4 ms·

Interesting how Blackberry continued to grow until mid-2010 even after iOS/Android had made their debut. They had a chance then but not anymore.

by Zaheer 13y ago

mitchty 13y ago
Also seems to explain the overall strategy they took a bit.
anigbrowl 13y ago
Agreed. That's just staggering. It's been quite a while since I saw an industrial firm go into such an abrupt and severe decline.
alooPotato 13y ago
Looks like much of the share was actually taken from Android
- Zaheer 13y ago
  I don't about that but one reasonable guess is that large firms that were contracted with RIM may have been hesitant to end their contract when the iPhone/Android initially came out and after it was a bit proved actually switched away causing massive drop-offs. This may especially be true since most RIM customers likely were businesses.
  - derekp7 13y ago
    Yes, very few people I know of would buy a Blackberry for their personal device. Also, back then people that needed to be in business contact carried a business-provided device -- very seldom would they use a personal device (and many cases wouldn't even have a personal device). Now it has become almost universal that everyone has family plans, and has their own device -- and not wanting to carry two devices, they use their personal (non-Blackberry) device for work (and get reimbursed). This was almost unthinkable in at least the jobs I used to work at (large fortune 50 companies, financial, etc).
    - stevekemp 13y ago
      It's funny I've been considering a blackberry for myself for the past few weeks - solely because they're one of the few current-phones that have hardware keyboards. I've been waiting to see how things would turn out for them and deciding if I pull the trigger, or wait for a new android device to come out. I guess I wait now. (I used to own a palm-pre, were they still current I'd take one in a shot.)
- eli 13y ago
  The whole market grew though.
AsymetricCom 13y ago
The graph seems to point to Android, not iOS eating RIM's pie. I wonder how much Google search results played in that demise.
- nl 13y ago
  I wonder how much Google search results played in that demise. Err.. Roughly none? I suspect you are trying to make some deep point, or maybe imply some conspiracy but I think you are going to need to be a little more clear.
  - AsymetricCom 13y ago
    I think it's quite clear what I'm suggesting and if you think that it's above Google to take part of some tech conspiracy, well bless your little soul.
    - nl 13y ago
      If you are implying that Google used its search results to push Android somehow to consumers I'd love to hear some kind of explanation as to how exactly you think that occurs. What would consumers be searching for where that would even be an issue? How did Google's search results influence CEOs to demand that corporate IT departments let them use their iPhones against the corporate email systems? Because that's how BB lost its corporate stranglehold, and only later did Android come in a clean up what was left. I don't think Google is above some tech conspiracy - I just think they didn't need to bother. BB produced uncompetitive products and the market punished them for it.
ape4 13y ago
I imagine the size of the overall market grew.
seldo 13y ago
This really fascinating article from 2010 predicted and explained Blackberry's imminent demise: http://mobileopportunity.blogspot.com/2010/10/whats-really-wrong-with-blackberry-and.html http://mobileopportunity.blogspot.com/2010/10/whats-really-w... It's super long, but scroll down to the graphs where he shows the declining growth and margins, and predicts that Blackberry sales are going to suddenly fall off a cliff two years later, which is exactly what happened. I'm going to be paying a lot of attention to what this guy says in future. (For bonus points, compare these graphs to Apple's current figures -- Apple needs to add a new adjacent category soon, or they are toast. TV/iWatch to the rescue?)
- nemothekid 13y ago
  Wow, outstanding read. Considering this guy worked for Apple, Apple may hopefully (for the sake of their stockholders) already know this. Nevertheless, this is quite an intuitive research trend this guy has put together, and makes a lot of sense.

Interesting how Blackberry continued to grow until mid-2010 even after iOS/Android had made their debut. They had a chance then but not anymore.

by Zaheer 13y ago

Interesting how Blackberry continued to grow until mid-2010 even after iOS/Android had made their debut. They had a chance then but not anymore.

mitchty 13y ago

Also seems to explain the overall strategy they took a bit.

anigbrowl 13y ago

Agreed. That's just staggering. It's been quite a while since I saw an industrial firm go into such an abrupt and severe decline.

alooPotato 13y ago

Looks like much of the share was actually taken from Android

Zaheer 13y ago
I don't about that but one reasonable guess is that large firms that were contracted with RIM may have been hesitant to end their contract when the iPhone/Android initially came out and after it was a bit proved actually switched away causing massive drop-offs. This may especially be true since most RIM customers likely were businesses.
- derekp7 13y ago
  Yes, very few people I know of would buy a Blackberry for their personal device. Also, back then people that needed to be in business contact carried a business-provided device -- very seldom would they use a personal device (and many cases wouldn't even have a personal device). Now it has become almost universal that everyone has family plans, and has their own device -- and not wanting to carry two devices, they use their personal (non-Blackberry) device for work (and get reimbursed). This was almost unthinkable in at least the jobs I used to work at (large fortune 50 companies, financial, etc).
  - stevekemp 13y ago
    It's funny I've been considering a blackberry for myself for the past few weeks - solely because they're one of the few current-phones that have hardware keyboards. I've been waiting to see how things would turn out for them and deciding if I pull the trigger, or wait for a new android device to come out. I guess I wait now. (I used to own a palm-pre, were they still current I'd take one in a shot.)
eli 13y ago
The whole market grew though.

AsymetricCom 13y ago

The graph seems to point to Android, not iOS eating RIM's pie. I wonder how much Google search results played in that demise.

nl 13y ago
I wonder how much Google search results played in that demise. Err.. Roughly none? I suspect you are trying to make some deep point, or maybe imply some conspiracy but I think you are going to need to be a little more clear.
- AsymetricCom 13y ago
  I think it's quite clear what I'm suggesting and if you think that it's above Google to take part of some tech conspiracy, well bless your little soul.
  - nl 13y ago
    If you are implying that Google used its search results to push Android somehow to consumers I'd love to hear some kind of explanation as to how exactly you think that occurs. What would consumers be searching for where that would even be an issue? How did Google's search results influence CEOs to demand that corporate IT departments let them use their iPhones against the corporate email systems? Because that's how BB lost its corporate stranglehold, and only later did Android come in a clean up what was left. I don't think Google is above some tech conspiracy - I just think they didn't need to bother. BB produced uncompetitive products and the market punished them for it.

ape4 13y ago

I imagine the size of the overall market grew.

seldo 13y ago

This really fascinating article from 2010 predicted and explained Blackberry's imminent demise: http://mobileopportunity.blogspot.com/2010/10/whats-really-wrong-with-blackberry-and.html http://mobileopportunity.blogspot.com/2010/10/whats-really-w... It's super long, but scroll down to the graphs where he shows the declining growth and margins, and predicts that Blackberry sales are going to suddenly fall off a cliff two years later, which is exactly what happened. I'm going to be paying a lot of attention to what this guy says in future. (For bonus points, compare these graphs to Apple's current figures -- Apple needs to add a new adjacent category soon, or they are toast. TV/iWatch to the rescue?)

nemothekid 13y ago
Wow, outstanding read. Considering this guy worked for Apple, Apple may hopefully (for the sake of their stockholders) already know this. Nevertheless, this is quite an intuitive research trend this guy has put together, and makes a lot of sense.