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Tag: RIM

  • iPhone, Android Embraced at Department of Defense

    In yet another blow to RIM’s formerly solid hold on security-minded enterprise and government clients, the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) will soon allow some employees to use iOS and Android devices in the course of their duties.

    The Washington Post reports that a DOD document shows it plans to hire a contractor to manage “at least 162,500” Android and Apple devices. It is also possible that deal may expand to as many as 8 million devices.

    BlackBerry devices are already used at the DOD, as is the case with many clients who need enhanced security features for mobile devices. However, RIM, the makers of BlackBerry, has seen its share of the U.S. smartphone market dwindle this year and some corporate clients have begun abandoning BlackBerry-only mobile device policies.

    Just two weeks ago, government consulting company Booz Allen dropped BlackBerry as its phone provider, stating that its 25,000 employees will be moved to Android or iPhone devices in the coming months. In September, Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer informed all Yahoo employees that they will be receiving their choice of the top iOS, Android, or Windows Phone 8 smartphones. BlackBerry devices, which many Yahoo employees previously used, were conspicuously left out of the memo. Mayer emphasized that Yahoo employees should be using the same devices that Yahoo users do.

    The DOD isn’t dumping RIM completely, however. The Post article states that the department “desires” a system that can also handle BlackBerry devices, though is not insisting on it. RIM’s VP of government solutions told the Post that the reason for this is that the DOD already has a system for managing RIM devices.

    (via BGR)

  • BlackBerry Loses Another Large U.S. Company

    Last month, new Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer sent an email to all Yahoo employees informing them that they would be getting a free smartphone. There was only one catch: the device could not be a BlackBerry. The idea was for Yahoo employees to use the same types of phones that their users do. Employees could choose top-tier Android, iOS, and even Windows Phones, including the new iPhone 5, but BlackBerry was cruelly and noticeably left out of the offer.

    This week, Bloomberg reported that government consulting company Booz Allen has dropped BlackBerry as its phone provider. Instead, the company’s 25,000 employees will be moved to Android or iPhone devices in the coming months, according to a Booz Allen spokesman. In addition, the company’s dedicated BlackBerry server will be decommissioned, meaning employees who bring their own BlackBerry phone to work won’t be able to access their email with the device.

    These companies are just the latest U.S. companies to ditch RIM in favor of Android, iOS, and even Windows Phone devices. It begs the question of how RIM hopes to make BlackBerry 10 a success if businesses have already given their employees iPhones or Android devices. The company is currently banking on its upcoming BlackBerry 10 OS to bring the company back to prominence in Western markets.

    The move away from BlackBerry devices also highlights just how secure other smartphone platforms now are (or at least how secure they are now perceived to be). BlackBerry was the choice of businesses just five years ago because its security features were leagues beyond the competition.

  • Twitter For BlackBerry Updated To Version 3.2

    RIM is betting their future on the success of BlackBerry 10 early next year. Such a focus on the future might leave a company’s current customers on the back burner. RIM doesn’t see it that way, however, as they continue to release updates for their current line of BlackBerry smartphones. The latest update is especially nice for the social media obsessed individual.

    RIM announced today that Twitter has been updated to version 3.2 on BlackBerry handsets. It brings with it a number of enhancements to the the core platform that are sure to be appreciated by BlackBerry owners who have been jealous of their iOS and Android using friends.

    The first major update is the addition of the expanded Tweet details in BlackBerry in the BlackBerry app. The feature has been available in Twitter for iOS and Android since their latest updates. It may be a little late, but expanded tweets on BlackBerry look just as good as they do on the other platforms.

    Twitter has also implemented a Friend Friends feature into the BlackBerry app. This allows users to easily find friends who are using Twitter via their BlackBerry address book. It’s a good move since most BlackBerry users rely on BBM for conversations with friends. It might be a little obsolete once BB10 launches, however, as BBM integrates Facebook and Twitter conversations alongside everything else.

    As for the last update, I’m a little surprised that it hasn’t been added yet. Users now have access to the Quick Follow button that allows them to follow somebody with just a tap. It’s a feature that’s been extremely helpful on the other mobile versions of the app, and BlackBerry users will no doubt benefit from it as well.

  • RIM Releases BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.1 Update

    The BlackBerry PlayBook is the underdog of the tablet world. It wasn’t so hot at launch, but later updates to the software got a lot of things right. Unfortunately for RIM, the tablet has only managed shipped a little under 2 million units. The tablet does have its fans though and RIM is continuing to take care of them.

