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Is RIM making too many devices?
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I think in the long run if RIM doesn't make a move they will fall off. It seems that lately all they are doing is rehashing phones (aka storm2, tour 9650). If they want to enter the consumer market they need more competitive phones. The acer liquid, sony x3, and htc hd2 are all running on the 1 ghz snapdragon with winmo 6.5 on some and android 2.0 on others. All have a more extensive list of apps ( over 10k on android), 5 megapixel cameras and all will support adobe 10 in 2010 as was released by Adobe.
I'm an avid bb user and I am quite loyal as I don't plan to switch (first came on board with the 7100 series). I do hope that RIM has an ace up its sleeve though that will keep them ahead of the surging smartphone revolution.
Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com11-06-09 12:11 AMLike 0 -
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I am new to BB (2 yrs) and think they are still primmarily interested in the business market. This market is not very concerned with the entertainment aspect of the smartphone. I have the Curve 8320 and can't wait to replace it. With its limited memory I can't install and/or run multiple apps. I've been looking at the iPhone and will look into the new Droid. The best thing with T-Mobile however is the cost & service so I will also look at the Bold9700 when they release it (I heard today).
Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com11-06-09 06:44 AMLike 0 -
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I think they are going through a phase of rebuilding their lineup. There really isn't that many devices per carrier, though.
On the lower end, you have the Curve. Whether it is the older 83xx model, or the newer 85xx model, it is still a Curve. I would look for the 83xx series to fall off as the 85xx replaces it.
You then have the Pearl. New ones are coming to replace the 81xx series. There will be people who want a BB, but not the large size of the full qwerty versions. Some carriers also have the Flip version as well.
A step up from that is the 8900 series. This never seemed to get out to all the carriers, though.
You then have the Storm/Storm2. The original one definitely needed an upgrade.
On the high end, you have the Tour or Bold. Pretty much the same device (9700 vs 96xx). The essex will bring the Tour closer to actually matching the 9700,s specs.
So, if you look at one carrier, you really have 4 or 5 Blackberry options. That's not a huge number. They may have 12-16 codename versions in development, but you have CDMA and GSM counterparts, and such.
I do agree that they need to streamline their lineup, though. Settle in on having a Curve, Pearl, Storm, and Bold/Tour, and not name the phones differently based on carrier.
Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com11-06-09 06:59 AMLike 0 -
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I agree on the streamlining - i wonder if they'll still continue making $$ as Jancy said as the competitors on the smartphone side grow?11-06-09 07:16 AMLike 0 -
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Yup way too many devices, and most of them looking exactly the same with minor differences, for example take a look at the 8900, 9630, 8700 and that new tour coming out. Other than the buttons, trackpad and company logo on it, everything else is basically the same especially with the 9700 and the new tour. I think RIM needs to stop making minor improvements on each, take a break and make a huge difference on 1 phone. and work from there.11-06-09 08:22 AMLike 0 -
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I agree... all they need is one high end model (consolidate the Tour/Essex), one consumer model (use the 8500), one touchscreen phone (Storm 9550) and the Flip I suppose. This is how Apple succeeds with the iPod. All models serve different purposes and everyone knows which one they want - no confusion.
There is no need for all this differentiation b/w GSM and CDMA models. Keep the outside; change the internals.11-06-09 09:27 AMLike 0 -
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I am new to BB (2 yrs) and think they are still primmarily interested in the business market. This market is not very concerned with the entertainment aspect of the smartphone. I have the Curve 8320 and can't wait to replace it. With its limited memory I can't install and/or run multiple apps. I've been looking at the iPhone and will look into the new Droid. The best thing with T-Mobile however is the cost & service so I will also look at the Bold9700 when they release it (I heard today).
Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com
That's just the thing though, RIM is very interested in the consumer market. That is why the storm was created, because over the past few years bb stopped being strictly business and started to dip into mainstream. The storm was never meant to be a business phone.
Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.comLast edited by technique5447; 11-06-09 at 10:17 AM.
11-06-09 10:09 AMLike 0 -
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I guarantee you rim won't fall from making too many devices with supposed little changes. Sure their new devices all follow a similar look, that's how any major brand image would do. Imo piezo electrics in a cellular touch screen is a tremendous step forward in what capabilities lie within piezo electrics. Also, rim is experimenting with new camera lenses that are liquid based. No other company I can think of is creating as innovative solutions as rim when it comes to hardware, physically, and physical comfort experience n a device that will most likely be used a lot. I just types this in a touch screen really fast with no mistakes or backing up.
Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com11-06-09 10:28 AMLike 0 -
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Hate to be that guy but did you type "I just types"I guarantee you rim won't fall from making too many devices with supposed little changes. Sure their new devices all follow a similar look, that's how any major brand image would do. Imo piezo electrics in a cellular touch screen is a tremendous step forward in what capabilities lie within piezo electrics. Also, rim is experimenting with new camera lenses that are liquid based. No other company I can think of is creating as innovative solutions as rim when it comes to hardware, physically, and physical comfort experience n a device that will most likely be used a lot. I just types this in a touch screen really fast with no mistakes or backing up.
Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com
Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com11-06-09 10:37 AMLike 0 -
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How does one justify sayingall of the QWERTY phones look exactly the same. they all do the same thing the same way at the same time. the only difference is the "overall" looks of the phone. I'm saying this from experience, @ my place of employment we have (1) 8900 [mine], (1) 9000, (1) 9530, (1) 9630, [ all coworkers i see every monday - friday] and my wife has a 8310. the only [first glance] difference how the look they look, how they feel, and input method, and only untill recently offering a trackball v. trackpad (but i hear the trackball is going bye-bye). after that you have the options of wi-fi/GPS/Memory and Processor, that it's..... RIM is making the same phone with different clothing on it. PERIOD. The UI is the same as it always has been, the inputs are the same, the hot keys are the same. that statement is far far far from the truth."making a lot of fantastic phones to match everybody's needs and taste"Last edited by mjneid; 11-06-09 at 11:47 AM.
11-06-09 11:43 AMLike 0 -
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My thought exactly. Better to concentrate effort and make fewer bit better devices IMHO.Yup way too many devices, and most of them looking exactly the same with minor differences, for example take a look at the 8900, 9630, 8700 and that new tour coming out. Other than the buttons, trackpad and company logo on it, everything else is basically the same especially with the 9700 and the new tour. I think RIM needs to stop making minor improvements on each, take a break and make a huge difference on 1 phone. and work from there.
Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com11-06-09 12:40 PMLike 0 -
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the thing is though those 35 phones have been constantly upgraded or are different styles of devices ie. pearl (more of a smartphone for stupidphone users) curve(more advanced good for business or a more serious smartphone user) bold (pretty much the benchmark of all business phones) tour (kinda a new curve meets bold) storm(the consumer phone for smartphone enthusiasts) bold2=bigger and better hardware/software....same goes for tour2 and storm2. pretty much just a revamped versions of the existing models.
I would agree with the fact that the release of the second gen storms/tours are a little stupid. the originals launched not all that long ago. kinda feels like their soaking people for money but meh you only pay if you want it THAT badly.
like lg has 85? wtf i would say thats excessive. they really aren't doing THAT much differently.11-06-09 03:50 PMLike 0 -
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That's funny, they all use the same 4.5/4.6/4.7 (device depending) firmware.... Please inform me of the UI interface differences..... as i stated in my first statement @ my place of work we have a 8900, 9000, 9530, 9630 and my wife has a 8310 and i forgot i owned and my dad currently owns a 8100. they do EVERYTHING the same exact way....the thing is though those 35 phones have been constantly upgraded or are different styles of devices ie. pearl (more of a smartphone for stupidphone users) curve(more advanced good for business or a more serious smartphone user) bold (pretty much the benchmark of all business phones) tour (kinda a new curve meets bold) storm(the consumer phone for smartphone enthusiasts) bold2=bigger and better hardware/software....same goes for tour2 and storm2. pretty much just a revamped versions of the existing models.11-06-09 03:57 PMLike 0 -
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You can make and receive calls on all of them. Some of them do the internet too. Probably all have a camera and will play mp3s. What else it there to differentiate one phone from another?
You can divide BBs into three categories based on selection method, track ball, track pad and touchscreen. Some are GSM and others are CDMA. Some are GPS enabled, some are not. Some have WiFi, some don't. Fourteen BBs have a video camera, the rest don't. Some don't even have a plain camera. A couple are flips, the others are not. There are phones that are meant for North America only and ones meant for Asia and Europe only. There are probably as many wireless network capability combinations as there are BBs as well.
There are hundreds of possible iterations of all that I have mentioned except the last. If you factor the network capabilities you get into the thousands.
So I say no, there are not too many BB models.11-06-09 04:28 PMLike 0 -
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I never said those were different- the HTC G1, Cliq, and Moto 'droid are all the same phones, i'll give you that... just like the 83xx, 85xx, and 89xx are all the same with minor difference. the bottom line is they to invest in firmware, and firmware options, applications...Well hold it. All windows mobile phones do the same thing, Android OS is the same thing in different clothing ( G1, MyTouch, Droid), all symbians are the same. Ofcourse eventually all the blackberrys are the same, but one may need/want a flip, touchscreen, compact or full qwerty keyboard. Your argument is just like saying all the cars are the same: they have engine, transmission, steering.
Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com
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okay let me word it this way
how can you classify one BB as Business, one as "play", one as "personal", and such on - when they have the same UI.Last edited by mjneid; 11-06-09 at 04:47 PM.
11-06-09 04:39 PMLike 0
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Is RIM making too many devices?
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