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RIM’s success has been declining since the iOS and Android operating systems started skyrocketing. Currently, Blackberry devices hold a dismal position in distribution charts, and Research in Motion is in desperate need of rescue. In an attempt to seek a newer approach, past co-CEO’s have gotten off their thrones, and allowed Thorsten Heins to take over the Canadian company. It seems like RIM will need a bit more than this man’s leadership to get out of that hole, though.
One of Thorsten’s first duties as CEO included sitting down for an interview with Kevin Michaluk from CrackBerry. In the interview, RIM’s CEO goes into what he sees coming in RIM’s future. When asked about the possibility of BlackBerry building on Android, he responded the following:
Just take a look where the Android OEMs are. I leave this to you. Take a look at their recent announcements and what you will immediately see is there is just no room for differentiation because they are all the same.What we choose is the harder way. I get it. Did we miss on some commitments? Yes, I admit that. That happens in high tech. This is not baking cookies. This is building high tech products. From time to time your aspirations and your development timelines hit some bumps in the road that were not foreseen. But I think going down that path is exactly right for BlackBerry and its customers.Thorsten HeinsRIM CEO
Needless to say that Thorsten is completely wrong. Android fans frequently brag about the amount of options the little green robot offers. Yes, most devices are black slabs, and usually have 4 buttons below the screen. There is no doubt that it is the most flexible when it comes to innovation, though.
We have seen a plethora of designs here. Dual-screen devices and even BlackBerry-esque ones are just the beginning of the list. Not to mention the fact that most manufacturers design their own UI overlays, and (whether we like it or not) it gives a different feeling to all Android smartphones.
We are not here just to point out that Heins’ opinion of Android is wrong, though. We all have our preferences. The issue here, with all due respect, is that this CEO seems to be a bit out of touch with reality.
It first hit me during his introduction video, where one of his first statements was that “if they continued doing well what they are doing, he sees no problem with RIM being among the top 3 players.” I believe the contrary – unless RIM makes some good changes soon, it will probably disappear off the face this little place we call Earth, relegated to the likes of Symbian. I am not the only one that says it, and certainly, the numbers don’t lie.
There are reasons why RIM has been considering licensing its services (with rumors of RIM probably licensing its software) to other operating systems. Undoubtedly, RIM has great services, especially for Businesses, but their hardware sales have been abysmally decreasing. We believe that these products have not been able to keep up with the evolution of the smartphone market in general.
I remember my first BlackBerry device, about 5 years ago – it looked almost identical to the latest and greatest BlackBerry phones. The software’s look and feel is unbelievably similar, as well. Then they released some designs like the Storm, followed by the Torch, with a closer resemblance to your typical black slab smartphones. Yet RIM CEO Thorsten Heins believes that Android-related products and services are “all the same.”
Don’t get me wrong. Competition is a good thing, and we want BlackBerry/RIM to come out of this hole. And we will have to wait and see what improvements RIM can make. We simply don’t know if Thorsten’s plans and views have what it takes to do this. Other operating systems are currently focusing on Enterprise solutions, as well.
In sum: You do need some changes, RIM, and you need them quick.
Via: Android CentralSource: CrackBerry
Hello, I am Edgar Cervantes. I am an avid Android fan, and keeping myself updated on the topic is part of my daily life. I will always work hard to give the best of me to our community of Android enthusiasts, and I am very honored to be part of this ship. Hopefully we can all enjoy sharing our knowledge and opinions! Tagged#android#blackberry#ceo#research in motion#rim#Thorsten Heins .nrelate .nr_sponsored{ left:0px !important; }.nrelate .nr_sponsored{ left:0px !important; } 27 Comments Join the discussion!Sort by DateRating 
Techrocket9Guest 14 hours ago Thumb upThumb down -11I know this is an Android-centric blog, and I probably even agree with the sentiment conveyed in the title, but I kinda wish that the title was a little less editorialized. It’s completely reasonable/normal/right for the body to contain political commentary, but I don’t think that the headline should.
ReplyI agree with the points made in this article but have to agree with Techrocket9 on the title… a little jolting.
As somewhat of a counter-argument, I’d also like to point out that these type of comments coming from the CEO is not surprising. He has to put a spin on all the competition to ensure there is more value in his company. If he came out and said, Android is doing it right and we are wrong…. well then i’d be surprised (along with their investors).