    The company that BlackBerry built announced today that the the PlayBook OS has been updated to version 2.1. It adds a number of new features to the tablet, but RIM thinks you will want to download the update for these three reasons:

    Updated BlackBerry Bridge: Now you can view, respond and compose new SMS messages on their BlackBerry PlayBook Tablet when connected to a BlackBerry smartphone over Bluetooth®. You’ll also enjoy increased performance and speed of other BlackBerry Bridge functions as well. So you can do more, more efficiently. Txt away, my friends.

    Email and PIM Enhancements: You’ve asked for it and we’ve delivered portrait support for email, calendar and contacts, giving you the option to use your tablet in either orientation to message. This will definitely come in handy for those of you who enjoy thumb typing in portrait mode like I do.

    Improved Android Application Support: Includes Multi-Window Applications, Camera Support and In-App Payments. We all love a richer app experience, and with the improvements to the Android runtime, that’s just what you’ll get. Running the applications in separate windows allows you to multi-task between Android apps easier, and in-app payments will make it easier for you to enhance your app content. Game on!

    The update also brings with it a number of enterprise features. PlayBook tablets can now enroll in the BlackBerry Mobile Fusion via a wireless connection. This means that IT administrators can now push updates over-the-air to everybody’s PlayBooks. It also now has full device encryption to protect sensitive and classified information that may be stored on the device.

    PlayBook users should be receiving an update notification today telling them to upgrade to version 2.1 of the OS. If not, you can also just go to “Software Updates” under the settings menu to get the update manually.

  • RIM Not Worth Buying or Splitting Up, Says Analyst

    Although RIM impressed investors by not losing quite as much money this past quarter as was predicted, the company is still hemorrhaging its U.S. smartphone market share to Apple and Google and losing money. The company is banking its fortunes on its upcoming BlackBerry 10 OS, but the software and accompanying phones won’t hit store shelves until next year, well after the holiday shopping season. RIM has resorted to desperate measures to string developers along until then.

    Today, All Things D is quoting a Credit Suisse analyst as saying RIM isn’t even in good enough shape to be bought or to spin off its divisions. The All Things D report quotes Kulbinder Garcha:

    “Any deal for [the] company is highly complex in our view, requiring simultaneous management of a declining business, as well significant restructuring, and as such an acquirer maybe be best advised to wait for [the company] to shrink meaningfully before making any potential move,” Garcha theorized, adding that he’s not sure there’s anyone out there who could turn RIM into a winning play.

    Garcha followed up by saying a sell-off of RIM’s various assets might not go well either. He questions the quality of RIM’s patent portfolio and states that RIM’s network operations center would be costly to convert for other operating systems. Garcha estimates RIM’s global smartphone share will decline to 2.5% next year.

  • Apple, Google Continue to Take Market Share From RIM

    Stop me if you’ve heard this one before. The latest ComScore numbers are out, and it appears that Google and Apple are still draining away RIM’s market share in the smartphone market.

    The numbers estimate that Google’s Android software now runs on 52.2% of U.S. smartphones as of July 2012, up from 50.8% in April of this year. Apple’s iOS follows relatively closely, running on over 1/3 of U.S. smartphones (33.4%) in July, up from just under 1/3 (31.4%) in April. Meanwhile, RIM’s market share is down to 9.5% from its 11.6% in July.

    When the smartphone market is broken down by the brand of smartphone used by Americans, it turns out that Apple is the only OEM to significantly increase its number of subscribers. iPhone users have increased from 14.4% of mobile subscribers in April to 16.3% in July. Samsung, the top U.S. smartphone OEM, managed to stay relatively steady, going from 25.9% in April to 25.6% in July.

    Though RIM continues to hemorrhage market share, not all is dire for the company. This week the company announced it had sold 7.4 million BlackBerry devices – far exceeding investor expectations. Though it still lost money in the second quarter of 2012, it lost less than was expected and its number of global subscribers grew to almost 80 million.

    Part of the reason RIM was able to exceed investor expectations is that it has been able to successfully market its product in emerging foreign markets for smartphones. Another reason is the massive reorganization the company is currently undergoing, which included a large number of layoffs. The company is banking on next year’s release of its BlackBerry 10 OS and phones to boost its sales.

    (via Apple Insider)

  • Why Didn’t RIM Show This BlackBerry 10 Promo Video?

