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You're just being pessimistic. The question is not "What is the future of mobile computing?" The question is "How does RIM make as much money as possible with

You're just being pessimistic. The question is not "What is the future of mobile computing?" The question is "How does RIM make as much money as possible with their resources?" RIM can't compete on merit, so their best strategy is to do what they've always done: use aggressive, obnoxious sales strategies to place BlackBerries as the "enterprise" device and the only "respectable and secure" enterprise device. Many lame executive types are very very concerned with appearing respectable and adult and elite or whatever, and will use inferior products to maintain this image. They are doing it right now with BlackBerries. The standard East Coast enterprise opinion toward iPhones has been that they are "toys" for children and plebs, while BlackBerries are serious work tools for rich and important executives. BlackBerry cannot compete on fundamentals, but it can compete on image, exclusivity, and keep targeting luddites such as people who refuse to use Apple products because they are "pretty". These people love the ugly, hard to use BlackBerry, because the ugliness and crappiness itself is a statement about their values.

dpark 15y ago
If your only concern is the next few years, that might be a viable option, though abandoning all your consumer products would probably send a clear message that you are sinking, at which point even slow-moving corporations might decide to look elsewhere. I think over the longer term, focussing exclusively on corporations is a losing bet. At some point, the mainstream options will be so obviously superior that it just won't make any sense to continue to invest heavily in Blackberry devices (unless Blackberry can somehow catch up or pass rapidly). If Blackberry is only appealing to the corporate exec crowd, they're going to have to drastically raise prices to stay in business. I don't think many companies will indefinitely pay double for phones with half the features that 80% of their employees don't want. There's just no value there.
- forensic 15y ago
  I don't think they should abandon the consumer market. They should just focus on the enterprise. There are lots of wannabes in the consumer market who will pay a premium to get "the #1 executive phone in the world" RIM has always been a one trick pony run by hustling salesmen fueled with hot air. My plan is the natural continuation of their strength.
  - dpark 15y ago
    So they'll just do exactly what they've been doing? That strategy seems to be failing for them right now.
    - forensic 15y ago
      Making millions of dollars and feeding thousands of families is not failure. Failure would be shutting the doors.
      - dpark 15y ago
        By this definition Sun was succeeding right up to the point that Oracle bought them. In fact they're still succeeding, because they never shut the doors. I don't think this is a definition of success that RIM's executives, employees, or stockholders are looking for, though.
        forensic 15y ago
        Then RIM's execs etc need a reality check. There's nothing wrong with making a good living.
        dpark 15y ago
        No one's talking about making a good living this year. The question is what happens next year, and the year after, and so on. The people currently working for RIM will not continue to make a good living if RIM continues its downward trajectory.
jarrett 15y ago
The strategy you're proposing might be rephrased as "trust that our customers will be stupid enough to buy our product." I understand where you're coming from. There are plenty of shallow-thinking execs that fit your stereotype. But relying on that as your core business strategy? That strikes me as very shortsighted. You can't realistically pin all your business's hopes on the assumption that executives will maintain prejudices that harm their companies.
- forensic 15y ago
  This is what RIM is going to do because thats the type of company they are. Their management style is perfectly suited to sell stuff to shallow people based on an exclusive image. This is something they CAN do. , and while it won't change the world it will get them their Christmas bonuses.
  - EdiX 15y ago
    > it will get them their Christmas bonuses. The question is how many Christmases.

dpark 15y ago

If your only concern is the next few years, that might be a viable option, though abandoning all your consumer products would probably send a clear message that you are sinking, at which point even slow-moving corporations might decide to look elsewhere. I think over the longer term, focussing exclusively on corporations is a losing bet. At some point, the mainstream options will be so obviously superior that it just won't make any sense to continue to invest heavily in Blackberry devices (unless Blackberry can somehow catch up or pass rapidly). If Blackberry is only appealing to the corporate exec crowd, they're going to have to drastically raise prices to stay in business. I don't think many companies will indefinitely pay double for phones with half the features that 80% of their employees don't want. There's just no value there.

forensic 15y ago
I don't think they should abandon the consumer market. They should just focus on the enterprise. There are lots of wannabes in the consumer market who will pay a premium to get "the #1 executive phone in the world" RIM has always been a one trick pony run by hustling salesmen fueled with hot air. My plan is the natural continuation of their strength.
- dpark 15y ago
  So they'll just do exactly what they've been doing? That strategy seems to be failing for them right now.
  - forensic 15y ago
    Making millions of dollars and feeding thousands of families is not failure. Failure would be shutting the doors.
    - dpark 15y ago
      By this definition Sun was succeeding right up to the point that Oracle bought them. In fact they're still succeeding, because they never shut the doors. I don't think this is a definition of success that RIM's executives, employees, or stockholders are looking for, though.
      - forensic 15y ago
        Then RIM's execs etc need a reality check. There's nothing wrong with making a good living.
        dpark 15y ago
        No one's talking about making a good living this year. The question is what happens next year, and the year after, and so on. The people currently working for RIM will not continue to make a good living if RIM continues its downward trajectory.

jarrett 15y ago

The strategy you're proposing might be rephrased as "trust that our customers will be stupid enough to buy our product." I understand where you're coming from. There are plenty of shallow-thinking execs that fit your stereotype. But relying on that as your core business strategy? That strikes me as very shortsighted. You can't realistically pin all your business's hopes on the assumption that executives will maintain prejudices that harm their companies.

forensic 15y ago
This is what RIM is going to do because thats the type of company they are. Their management style is perfectly suited to sell stuff to shallow people based on an exclusive image. This is something they CAN do. , and while it won't change the world it will get them their Christmas bonuses.
- EdiX 15y ago
  > it will get them their Christmas bonuses. The question is how many Christmases.