Comments on: BlackBerry Storm 2 Video Review

By: Storm 2

Storm 2 — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 19:11:28 +0000

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By: Ben Pike

Ben Pike — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 18:27:17 +0000

Ideologically I agree with you, Rock, but ideology does not a good business practice make…

By: HellYes

HellYes — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 18:18:28 +0000

I would love to hear some of that good ole’ data and facts from you Rock. You can’t expect Rob to make your point for you. Enlighten us all on how RIM investors would benefit by RIM not signing exlcusivity deals with carriers, not selling millions of devices to a single customer, and not reaping all the benfits of carrier branded advertising on devices exlusive to them by selling unlocked and unbranded devices individually.

By: The Rock

The Rock — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 13:29:44 +0000

Robb looks like you too need to start thinking and acting outside the box, there is plenty of “good business decision based on actual data and facts” out there to support my call for RIM to step up and not be completely beholden to the whims of the four orifices. You might even admit/agree RIM’s agenda is much different than the agenda of the four orifices. We all know factory stores do not work for everyone (dell, gateway mismanagement, poor quality), but there are factory stores which have moved some tech companies to the next level. Those same companies also left sales, service, training to 3rd party and realized being completely beholden to the whims of 3rd parties is a good way towards lack of sales, and poor customer knowledge and poor perception of the manufacture and their products.

RIM needs to take the next step forward and provide unsubsidized sales, service, training, for BB customers directly, at what ever scale makes the most sense in addition to subsidized sales through service providers.

By: Robb Dunewood

Robb Dunewood — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 16:23:50 +0000

I agree with you wholeheartedly which is, in my opinion, the way the system is the way that it is.

It is just that the Rock has stated that RIM should sell devices open and unlocked so many times that I want to hear reasons why that aren’t his personal opinion, but, something that can be backed up as a good business decision based on actual data and facts.

By: Robb Dunewood

Robb Dunewood — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 16:17:02 +0000

“there should always be a option for RIM to provide sales, service, training, for BB customers directly”

Once again, this is an opinion. Give me data to back up that opinion.

By: Ben Pike

Ben Pike — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 15:45:51 +0000

While I think both of you make GREAT points – I do not believe the majority of consumers care.

They want a cool device on their network – they don’t care if it’s open – especially if it means they have to pay more up front….

Remember – most consumers are not geeks with political agenda’s against capitalism

By: The Rock

The Rock — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 15:40:47 +0000

“enormous benefits” “that the carriers pay a hefty premium” is all well and good however there should always be a option for RIM to provide sales, service, training, for BB customers directly. Of course the devices would be priced higher since they are not subsidized and the greater sales would be through the wireless service providers but think about RIM fans, think about those who prefer to just buy their devices and not have to deal with service providers device upgrade rules, think about those who need to replace their BB for what ever reason and why not pay retail to RIM the manufacture instead of paying retail to one of the four orifices. Those are just a few reasons why RIM should in addition to carrier sales, provide sales, service, training, for BB customers directly. To again point out RIM is also a service provider, (RIM is more than just a device manufacture) a direct line between RIM and it’s customers is priceless as the industry moves forward and more realize that the four orifices are just a wireless pipe and that they shouldn’t / won’t have all the control they try to keep over manufactures and consumers.

IE my Blackberry is a RIM Blackberry with name of one of the four orifices being my wireless provider, NOT my Blackberry is [a name of one of the four orifices] Blackberry.

IE my iPhone is a Apple iPhone with name of one of the four orifices being my wireless provider, NOT my iPhone is a [name of one of the four orifices] iPhone.

There are only positives for RIM to provide unsubsidized sales, service, training, for BB customers directly, at what ever scale makes the most sense in addition to subsidized sales through service providers.

By: Robb Dunewood

Robb Dunewood — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 15:09:02 +0000

@ The Rock,

I don’t disagree that these are all good opinions as to why RIM should sell all their device unlocked, unbranded, and direct, however, what I believe that you failing to consider is the fact that the carriers pay a hefty premium to have devices carrier branded, locked exclusively to their network, and sold exclusively on their network.

There are enormous benefits to RIM when they can sell millions of devices to one customer that owns the network on which said devices run as compared to trying to sell each of those devices individually to consumers.