    RIM’s big BlackBerry developers event has come and gone. We know a few of the new features coming in BlackBerry 10, but we only saw what RIM wanted us to see. What about other features that may have been overlooked, or how RIM is going to market the phone to a wider audience?

    A recently leaked marketing video obtained by Slashgear shows just that as the BlackBerry 10 is poised as being a phone for creation. The ad says that they will put the BlackBerry 10 into the hands of 10 people who will have one day to create something unique with the device. They even suggest that celebrities like Lady Gaga and J.K. Rowling create new songs and short stories using only RIM’s wonder device.

    Check out the ad below:

    I was rather dismissive of BlackBerry 10 when RIM showed off its first features earlier this week. Their public display of affection for developers didn’t help much either. That’s why it’s all the more confusing as to why RIM didn’t show this ad, or at least something similar. It does a way better job of selling BlackBerry 10 than RIM’s own light-on-details videos.

    On a side note, it should be noted that the video also gives us our first look at the BlackBerry 10 N series. We knew that it was going to feature the QWERTY keyboard of its predecessors, but we were still unsure of the exact shape it would take. I sure hope the video is real because the BlackBerry N series is looking really good. The true strength of BlackBerry has always lied in their fantastic QWERTY handsets, and the N series seems to continue that fine tradition.

    We’ll undoubtedly be able to confirm the authenticity of the video and more as we approach the launch of BlackBerry 10 in January. BlackBerry Jam Asia will be going down in November as well. We may learn more at that time.

  • REO BlackBerry Is Going To Keep On Loving Developers

    RIM isn’t doing so hot with BlackBerry. BlackBerry 10 has some great new features, but most of them have already been seen on other platforms before. We don’t know which direction the market will turn next year, but things are not looking good for BlackBerry 10. Even so, the folks at RIM want you to know that they’re going to keep on loving you.

    Three RIM employees – Alec Saunders, Chris Smith and Martyn Mallick – have formed a band to craft a love ballad. It may feature the tune and general sentiment of REO Speedwagon’s 1981 hit “Keep On Loving You,” but the love in this case is being directed right at developers. Check it out:

    Th Foo Fighters being corporate shills for Apple earlier this month was bad, but I would take them over REO BlackBerry any day. In their defense, rewriting a classic ballad to express love towards developers is witty. Unfortunately, being witty won’t get RIM anywhere near the top.

    Beyond the cringe worthy promo, RIM is onto something here. They wouldn’t be anywhere without their developers. They’re going to need that developer support more than ever as they move to launch BlackBerry 10 early next year. If anything, the comments on YouTube indicate that BlackBerry fans are just as crazy devoted as iOS fans. RIM may just get through this yet.

  • RIM Announces New Features For BlackBerry 10

    Today marked the start of the BlackBerry Jam developers’ conference. This is the failing company’s last big chance to remain relevant in the smartphone world. It also marks the first public unveiling of BlackBerry 10, the company’s new smartphone operating system.

    The two main new features going into BlackBerry 10 are Flow and Hub. The two new apps are indicative of RIM finally embracing what smartphone owners want out of their devices. They offer a one-stop shop for all of their apps and communications.

    BlackBerry Flow is an activity monitor of sorts. It minimizes all of the currently running apps on one screen. It’s somewhat similar to Microsoft’s Live Tiles in Windows Phone 8. In this case, the app is contained in a small window that provides the most recent information from that app. RIM uses the example of seeing the most up-to-date BlackBerry Messenger update on the Flow screen.

    From there, users can access the BlackBerry Hub. It’s a all-encompassing message center that collects communications from multiple email accounts, BBM, social networking, and text messages. Once again, it seems like BlackBerry is taking a page out of Windows Phone here. It’s nice, however, and a much needed improvement over previous BlackBerry OS versions.

    You can check out both new features in action below:

    RIM is once again playing catch up by announcing that the Blackberry App World will begin offering music and movies. They have also redesigned App World to be easier to navigate. You can get a brief glimpse of the new App World below:

    Finally, RIM also announced a new Web browser that will be shipping with BlackBerry 10. The browser has been built around new Web technologies like HTML5, CSS and JavaScript. It also promises faster loading and built-in sharing. One of the more unique things about the browser is that it can access on board hardware and interact with it via HTML5. Check out the demo below to see for yourself:

    Overall, RIM hasn’t shown anything groundbreaking. These are features that should have been present in BlackBerry ages ago. RIM has been constantly playing catch up with iOS and Android in the past. Now they’re playing catchup with Windows Phone. It doesn’t exactly inspire confidence.

