5 Reasons Why RIM Should Make A BlackBerry That Runs Android

Wayne Schulz
#1. June 2nd, 2008, at 9:29 AM.

A couple thoughts in no specific order….

1. Reliability - How do we know that Android is reliable when it’s not yet on the market?

2. Android is free. Um. So is the Blackberry OS (RIM owns it and controls the development)

3. Google is behind Android. See #1 above.

4. Younger Demographics - I start to get excited here because I think you are talking about adding new features to the Blackberry — which in my opinion are sorely overdue.

When can we have HTML email and a competitive web browser?!

So far every review that I’ve read about the Blackberry 9000 says very very little about the browser.

I’m still thinking that Blackberry has seen the peak of their popularity. The iPhone 2 will suck a lot of oxygen from the development space.

If the iPhone is halfway decent at Exchange Sync, it damn well could be game over for Blackberry.

PS - I do not mean it will be game over immediately, but rather that this is going to be a gradual decline in the Blackberry market share/popularity.

Martin
#2. June 2nd, 2008, at 9:37 AM.

Wouldn’t these apply to pretty much any vendor?
Having an open platform across all vendors would be the true win/win.

Bob
#3. June 2nd, 2008, at 11:07 AM.

Excellent points Robb. I use Gmail and the Google calendar extensively, so an OS that would allow full implementation of these things on a handset would be great. Right now I have the Gmail app for BB and the Google Sync app for the calendar running on my BB, so to have these things available in a more native way would be a big improvement for me personally.

Another thing to consider is the potential for industry specific phones. I’m a Realtor and although we have 1.4 million members nationwide, with very specific needs in a mobile os, we’re still too small of a group to get a comercially available phone that caters to some of the specifics that would give us more power in the field.

On the other hand, with a low cost, open platform like Android, the possibility for Realtor specific (as well as many other large industries) handsets becomes more of a economic possibility.

Regardless, Android on a BB would seem to have lots of merits.

Mitchell
#4. June 2nd, 2008, at 11:25 AM.

Those are all fine ideas, however, there are more reasons not to do this than to do it. The BlackBerry is still primarily a business device and even though RIM would see a pickup up among consumers, they can’t afford to alienate those who currently spend the most. Let’s not even get into the security and all the applications that would have to be ported over to Android.

Lastly, the BlackBerry OS has some advantages to being exclusively available only on the BlackBerry. By moving to an open operating system, RIM is inviting loads of competition from competing handset manufactures.

Dumb Idea
#5. June 2nd, 2008, at 11:30 AM.

This has got to be the dumbest idea that I’ve heard in a month. Do you actually believe that RIM would scrap their own proprietary OS for something that is being given away?

Sometimes I think you write this stuff just because you know it will get a lot of attention.

argonnj
#6. June 2nd, 2008, at 11:45 AM.

This has got to be the dumbest idea that I’ve heard in a month. Do you actually believe that RIM would scrap their own proprietary OS for something that is being given away?

Newsflash, the BB OS is very long in the tooth and really need an overhaul. All one has to do is look at Palm to see what happens when you rest on your laurels too long.

Norman R.
#7. June 2nd, 2008, at 11:52 AM.

I think that some of you guys are reading more into this than what is actually being said.

I don’t believe Robb is saying that the the BlackBerry OS should be replaced by Android. Robb… Correct me if I am wrong.

I think he is just giving 5 reasons why RIM should create a piece of hardward that runs Android. Creating an Android device and continuing the BlackBerry line as we know it is not mutually exclusive.

Seriously? No… SERIOUSLY?
#8. June 2nd, 2008, at 1:20 PM.

Hahaha…

No way Jimmie B & Mikey L are going to cede control of their OS to anybody, no matter who it is. That’s where the value is for them… think of what makes the blackberry successful (despite being a proprietary OS)… security, ease of use, easy of management, 100% Java, etc.

I will be you dollars to donuts that they’re beavering away on a Blackberry Connect client for Android though… same as they are for the iPhone. If you want google, go get an Android phone and use Blackberry Connect when it comes out…

I love this one: “he BlackBerry has the reputation of being one of the most reliable pieces of hardware in the industry.” So they’re going to go with a brand new, 3rd party created/controlled, untested, version 1.0 OS? How could they POSSIBLY win with that?

“Android is free”.. so who supports it? The hardware manufacturer? Why would RIM want to support somebody else’s code when they have their own stuff that you say is recognized as being “on of the most reliable… in the industry”? They probably don’t even have access to the Android code… just a development platform and some APIs…

“Android is open” - bye bye security, hello destructive script-kiddies!

“Google is behind Android” Nokia is behind Symbian, and look how that’s working out… oh - and Nokia has EXPERIENCE in the wireless handset space. Does Google? If Google was behind a new hybrid car engine, should Toyota put it in the next Prius?

“Younger demographic”.. 2 problems here… 1) RIM is already doing facebook (check your blackberry icons recently?), and youtube support will be on the new device. 2) “Kids who use BlackBerrys turn into adults who use BlackBerrys” - maybe, but this isn’t a blackberry, is it? It’s a RIM handset that runs google’s OS. RIM is just the hardware maker now… and look how that worked out for PC makers that went with Microsoft.. do they have a big piece of the value chain? Nope - all the margins go to the maker of “the experience”… and in this case that would be google.

In writing this I realize 2 things: 1) your best bet is to get an Android handset with the Blackberry Connect client… that’s in the realm of possibility, AN 2) I’m tempted to very much agree with “Dumb Idea” above, that this post is made to generate responses rather than provide any real logical thought. I’m disappointed in myself for furthering this end, but the temptation was just too great ><

Josh-the-Squash
#9. June 2nd, 2008, at 1:51 PM.

