TelecomTV TelecomTV
  • News
  • Videos
  • Channels
  • Events
  • Network Partners
  • Industry Insights
  • Directory
  • Newsletters
  • Open RAN
  • Digital Platforms and Services
  • 5G
  • Access Evolution
  • Private Networks
  • Cloud Native
  • Edge
  • Open Networking
  • Sustainability
  • AI, Analytics and Automation
  • 6G Research and Innovation
  • Security
  • More Topics
  • Network Partners
  • Industry Insights
  • Directory
  • Newsletters
  • |
  • About
  • Contact
  • |
  • Connect with us
  • 5G
  • 6G Research and Innovation
  • Access Evolution
  • AI, Analytics and Automation
  • Cloud Native
  • Digital Platforms and Services
  • Edge
  • Open Networking
  • Open RAN
  • Private Networks
  • Security
  • Sustainability
  • Connect with TelecomTV
  • About
  • Privacy
  • Help
  • Contact
  • Sign In Register Subscribe
    • Subscribe
    • Sign In
    • Register
  • Search

News

News

RIM: the Humpty Dumpty of the fairytale world of smartphones

Jul 1, 2013

We now have proof positive that Thorsten Heins and the other top executives at BlackBerry (the company formerly known as Research in Motion) are living in Cloud-Cuckoo Land, Ontario. Regardless of all hype, promises and bugle oil, the BlackBerry maker's latest figures show just what a parlous state the company is now in.

Despite all the wishful thinking about the positive impact the delayed release of new BB10 model handsets would have, back in the real world RIM clocked-up a US$85 million loss for Q1, 2013 and indicated that it will be doing something very similar for Q2. The company also announced that it is giving up on updating its less than stellar tablet device, The Playbook. It will continue to support those that have been sold but there'll be no new ones. Another one bites the dust.

RIM shares, already deep in the doldrums, fell by almost 30 per cent as the news hit the markets.

The fact is that RIM's late and increasingly desperate attempts to increase sales via the belated introduction of the (once) new BlackBerry 10 operating system have been abject failures. Presented to investors and the public alike as RIM's last best chance that would "make-or-break" the company, it certainly hasn't remade it. Indeed it is now evident that RIM is the Humpty Dumpty of mobile handset manufacturers and it is highly unlikely that anyone or anything can put the company back together again

BB10 has not been the super-agent of corporate turn-around that the company promised it would be. BlackBerry shipped 6.8 million phones in Q1. Over the same period in 2012, when the company was already deep in the doo-doo, it still managed to shift 7.8 million units.

But not to worry, the ever-optimistic CEO Thorsten Heins (he'll still be bright-eyed and bushy tailed with that smile stitched in place when he finally moves on to "other opportunities") says that "transition takes time" and actually believes that things are better that in 2012 "when we were told the company was finished". Actually, it looks even closer to being finished now than it did then.

The Chief Executive also claims that the smartphone market is so very competitive that "it makes it difficult" to come up with reliable estimates of revenues and profitability" (!). If he and his team can't do that it surely begs the question of what they are doing every day? After all, how many times can you re-arrange the deckchairs on the Titanic?

To make matters worse, another four million erstwhile BlackBerry loyalists gave up on RIM and voting with their feet, trotted over to the likes of Apple and Samsung. More will surely follow.

Related Topics
  • Analysis & Opinion,
  • News

More Like This

Access Evolution

What’s up with… UCaaS, Vodafone, Twitter

Aug 5, 2022

Sustainability

Sustainability to push datacentre infrastructure spend to $31bn by 2026

Aug 5, 2022

Access Evolution

Will Rosenworcel finally move and push Gigi Sohn into the FCC seat?

Aug 5, 2022

5G

Is 5G slicing a blessing or a curse?

Aug 4, 2022

Security

What’s up with… quantum security, cybersecurity, Dish Network

Aug 4, 2022

Email Newsletters

Stay up to date with the latest industry developments: sign up to receive TelecomTV's top news and videos plus exclusive subscriber-only content direct to your inbox – including our daily news briefing and weekly wrap.

Subscribe

Top Picks

Highlights of our content from across TelecomTV today

0:46

The Cloud Native Telco Summit returns this September!

8:32

Azita Arvani on Being a Female Leader at Rakuten Symphony

16:19

AT&T Amy Zwarico on securing telco applications in the public cloud

1:44

Join us for the greatest industry debate of the year!

TelecomTV
Company
  • About Us
  • Media Kit
  • Contact Us
Our Brands
  • DSP Leaders World Forum
  • Great Telco Debate
  • TelecomTV Events
Get In Touch
[email protected]
+44 (0) 207 448 1070
Connect With Us
  • Privacy
  • Cookies
  • Terms of Use
  • Legal Notices
  • Help

TelecomTV is produced by the team at Decisive Media.

© Decisive Media Limited 2022. All rights reserved. All brands and products are the trademarks of their respective holder(s).