Pretty much ever since the day that the first iPhone was announced we’ve seen blog posts, news and magazine articles, and television reports questioning whether the BlackBerry would be able to survive once the Apple machine got wheels rolling. I think it is safe to say that Research in Motion and the BlackBerry have fared pretty well and have even exceed expectations.
I, however, want to ask a question from the other side of things. Should Apple be concerned about RIM? With the onslaught of multiple new BlackBerry devices on pretty much every carrier of consequence over a relatively short period of time, I say that Apple should be…
Palm should be much more concerned with RIM than Apple, especially if Sprint releases the Tour before the Pre becomes readily avaialable.
Apple has one device, a Home Run device. They know what they want and they have been able to succeed. Apple look at others, but they innovate in their own way. Others then copy them and follow them. If they didn’t worry about Nokia when they launched the iPhone, why they should worry about RIM now…?
i think they should, the nostalgia is going to wear off real quick. They have the target on them at it is only a matter of time before another phone manufacturer catches up. Look at the motorola Razr!!! OMG sold millions… look where motorola is now. Apple should be on guard they are in the spotlight. God i love innovation!!!
I don’t think that Apple needs to worry about RIM. As a matter of fact, I thought it was always the other way around…RIM worrying about Apple. RIM is the one who sells more devices right now with Apple pulling sales away from them. Apple has solid footing in the consumer arena and just needs to know how to move into the corporate forum by adding the security features companies look for. RIM will always have solid footing in the corporate market…until someone offers the same security and email features that RIM does.
I think the surprise here may be Palm. The Pre can certainly be a solid threat to the iPhone in the consumer sector, and is attractive enough to small and medium sized businesses that don’t have a focus on security. You can remotely wipe the contacts and calendar on the device as well, giving it ‘some’ remote access ability if lost. WebOS is the best OS I’ve seen on a phone to date, and with future tweaks, it may become a major player. Selling on networks such as VZW and AT&T will help it’s cause tremendously down the road.
So no, I don’t think Apple should be scared of RIM (RIM swung and missed with the Storm, and needs an OS that’s a bit more innovative), but Apple and RIM should possibly look harder at what’s coming up in the rear view mirror.
In the corporate world, Apple can’t hold a candle to RIM. The iPhone is still has some shortcomings when it comes to email.
The biggest mistake Apple made was tying themselves to AT&T. That network is terrible in many parts of the country, and I’m convinced there would be more iPhone users if they didn’t have to go with AT&T.
Yes, absolutely. iPhone is not the greatest thing in the world but just a lot of people find it fun to use and cool to have. It is expensive and only have one carrier, AT&T which like all others greedy baster.
Anyway, I wish RIM will make something great, so Apple will work harder. See Apple didn’t change much in 3GS. Obvious there is not enough threat to it out there. What a disappointment from Palm, RIM and Android!
“Should Apple Be Concerned About RIM?”
Nope
Since Apple announced the iPhone on January 9, 2007 no manufacture has even come close to catching them. The hardware and software is a proven winner. The ever growing iphone applications have also more than solidified the iPhone hardware and software as the platform to develop for and the device to own.
RIM may or may not still best the iPhone when it comes to email as both methods work well. However thanks to Apple and the iPhone all consumers have learned a smartphone is more than just text based push email, especially when that text based email is pushed from a NOC which presents a single point failure, and when the NOC goes down it interrupts communications to all BB devices as we’ve all learned.
As for those who try to bring service provider into this thread, don’t be upset or jealous, the iPhone would not be close to the device it is today had it been made for end of life cdma technology. GSM is the standard, open, global technology for communication. Sure the US is a BIG market for Apple but Apple chose wisely and rejected making a device for a network technology which is being phased out and for the most part is only available in the US and instead made the iPhone a device which works with the standard, open, global technology GSM and available on carriers in over 85 countries world wide.
RIM keeps innovating, Apple keeps innovating it’s all a plus/plus for consumers.
The real question is can Apple’s push notification service hold a candle to RIM NOC infrastructure – I can’t imagine the reaction from iPhone users the first time those servers break down. Apple now has its own single point of failure.
Apple has no competition. They pretty much own the market and NO DEVICE can generate as much buzz and anticipation as the iphone.
No comparison. The RIM NOC is responsible for all data traffic to the handheld, it goes down and you have zero email or internet. If Apple’s sever goes down, the only thing you won’t get is that some commented on your picture in facebook, everything else will still work as before. Care to try again?