    With that being said, the browser is really nice. I hope Apple and Google get it together in pushing better HTML5 support. Being able to access hardware functions through a browser is pretty cool.

  • RIM Expected To Announce Zero Growth Later This Week

    Maybe you’ve heard, RIM isn’t doing so hot these days. Apple was able to sell 5 million iPhone 5 devices in a weekend, and RIM can only sell 8 million BlackBerry devices in a little under a year. Despite the doom and gloom, the company is still growing its subscriber base. That growth, however, may be at an end.

    According to a report from The Globe and Mail, analysts are now predicting RIM will announce zero growth during this week’s second-quarter conference call on Thursday. More specifically, they expect the company to announce a loss in enterprise customers while gaining in the international market. It still won’t be enough to offset the potentially disastrous downwards spiral that RIM may be heading toward.

    Of course, BlackBerry 10 will be launching early next year. The company is pretty adamant that this is the phone that will put them back onto the path of profitability. The analysts aren’t buying it. Kris Thompson, an analyst of National Bank Financial, said, “Starting next quarter, we see the sub base in a downward spiral with BlackBerry 10 potentially slowing [the losses], but we’re not holding our breath.”

    So what will RIM need to do to get BlackBerry back on top? First things first, RIM CEO Thorsten Heins has to put on one heck of a show tomorrow during the BlackBerry Jam Americas conference. BlackBerry 10 needs the support of developers, large and small, if they are to survive.

    Once again, the analysts don’t see that happening. Mike Walkley with Canaccord Genuity points out that cheap BlackBerry devices do well in overseas markets, but the company’s more advanced smartphones aren’t selling anywhere. It’s those smartphones that developers have to support, but Walkley just doesn’t see the market supporting the BlackBerry 10 ecosystem.

    It might be high time that RIM finally acknowledges that the BlackBerry is no longer popular. Android and iOS are dominating the smartphone market, and leaving little room for anybody else. Walkley suggests that RIM “dramatically change its business model” and I couldn’t agree more.

  • BlackBerry 10 Smartphone Images Leaked Ahead Of RIM Event

    RIM is banking everything on the launch of BlackBerry 10. This is the device that will get them back in the game. The first BlackBerry 10 smartphone might be revealed next week, but a recent leak may have given us our first look at the device.

    Italian BlackBerry fan site, BlackBerryItalia, recently got a hold of some images they claim to be of the new BlackBerry L-series handset. It will most likely be the first handset to feature BlackBerry 10 early next year. Let’s take a look, shall we?

    BlackBerry 10 Leaks

    Upon first inspection, the supposed “Savior of RIM” is not all that impressive. It’s a smartphone… and that’s it. The design doesn’t seem far too removed from what we’ve become used to in the Android and iOS dominated market. It’s not a bad thing, but a little differentiation couldn’t hurt either.

    The true test, like with all smartphones, will come when we finally get a good luck at the operating system. Software sells hardware and RIM has to convince people that BlackBerry 10 is good for enterprise and entertainment.

    We’ll find out next week if RIM can recapture their old mojo at the BlackBerry Jam Americas event in San Jose. This is do or die time at the company and any screw up could be costly. Apple is raking in the dough with the iPhone 5 and Samsung is leading the Android pack. Microsoft is also showing off impressive hardware and software with the Nokia Lumia 920.

    Unfortunately, Microsoft and RIM are both in same boat here. They failed to establish themselves at the beginning of the smartphone race and are paying dearly for it. Both are offering competent alternatives to Android and iOS, but it may be too late. Relevancy fades quickly in the smartphone market, and RIM needs to prove they have what it takes to stay in the game.

    At least Microsoft and RIM signed a patent deal today. Even if BlackBerry 10 flops, Microsoft will get some licensing fees out of it.

    [h/t: CrackBerry]

  • Microsoft Licenses A Load Of exFAT Patents To RIM

    Microsoft has gotten its hands dirty in a few patent lawsuits, but the company largely prefers to license their technologies to other companies for a handy profit. That’s what the company just did today in their latest licensing agreement with struggling handset manufacturer RIM.

    The two companies announced today that they have entered into a patent licensing agreement that will give RIM “broad access to the latest Extended File Allocation Table (exFAT).” The technology in question is a modern file system that facilitates the transfer of large audiovisual media between PCs and electronic devices. In short, the new Blackberries will be using Flash Memory and want to use exFAT for larger file storage.

