Why aren't RIM bribing the big boys? (Skype, Netflix)
Something doesn't make sense to me. RIM is giving free PlayBooks to developers in an attempt to lure them to the platform. Let's guess modestly that since launch they've given away 2000 PlayBooks to lure developers to join the platform and make rubbish fart apps for AppWorld. That's $80,000 worth of PlayBooks given away.
I can't help but think it would have been more commercially successful to divide that money between four of the big apps and get them on board quickly. Give $20,000 each to Skype, Netflix, Twitter and Amazon Kindle and say "we'll give you $20,000 cash to make an app for our platform".
The problem with RIM was never that they "don't have enough apps", it's that they don't have enough GOOD apps, or, more specifically, the most important apps that they consumers want and expect.
Surely the thing stopping Skype etc making an app for the PlayBook is the cost of developing for a niche platform, but if RIM was footing this bill, the problem would be solved - plus Skype, Netflix and Amazon would all additionally make profit from customers using paid features in their PlayBook apps.
So why hasn't RIM done something like this yet? These big names need to be on BB10.