Marching orders for CrackBerry fans against Netflix
Hello,
I'm very impressed with 2.0 and have always been impressed with the Playbook specs. They are just awesome. I've enjoyed mine from day one at full price and still feel like I got a great deal because I actually use it often. Several times a day and the bridge feature saved me some bucks over time, I believe enough to fully pay for the Playbook.
I've been quite an activist for BlackBerry and when AT&T refused to allow the Bridge feature to function I left and went to Sprint. Now that Netflix has made it clear that they won't support the Playbook, I'm cancelling my account with them.
Why have I become such a die hard fan of BlackBerry? Actually, for the same reason I was an Apple fan when it was on its deathbed at the hands of Microsoft (and I mean deathbed - Apple would have died if not for a cash infusion from Microsoft itself in order to prevent a monopoly label). There were two main reasons: 1. I liked the product; 2. More importantly, I hated watching a large U.S. corporation killing off an innovative company with good ideas. Unfortunately, Apple learned many wrong lessons from their near death experience and now sue more people than Microsoft. They are also using their dominant position to practice anti-competitive behavior.
The issue was not really Apple then or BlackBerry today. The issue is the despicable behavior or dominant market players use to kill competition.
Is Netflix bowing to Apple or someone else to hurt BlackBerry? Lets take a look at this question:
Netflix has a tremendously high cost for content. The only way this works is for them to have just about 80% of U.S. households use their service. If they don't they lose critical revenue on a fixed or actually rising cost structure and simultaneously they also lose bargaining power against content providers.
Netflix needs to pursue every single possible way of gaining or retaining clients. A Netflix app for BlackBerry, especially for the Playbook, would be a piece of cake. Especially when you consider that they could submit it as an android app and have it running in less than 30 minutes. So the reason is not technical or that it does not make sense for their business model. They absolutely need BlackBerry user business. Therefore, there is a different reason and I still remember that I did not understand why Steve Jobs was smiling so broadly when they locked an exclusive deal with Netflix, that eventually also went to Android. I mean, Netflix would reduce Apple Movie sales so why the joy? Maybe because he knew that if he kept content from competitors, the unit sales would more than make up for content sales. Even today's iPad2 vs. Playbook comparison gave it to the iPad2 not for hardware or even UI but for content.
I must say that I am stubborn to a fault and every time I see this type of behavior it just increases my resolve to deny a large corporation from dictating to me what device I must use. I love my BlackBerry and I think RIM is an ethical company that does great things with its money.
After reading the Netflix tweet I've decided to do the following and I invite others to do the same.
This needs to be a two pronged attack.
1. We, at least I, need to continue to amaze my friends and co-workers with the very awesome Playbook and make it easy for them to get one so the base grows. The more of us there are the less we can be ignored. I've actually gotten twelve people to buy Playbooks.
2. I'm sending Netflix an ultimatum. If you do not come out and state that you have decided to actively start working on a Playbook app, I will close my account with Netflix on March 15th (giving them a date gives them an opportunity to fix it.)
Obviously, the more of us that do this the more significant it would be. Seriously, Netflix is desperate to increase its user base and the competition is on the way. Comcast has plans to launch a service, Verizon is teaming up with Coinstar, and others are working on similar projects.
Even if we just bit the bullet for one month, the collective revenue loss on fixed expenses would be devastating. Share price would take a hit and further weaken this company that is already going to face some stiff competition. Look how badly negative press hurt RIM last year.
Anyway, I'll be sending my tweet to them tomorrow and using March 15th as the deadline. I fully expect to cancel my account with them because I don't expect them to change course. I really don't think that is a big loss to me but even if it is to some fellow CrackBerry users, at least consider doing it for 30 days. There will be an effect if you do.
Thanks for reading. I just want to close by saying I have no relationship or investments in RIM. I just don't like the bully attitudes of the big companies that try to kill the competion. I am going to keep pimping my Playbook to everyone I can and I'm sending a message to Netflix and then I'm taking action.