    So what does this mean for RIM and Blackberry fans? The new set of Blackberry phones will be caught up with the latest advances in Flash Memory. Microsoft’s General Manager of IP Licensing, David Kaefer, sums up the advantage to consumers:

    “Today’s smartphones and tablets require the capacity to display richer images and data than traditional cellular phones,” said David Kaefer, general manager of Intellectual Property (IP) Licensing at Microsoft. “This agreement with RIM highlights how a modern file system, such as exFAT can help directly address the specific needs of customers in the mobile industry.”

    This is just a standard licensing deal. There is absolutely nothing to see here. I bet many people would hope Microsoft would team up with RIM to help usher in the glorious return of BlackBerry, but it isn’t happening. It’s a shame since Microsoft’s knowhow in Enterprise software and RIM’s usually excellent hardware could really be a force to be reckoned with.

    For now, we’ll just have to wait and see how RIM manages the BlackBerry 10 launch. It’s already been hit with delays, and now won’t see the light of day until first quarter 2013. Catching up to current file Flash Memory standards probably won’t help much. I’m willing to be prove wrong though.

  • Yahoo Gives Employees Smartphones, But Not Blackberrys

    Poor RIM. Even in the enterprise space, where the company’s secure OS has managed to keep them relevant, companies in-the-know are beginning to come around to the idea that iPhone and Android smartphones can be used for business. It seems the security of Android, iPhone, and even Windows Phone devices has finally caught up to the high standards of business.

    This weekend, Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer sent an email to all Yahoo full-time and part-time employees informing them that they will be getting a free smartphone. Even better, Yahoo employees get their choice of the most advanced smartphones on the market for each different OS – except for BlackBerry. Business Insider was able to obtain a copy of the email, which announces the “Smart Phones, Smart Fun!” program:

    We have a very exciting update to share with you today – we are announcing Yahoo! Smart Phones, Smart Fun! As of today, Yahoo is moving off of blackberries as our corporate phones and on to smartphones in 22 countries. A few weeks ago, we said that we would look into smartphone penetration rates globally and take those rates into account when deciding on corporate phones. Ideally, we’d like our employees to have devices similar to our users, so we can think and work as the majority of our users do.

    Moving forward, we’ll offer you a choice of devices as well as provide monthly plans for the data and phone.

    The smartphone choices that we are including in the program are:

    * Apple iPhone 5
    * Android:
    – Samsung Galaxy S3
    – HTC One X
    – HTC EVO 4G LTE
    * Windows Phone 8:
    – Nokia Lumia 920

    You will notice the email specifically states that Yahoo is moving away from BlackBerry phones, which it has historically used. In addition, employees are not even given the choice of receiving a BlackBerry as their smartphone of choice. It’s a glaring omission, given that, as of last month, RIM still holds around 10% of all smartphone subscribers while Microsoft’s Windows Phones hold only 4%. However, where Microsoft has been gaining or holding on to small amounts of market share with Windows Phone, RIM has been losing its chunk of the smartphone market at a breakneck pace this year. As Mayer said in her email, Yahoo wants its employees to use devices that Yahoo users do, and it appears that Yahoo users don’t prefer BlackBerry anymore.

  • Facebook For BlackBerry Gets An Upgrade

    Facebook For BlackBerry Gets An Upgrade

    The Facebook for BlackBerry smartphones app got a new update with some aesthetic improvements, as well as birthday and event-related enhancements.

    “One of the first differences you’ll notice in the upgraded version is updated icons,” says RIM in a blog post. “The cool feature of note here is the personalized touch, as the generic profile icon has been replaced with your most current Facebook profile picture.”

    “Facebook for BlackBerry v3.2 allows you to integrate the birthdays of your Facebook friends into your BlackBerry device calendar, providing you with a timely reminder to post a birthday message from your home screen – without even opening the Facebook app,” adds RIM. “And if this is too much or if you liked it the old way, no problem – that’s where the customization options come in handy.”

    There is also enhanced Event support, so users can view info about events an post messages to the event’s wall, as well as view profiles of invited guests and receive event notifications.

    It’s not quite the Facebook experience of the new iOS, but BlackBerry users should find an improved experience nonetheless.

