Research in Motion Changes Name to BlackBerry…

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Of all the things I was expecting to come out of the BlackBerry 10 launch today, Research in Motion changing it’s name to “BlackBerry” was not one of them.

I’ll be the first to admit just a few years ago when the BlackBerry was the predominant smartphone platform in the industry, a significant number of BlackBerry users had no idea that the name of the company that built their device was Research in Motion.  Even today, although RIM is a pretty popular name, many people who know the acronym, don’t know what it stands for.

I guess I can understand why RIM would change its name, but, changing the company name to the name of the product???  That one is going to have to grow on me.

BlackBerryarkable just doesn’t have the same ring to it…

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RIM says sorry for the BlackBerry outage with free apps…

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Last week Research in Motion suffered the biggest BlackBerry outage in company history which affected most of Earth for the better part of 3 days.  To show it’s appreciation for their patience, RIM is offering over $100 in premium BlackBerry software to BlackBerry users for free.  Starting Wednesday,  users will be able to download the following list of BlackBerry app from BlackBerry App World, which, will become available for download over the next 4 weeks.

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Should RIM break apart network and handset businesses?

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In a note to investors today before Research in Motion’s annual shareholder’s meeting RBC Capital Markets Managing Director Mike Abramsky, is calling for RIM to break up it network and handset businesses in to separate companies.

RIM’s organization, like its handsets, needs modernization. By acting now, splitting RIM into network and handset businesses may target opportunities and unlock significant shareholder value.  RIM’s end-to-end solution was conceived when data devices and networks were nascent — but times have changed…

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Research In Motion Makes Key Marketing Changes

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You may remember that back in March, Research in Motion’s then chief marketing officer, Keith Pardy, resigned for personal reasons.  Well, earlier this week RIM announced that Jim Balsillie, co-CEO of RIM, would be taking over the top marketer spot, becoming Chief Marketing Officer while maintaining his co-CEO role.  Adding more mix to the pot, RIM yesterday announced that it has also recently named Roger Baxter vice president of brand and marketing communitcations, replacing Paul Kalbfleisch who resigned from the vice president of brand creativity after 11 years at RIM…

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BlackBerry Bridge, Software to Connect BlackBerry Smartphone to Playbook not supported on AT&T

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Even if this was written in Hollywood no one would suspect AT&T BlackBerry users being blocked from using BlackBerry Bridge, yet here we are. People are already getting the download via other sources like in the CrackBerry post someone has put the download link on Dropbox.  I would rather get the download from a trusted source so you can download that at your own risk but this is a rather sad outcome on the launch day of their new flagship device. I don’t know who suffers more from a blunder like this RIM or AT&T.

 

[Source Simple Mobile Review]

Poll: Will Research In Motion Announce Any New BlackBerry Phones At CES 2011?

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It’s clear that Research in Motion’s focus at this year Consumer Electronics Show is laser targeted on the BlackBerry PlayBook.  Will, however, the company with the biggest percentage market share of smartphone users in North America announce any new additions to it’s aging lineup of BlackBerry smartphones?

Video: Mike Lazaridis Demos The BlackBerry PlayBook At Dive Into Mobile Conference

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Mike Lazaridis gives a 6 minute hands-on demo of the the BlackBerry PlayBook at All Things Digital’s Dive InTo Mobile Conference.  The PlayBook looks smooth, fast, and, if enough developers create engaging applications for it, like it could be a hit once its released next year.

I love how Mike just pulled his PlayBook out of his jacket pocket.  Everyone that is saying that a 7-inch tablet is just too small is flat out wrong.  My guess is that most of them will come around once Apple makes it seem like 7-inch tablets was their idea, but, I digress…  It looks like the PlayBook will eventually come in other sizes as well…

[Via All Things D]

Will We See A New Wave Of BlackBerry Devices Before QNX Replaces BlackBerry OS?

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Back at the end of September at the BlackBerry Developer’s Conference, Research in Motion confirmed a rumor started by a company VP stating that QNX, the operating system that will make it’s RIM debut on the BlackBerry Playbook, would eventually replace the BlackBerry OS on BlackBerry devices.  The big question in everyone’s mind is how long it will take for this to become the case, and, and if RIM will release a new wave a BlackBerry devices that run possibly an update to BlackBerry 6, or, maybe even BlackBerry 7.

BlackBerry 6 is really just hitting the scene

BlackBerry 6 is really just starting to get its legs under it.  It is now offered out of the box on the BlackBerry Torch, the BlackBerry Style, and the BlackBerry Bold 9780 and we know that the BlackBerry Bold 9650, Bold 9700, Curve 3G, and Pearl 3G will eventually be upgradable to BlackBerry 6.  One would have to imagine that any unknown, but, soon to be released BlackBerry devices would also run BlackBerry 6, however, the only real rumor of a new BlackBerry anywhere close to being released is the BlackBerry Storm 9570, for which there are as many rumors stating that this device has been scrapped as there are stating that it is coming.

A better question to ask

I can’t fathom that there is a QNX based BlackBerry coming anytime before we are well in to the second half of 2011, and, thus, it seems likely that there will be new BlackBerry devices out before then.  Maybe a better question to ask is if the next wave of BlackBerry devices will be seen as lame ducks until a QNX based lineup hits the shelves?

RIM Drops From Fastest Growing Company In 2009 To 33rd In 2010

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What a difference a year makes…  Last year when looking at Fortune’s 100 Fastest Growing Companies, Research in Motion topped the list.  This year, however, RIM has dropped down to 33rd on the list.  RIM has dropped from 1st o 9th on the Fastest Growing  Technology companies as well.

Something tells me that unless we see some major changes in the direction that Research in Motion is going we will see another big drop on the 2011 list assuming RIM even makes the cut.  When it comes to consumers that buy smartphones, unless you just want a BlackBerry, there are much more compelling options available.  Depending on which report your read most BlackBerry users don’t even want new BlackBerry devices.  That can’t bode well for RIM…

[Via CNNMoney.com]