Not too long ago, Blackberries were a common place instrument in the hands and pockets of business professionals and young socialites. These days, however, the blackberry has decreased in popularity and so too, in sales. Research In Motion, the Canadian company that developed the blackberry, has made some drastic changes in the last couple of years. Its new head of operations, Thorsten Heins, seems to be excited for the companies future.
Back in 2011, RIM experienced malfunctions that caused their coverage to drop out four times in one month, leaving subscribers without service. This caused many people to finally ditch their blackberries for the more updated iPhone or Android. After this, RIM suffered a 643 million dollar loss in a single quarter and the board threw out co-founders Mike Lazridis and Jim Balsille. Thorsten Heins was then selected and given the reigns of the company.
Heins is excited to unveil RIMs new smartphone and blackberry, which is set to hit the shelves on Wednesday. There will be two phones released, one with a touchscreen and the other with a signature blackberry keyboard. Both of these devices will use BB10, RIMs new OS that is supposed to be technologically applicable for ten years. Included in this OS is a system that will interface with your vehicle, something that is to become more and more popular.
RIM certainly has its work cut out for it, as most people have moved on from the blackberry in favor of more commonly supported devices. Most banks and restaurants do not support blackberry apps, instead only supporting iPhone and Android. Even the once trusted customer of the blackberry, the corporate world, has begun to phase out the blackberry.
The only chance that RIM and the new blackberries have is to hold on to this demographic with expertly aimed marketing and developmental strategies meant to cater to the corporate professional. The rest of the market has already moved on.