  • Windows Phone to Overtake BlackBerry by Thanksgiving

    While Windows Phone OS appears to be gaining a little traction in the smartphone market, BlackBerry OS usage is taking a nosedive, and has been for some time. A report by WMPoweruser, an independent Windows Phone enthusiast community, this weekend estimated that Windows Phone will overtake BlackBerry OS usage by the end of November. This conclusion is based on StatCounter data from the beginning of 2012 that was extrapolated.

    RIM’s fascinating and ongoing struggles are mostly to blame for this shift at the bottom of the smartphone market. Still, Microsoft shouldn’t be overlooked for the small, yet steady, growth Windows Phone has seen throughout 2012.

    While RIM has been delaying its new BlackBerry 10 product launch, Microsoft has been iteratively improving the Windows Phones OS. With the help of Nokia’s Lumia 900, reviews of a Windows Phone finally rivaled those of an iPhone or high-end Android device. A report this summer stated that Microsoft’s upcoming Windows Phone 8 could be the most developer-friendly smartphone OS on the market.

    Unfortunately for RIM and Microsoft, the quality or timeliness of either BlackBerry 10 or Windows Phone 8 aren’t likely to matter much this fall. The schadenfreude people feel toward RIM and the “little smartphone OS that could” story beginning to surround Windows Phone will be drowned out by the oncoming rush of iPhone 5 fever. Just today, Apple became the most valuable publicly-traded stock in U.S. history. Just it’s iPhone-related sales now eclipse the entirety of Microsoft.

    Samsung is making progress at consolidating Android fans and customers who haven’t jumped on the Apple hype bandwagon, but still can’t match the sales that Apple is seeing. The fact remains Windows Phone, no matter how well designed, has years of steady growth to go before it could hope to be a real force in the smartphone market. Sadly for RIM, it doesn’t appear that BlackBerry 10 will come in time to make any impact at all.

    (Graph courtesy WMPoweruser)
    (via BGR)

  • 3,000 RIM Layoffs Coming Next Week

    Today it was revealed that Research in Motion (RIM), the company behind the BlackBerry line of products, will be laying off 3,000 employees starting next week.

    Boy Genius Report (BGR) cites unnamed source in its report, which states the layoffs will take place over the coming weeks. BGR’s source stated that “people are terrified” and that some are even packing up their desks in anticipation of being let go. Workers have been told that any employees not working on BlackBerry 10 products are in danger of losing their jobs.

    RIM provided BGR with an official statement regarding the coming layoffs:

    RIM announced on June 28 that it will reduce its global workforce by approximately 5,000 over the course of the remaining fiscal year. These are difficult but necessary changes to help achieve operational cost savings of over $1 billion. RIM remains committed to ensuring that the reductions made do not impact key programs such as BlackBerry 10, customer support or BlackBerry service levels.

    The last round of layoffs at RIM took place back in June. Before that, over 2,000 employees were laid off just before the start of 2012.

    The layoffs at RIM are part of cost-cutting measures necessary due to a dismal financial outlook. The company has failed to compete successfully in the smartphone market with Apple, Google, and Samsung.

    Despite the continuous flow of bad financial news coming out of RIM for the past year, the company continues to remain adamant that it can survive. RIM is banking everything on its BlackBerry 10 products, and a product roadmap leaked in July shows the company has an ambitious product release schedule planned for 2013.

    RIM did receive some good news this week, though, when a judge presiding over a patent lawsuit involving RIM reversed a $150 million verdict against the company.

    (via BGR)

  • RIM Escapes $150 Million Patent Penalty

    RIM Escapes $150 Million Patent Penalty

    The judge presiding over a patent lawsuit involving RIM has saved the company from having to pay the nearly $150 million verdict handed down by a jury last month. That verdict was the result of a lawsuit filed against RIM in 2008 by a mobile device management software company called Mformation Technologies. This July, a jury awarded Mformation Technologies $147.2 million, finding that RIM software enabling remote management of its BlackBerry devices infringed on Mformation patents.

    After the jury’s verdict, RIM had filed a motion with the judge for a judgment as a matter of law. The judge has now granted RIM’s motion and found that Mformation does not have enough evidence to prove that RIM infringed on its patents. The $147.2 million award was vacated, meaning RIM pays nothing. RIM pointed out in a statement that although Mformation can and may appeal this decision, the jury decision is now moot. If Mformation were to win on appeal an entirely new trial would occur.