I agree with Norman, people are taking Robb’s comment out of context. First off, he writes for Rimarkable, so his job is to create blogs that spark conversation.
Secondly, he gave 5 pluses, which I agree with. Google is an amazing company, and virtually everything they’ve created has been outstanding, and is always being developed to be better and more integrated in our everyday lives. So I can only assume a phone OS would be amazing, possibly better than the iphone and maybe even some day the blackberry.
Why would it benefit BlackBerry to use a “free” software? Yeah they already own their own, but they are also paying engineers to develop it. That’s where they would SAVE money. They wouldn’t have to pay developers to develop the software, if it’s already free. This is why they could sell phones for a cheaper price.

Whether RIM should use the OS on their devices is another thing. I think they should create another company under blackberry, using the OS. Not add it to their lineup. Cuz it’s definitely a different animal all-together. But the idea of having an amazing software like Android combined with great hardware like BlackBerry’s sounds amazing. I just don’t think they should replace the BlackBerry OS with it, or add the phone to their lineup. The answer is a child company.

Thought
#10. June 2nd, 2008, at 3:24 PM.

I personally would not do this if I were RIM. Right now RIM enjoys a great reputation, and this would just water it down.

I understand that Robb simply means an Android phone alongside other BB models running the BB OS. But to me that still dilutes the brand.

And really, with RIM, a large part if its appeal is the total package of hardware plus software. If you just market the hardware, I think that takes away from what RIM and BB stand for.

Jeremy
#11. June 2nd, 2008, at 3:34 PM.

You’re a terrible thinking and a bad writer. You should retire the site.

New BB User
#12. June 2nd, 2008, at 3:39 PM.

My BB crashed a few times already. I old Motorola RAZR crashed from time to time as well.

BB wouldn’t want to give up the control as well as the security and enterprise which is a big piece of the pie.

Android only benefits to the users and developer, not RIM. RIM might actually lose market share if using Android.

Norman R.
#14. June 2nd, 2008, at 4:25 PM.

I pretty much always agree with what Thought says but I think that I am with Robb on this one.

Android is going to be huge and someone has to create the handsets for it to run on. If RIM ever intends to create smartphones that aren’t BlackBerrys, Android will offer advantages that Windows Mobile, and Palm OS don’t enjoy because it is open source.

I believe that it is harder to make a device stable when you don’t create the device and the software that runs on the device. I also believe that if the developement of the software is open source and free, technical hurdles can be overcome much more adeptly especially if the hardware is of the quality that RIM puts out.

Amish
#15. June 2nd, 2008, at 4:49 PM.

Wow, this is a tricky one.

I agree with Thought on the potential for brand dilution. This often the case when any company does something different than what they are known for. On the other hand, there is always some risk when you expand your portfolio. What RIM has to do is figure out if Android is the place to do it.

Thought
#17. June 2nd, 2008, at 6:07 PM.

First, allow me to defend Robb. His blog is a real treat, largely because he consistently asks some of the most intelligent, insightful, thought-provoking questions around. I’ve always maintained that Robb’s genius is in asking the right questions; that is a real gift.

Also, keep in mind that for Robb this blog is a labor of love; he doesn’t do it for the money. So this is his way of simply offering people something of value for free.

Finally, I always say, on the web, the beauty of it is that if you don’t like a site you can just navigate away with one click of a mouse. No reason for Robb to retire the site as long as he enjoys doing it, regardless of what others think.

Getting back to the original question…I think RIM right now is copying the Apple model of a totally closed development system, where they control the hardware and software. The benefit of that is a much smoother integration of those 2 components.

I think for RIM to release a device on Android would be like Apple releasing a Mac that ran Windows. Of course, I realize that you can run Windows now on a Mac, but that is an option. Apple would never release a computer that came preloaded with anything else other than an Apple OS.

The only way I would advise RIM to release a device on Android is if Android took off and became so popular that RIM had to do it. People will identify more with the software than the hardware, and so if you go with Android, you end up with customers more loyal to Android than RIM.

No doubt this is why Google is doing this; they know if they can get enough devices on their software, people will end up identifying more with Google than any device manufacturer.

To me it’s the software that makes a BB special, just like the Apple iPhone software is what makes it special. The hardware is more easily replicated, and while I like the BB designs, I don’t think they alone are anything that special. It is the software that makes it unique in the market place.

Serge
#18. June 2nd, 2008, at 9:35 PM.

Does any one read techrepublic.com or techcrunch.com ? I personally do not care for any google product or byproduct. I do not use it nor do I have it as my homepage as other coworkers . Take a look around google is everywhere, fighting ebay anonymously in Australia, fighting carriers and backing up peoples search data on mobile phones to triangulate positions without consent of user, carrier, and bypassing any regulations concerning this. So why on earth would I hand over my info by using their software? THINK!

Adam G.
#19. June 3rd, 2008, at 10:43 AM.

Both RIM and Google offer products and services I love, but I won’t jump on any Android for Blackberry bandwagon until we see how the OS works in the real world. Once the bugs are out, it may be a good idea.

aaheroe
#20. June 5th, 2008, at 3:55 AM.

@Jeremy

what you talking about ? why u said like that ????

kriiiiis
#21. June 15th, 2008, at 6:36 AM.

isn’t the real answer…

wait for someone to port this completely OPEN OS to the blackberry hardware?

I am all for blackberries but would love a chance to ticker with the Android OS on my ‘reliable’ hardware that i have next to my computer.

I’m all for giving change a chance.

looks like we’ll all be waiting to see how this unfolds.

KM

please proofread
#22. August 31st, 2008, at 6:53 PM.

Please read you articles before posting.Many many typos and missing words.Quite painful to read.