When it comes to technology companies in Canada Waterloo-based Research In Motion is Canada’s pride and joy. Their BlackBerry devices and services are used globally but have also felt the pressure of other manufacturers and mobile platforms over the years. We’ve seen a number of new devices leak online of what RIM will be launching this year (NFC, better camera with HD, bigger screens) and they will also be upgrading the recently revamped BlackBerry 6 OS soon too. Plus, coming up on April 19th the BlackBerry PlayBook will enter the tablet ring. Analysts released their projections over the past couple weeks that show RIM slipping in market share over the next few years, while Google’s Android OS, Apple’s iOS and even Windows Phone OS will increase.
An article in the New York Times is very telling insights from the co-CEO’s of RIM, Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie about the shift in perception in their brand and how they’ll continue the need to prove themselves again and again.
“Why is it that people don’t appreciate our profits? Why is it that people don’t appreciate our growth? Why is it that people don’t appreciate the fact that we spent the last four years going global? Why is it that people don’t appreciate that we have 500 carriers in 170 countries with products in almost 30 languages?… I don’t fully understand why there’s this negative sentiment, and I just don’t have the time to battle it. Because in the end, what I’ve learned is you’ve just got to prove it over and over and over.”
Mr. Balsillie said that “No other technology company other than Apple has successfully transitioned their platform… It’s almost never done, and it’s way harder than you realize. This transition is where tech companies go to die… To be pretty blunt about this: how many people in the world have computing devices in phones, and how many do we have to sell to ensure that we’re a rip-roaring success over the next five years?… You’ll find that you don’t have to be all things to all people.”
What do you think the future of RIM will be like?
Source: NYT
Via: VentureBeat
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