    “We appreciate the Judge’s careful consideration of this case. RIM did not infringe on Mformation’s patent and we are pleased with this victory,” said Steve Zipperstein, chief legal officer at RIM. “The purpose of the patent system is to encourage innovation, but the system is still too often exploited in pursuit of other goals. Many policy makers have already recognized the need to address this problem and we call on others to join them as this case clearly highlights the significant need for continuing policy reform to help reduce the amount of resources wasted on unwarranted patent litigation.”

    This is incredibly good news for a company that is desperately trying to make huge cuts to its expenses. Despite the death watch the media has put on RIM, the company continues to project confidence in its BlackBerry brand, and has an ambitious BlackBerry 10 launch schedule laid out for 2013.

  • RIM Might License BlackBerry 10 To Multiple Handset Manufacturers

    RIM is pretty much up sh*t creek without a paddle. In fact, they don’t even have a boat. They’re knee deep in the stuff and they need to find a way out. The company is banking all their hopes and dreams on the newest version of their operating system – BlackBerry 10. Unfortunately, their own hardware might not be enough which is why they’re turning to third-party manufacturers.

    Speaking to The Telegraph, RIM CEO Thursten Heins acknowledges that his company can’t compete with the OEMs that put out 60 handsets a year across all the different carriers. To combat this, the company is actively looking into licensing the BlackBerry OS to these OEMs.

    It gets really interesting when Heins says that they may not license BlackBerry directly. They may go the Android route and just provide a framework in which OEMs could build upon. That means that these supposed third party phones would run a form of BlackBerry 10 with a custom firmware built on top of it.

    It should be pointed out that none of this is set in stone yet. Heins said that on top of investigating the technical aspect of it, they also have to “model this from a finance perspective.” He says that the company is working financial advisors to see where such a partnership would take the company. No matter their decision, Heins said that RIM “will not abandon the subscriber base.”

    Personally, I think it’s a brilliant move. BlackBerry is actually a pretty solid operating system. The changes being made in BlackBerry 10 make it a good fit for enterprise and consumer solutions. The major problem with newer BlackBerry models has been that the hardware was lacking compared to the competition. A Samsung-made handset with the BlackBerry OS would actually be pretty awesome.

  • Telefonica Joins Forces with Facebook, Google, Microsoft and RIM

    Today, Telefonica Digital announced a new deal with Facebook, Google, Microsoft and RIM.

    The deal is a great opportunity for the companies involved to better monetize mobile content by incorporating payments into a user’s mobile phone bills.

    Telefonica, which is based in Europe, already has the framework in place to offer the service, and plans to have it up and operational in 14 of its businesses by the end of 2012.

    Specifically geared toward virtual purchases like games, apps, and in-app buying, direct to bill service offers the unique convenience of not using a credit or debit card. The charges simply get tacked on to your mobile bill.

    Matthew Key, Chairman & CEO of Telefónica Digital comments on the utility of their payment service:

    “Few organisations can claim to have a direct billing relationship with hundreds of millions of customers globally,”

    “The creation of Telefónica Digital has allowed us to better harness the power of this capability and use it to help drive the mobile monetisation strategies of some of the world’s largest technology companies. We believe that direct to bill will become an increasingly significant part of the overall mobile commerce market.”

    It is an especially powerful billing tool in Latin America, where almost 60% of the population doesn’t even have a bank account. In other countries, like Germany, the Telefonica service has become popular very quickly, and currently, they are handling over 400,000 transactions per month.

    Dan Rose, Vice President of Partnerships at Facebook comments on what Telefonica can do for them:

    “Mobile payments are an important part of the business model for mobile web developers, but today the options are too complicated for users,”

    “We’re excited to be working with Telefonica to implement a streamlined operator billing solution that simplifies the purchase process for their consumers and expands pricing options for mobile web developers.”

    Tony Mestres, Vice President of Partner & Channel in Windows Phone Division at Microsoft also comments on the deal with Telefonica:

    “Enabling direct-to-bill with Telefónica Digital is yet another important step to continue growing our more than 100,000 apps in the Windows Phone Marketplace,”

    “Direct-to-bill for Windows Phone makes it convenient for Telefónica subscribers to make digital purchases on their Windows Phones and also helps grow our app developer ecosystem with increased monetization.”

    Ronjon Nag, Vice President of Storefronts & Payments at RIM comments on their partnership with Telefonica:

    “The agreement between RIM and Telefónica Digital means direct to bill purchasing can be extended to our mutual customers globally.”

