last forever. The product is moving forward, HTML5 is going to be a big help.07-13-11 06:44 PMLike 0
- RIM has always focused hard on solutions for Enterprise or in other words business to business transactions. Their own popularity has now spilled over into the public market and they now have to shift their thinking from business to personal or provide products with personal flair and enterprise security.
I think part of the delays we are seeing is this shift in focus or in other words nothing more than growing pains. You tell a company that product x will be available in six to eight months....company x just says okay and waits. Society on the other hand has a fast food mentality in that they want it all and they want it NOW. RIM will get it right it's just going to take a little time.Zizzzzy likes this.07-13-11 07:30 PMLike 1 - You can hire as many people as you like - the more the slower it actually gets.
Coding is far more complex than people believe - there is a limit to scaling it and people need to be focusing on one certain task to fulfill, and then everything has to be put together to a whole.
The more people work there, the more unnecessary and buggy code comes out, the slower the process in the end.
So even if you have the money, you can't speed up the process. Otherwise, Apple should have come out with a fully-featured super-duper Mac OS X in 2001 and then blast everyone away with iOS version 5-like start.
FYI: The Safari webbrowser at Apple is developed by 1 *one* person. (who takes full control over the team assigned - so no misunderstanding here)Last edited by Takeo; 07-13-11 at 08:19 PM.
07-13-11 08:16 PMLike 0 - The OP assumed that the native email thing is mostly a client app issue. Whereas the most current theory is that it is a server side issue --- nothing to do with QNX at all --- that their email architecture was built with one phone per unit in mind. You should ask the hotmail engineers on how they made a minor system adjustment and ten thousand people lost their emails.
However RIM has also been super cheap in that they are not licensing third party ready-made QNX solutions when they are AVAILABLE. Sure it will kill profit margins in the short term, but the benefit is bring the product to market sooner.
What are some of these third party solutions? Bluetooth stacks and JVM.
RIM doesn't need to build their own QNX bluetooth stacks --- they can license it from third party QNX solution suppliers. And because QNX is often used in devices that need certifications (i.e. medical devices) --- those bluetooth stacks suppliers are going to have their stacks certified by somebody. Those RIM bluetooth stacks engineers can be transferred to the cellular stacks team and can bring the 3G/4G Playbook sooner to market. And the wifi Playbook can have ready made bluetooth stacks --- with stereo headphone profile.
IBM sells JVM's for QNX OS. License it from them and add the specific blackberry api's to the IBM JVM --- and we could have legacy BB OS support in the Playbook from day 1.07-13-11 09:49 PMLike 0 - RIM has always focused hard on solutions for Enterprise or in other words business to business transactions. Their own popularity has now spilled over into the public market and they now have to shift their thinking from business to personal or provide products with personal flair and enterprise security.
I think part of the delays we are seeing is this shift in focus or in other words nothing more than growing pains. You tell a company that product x will be available in six to eight months....company x just says okay and waits. Society on the other hand has a fast food mentality in that they want it all and they want it NOW. RIM will get it right it's just going to take a little time.07-13-11 10:39 PMLike 0
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