    “Our data suggests that customers’ propensity to purchase apps on BlackBerry App World increases when this simple, convenient method of purchase is offered, so we’re delighted Telefónica’s BlackBerry customers can take advantage of this convenient feature. This provides for customers an easier way to pay for the content they download, and drives greater profitability for developers that create and market mobile content.”

    We’ll keep you posted on further news regarding the availability of the service and more partners.

  • Ambitious RIM BlackBerry Product Roadmap Leaked

    Research in Motion (RIM) recently delayed the release of the BlackBerry 10, surprising no one considering the number of employees it had to lay off in the spring. Today, though, it looks as if RIM still has a plan to turn its business around and make a mobile market comeback miracle.

    BlackBerryOS has obtained what they claim is a picture of RIM’s product roadmap for its BlackBerry products. The image shows that RIM will be releasing its PlayBook 4G device on schedule this fall, followed by two different BlackBerry smartphones in the first quarter of 2013. One phone, codenamed London, will only have a touchscreen, but the other, codenamed Nevada, will have the classic BlackBerry physical keyboard. A product codenamed Nashville is scheduled for release in the middle of 2013, followed by a tablet codenamed the Blackforest, which BlackBerryOS claims is rumored to be a 10-inch BlackBerry tablet. A product codenamed Naples brings up the rear of RIM’s plan going into the fourth quarter fo 2013.

    BlackBerryOS reports that the London and Nevada smartphones will launch in Europe 3 to 4 weeks before North America (which, due to the messy wireless infrastructure of the U.S., is becoming standard for smartphones other than the iPhone). They claim that Europe has been more receptive to BlackBerry, and that an early European launch will give RIM time to build hype for worldwide sales.

    All of these product launches are, of course, predicated on the assumption that RIM will still be around in the first quarter of 2013. In fact, with all of the layoffs at the company, it is hard to believe there is anyone left to finish development on the BlackBerry 10. RIM announced even more job cuts during the presentation of its first-quarter financial results. That financial report also revealed a net loss of $518 million over the quarter, and a 33% drop in revenue.

    Take all of the delays, layoffs, and dismal financial reports together, and it is not at all clear that RIM in its current state will survive the year. Even if it does survive, it will be hard pressed to get back into the smartphone market, where it has been hemorrhaging market share for years. Though this leaked roadmap shows that RIM still has confidence in its products, that confidence might be misplaced, where pragmatism should be preparing the company for an acquisition.

    (Picture courtesy BlackBerryOS.com)

  • RIM CEO Denies That His Company Is In A Death Spiral

    To say that BlackBerry maker Research In Motion has been having a tough time lately would be to campaign for the Understatement of the Year Award. The fact is that by pretty much any standard you care to use, RIM is in deep trouble. Their market share is dropping steadily toward zero. During their quarterly earnings call last week they announced $518 million in losses, yet another delay for their supposedly life-saving BlackBerry 10 platform, and a plan to cut 5,000 of the company’s 16,500 jobs. This is not a company that’s in anything remotely resembling good shape.

    Yet CEO Thorsten Heins, who replaced former co-CEOs Jim Balsillie and Mike Lazaridis in January, insists that the company will navigate its troubled waters and come out successful on the other side. In fact, he told a local Toronto radio show, CBC’s Metro Morning, that “There’s nothing wrong with the company as it exists right now.” Now, before you think that Heins has taken leave of his senses, he went on to elaborate: “I’m not talking about the company as I, kind of, took it over six months ago. I’m talking about the company [in the] state it’s in right now.” In other words, while RIM might’ve been a mess when Heins came on the job in January, it’s in better shape now.

    That’s probably true enough. No doubt there were some significant internal issues in place at RIM that needed to be addressed, and Heins seems like the kind of person who could address those issues effectively. He went on to deny, though, that RIM is “in a death spiral.” That’s a much tougher sell. While Heins may have done a lot in the last six months to fix what was wrong with RIM, it isn’t at all clear that it will be enough. Sometimes patching the holes in the hull of a boat means the boat stays afloat. Sometimes, though, it’s already taken on too much water, and all you’re doing is delaying the inevitable. Heins clearly understands that RIM is in trouble – “challenged” is the word he uses. But he sees RIM as a company “in the middle of a transition,” and he remains “positive we will emerge successfully from that transition.”

    He may well be right about that. Provided that RIM can stay afloat until the BlackBerry 10 launch, and provided BlackBerry 10 performs well (very, very well), then RIM may yet navigate its troubled waters successfully. At this point, though, the odds of that look pretty long.