With all that said, i’d like to point out that I am an Android user, fan, and supporter — i’m not trying to downplay the little green guy in any way.
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94AsakuraZero 9 hours ago Thumb upThumb down 0for a company that is going DOWNHILL in the last 2 years, i tihnk the last CEO quitted just to avoid his name to be dirted because of the bankrupsy of RIM
RIM didnt hit a bump, they got NUKED by apple and google, and they dont even know how to respond that attack after 2 years, they are not going anywhere anymore.
RIM Needs to get out of the hardware bussiness and do us a favor, that or do something incredible im up for both
Reply TimGuest 9 hours ago Thumb upThumb down +3I’m sorry that I’m assuming the role of grammar police, but quitted? Yikes.
Reply JonGarrettGuest 5 hours ago Thumb upThumb down 0dude, its obvious that English is not his native language.
ArenaboiGuest 2 hours ago Thumb upThumb down 0Seriously don’t be rude, I hope all people, INCLUDING bilingual people don’t have to worry about perfect spelling and grammar to feel comfortable posting here
44n25philly 14 hours ago Thumb upThumb down +21He’s right, I mean all the Android tablets do these weird things. For example they let you receive e-mail? What’s up with that? It takes a real innovator like RIM to release products that are incapable of doing anything worthwhile.
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36J-Man 14 hours ago Thumb upThumb down +11Look at the profits made by Android OEM like Samsung and then the ‘profits’ made by RIM. See anything interesting? The ‘all-the-same’ Android is racking in the cash and dominating, when RIM is dwindling slowly out of existence.
RIM’s CEO needs to look at his own company before making such statements.
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87redraider133 14 hours ago Thumb upThumb down +6I think he should worry more about getting RIM back on the map and fix the issues they have with their own OS before trying to say every android looks the same. What does he call what his company does with releasing the same phones all the time with outdated hardware and the outdated os that very few seem to prefer.
ReplyI got lost when he said “high tech”.
*Side note: I agree with Techrocket9 a little bit. The title for this article is a little harsh.
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91Nate B. 14 hours ago Thumb upThumb down +2I do agree that it is hard to make something “different” in the Android world with all these rehashes manufacturers are doing but, Android is for the win. I hope other big name companies decide to fall back on how many duplicates they make and focus on a flagship bases yearly, or when needed like HTC is claiming to do.
Reply 91Nate B. 14 hours ago Thumb upThumb down +3This is the reason I like Galaxy Series phones and Nexus phones. They truly change as the successor comes out. You do get rehashes of Galaxy phones though with a tad bit faster processor or higher res, but we all know what I mean.
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98BetterWithRoot 13 hours ago Thumb upThumb down +8“Take a look at their recent announcements and what you will immediately see is there is just no room for differentiation because they are all the same”
…kinda like Blackberry phones?
ReplyBlackberry is doomed without android
ReplyI have been saying for years, every Blackberry is essentially the same as the last. The only thing they have going for them is their software services.
Replynod. almost all the bberries look like the others… and when they do come out with something different, it’s not always well designed (i don’t remember if it was the storm or torch that my brother got but it was terrible). RIM better step up their game or their CEO will keep having to spin more bs with red-RIMmed eyes.
ReplyBlackberries look exactly the same. I see no difference -_- Dumb ass. Android has better asthetics.
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35Starship 13 hours ago Thumb upThumb down +1RIM needs to figure out what they want to market themselves as. I see them being an Enterprise only business and creating a BlackBerryMessanger app for Android, WP7 and IOS.
They work so well for businesses. Their failure lies in trying to market a business system to people who use their phone strictly for entertainment.
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33sunrise 12 hours ago Thumb upThumb down +3Blackberry is doomed. This guy is just as bad as the previous 2.
Wikipedia will soon have a section on the downfall and complete end of Blackberry.
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30cb2000a 10 hours ago Thumb upThumb down +1Unfortunately I have to agree. Rim will be a tiny blip on the radar if they don’t do some thing really good and fast. Apple and Android will rule the smart phone market.
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40YNWA 9 hours ago Thumb upThumb down 0Just a company circling the drain trying to say they are doing great and bashing their competitors. Nothing out of the ordinary.
Reply miltonGuest 9 hours ago Thumb upThumb down 0this guy need a reality check himself RIM have not done anything for the costumers that have pay money for there devices no upgrades no innovations they are not thinking in what the people out there want if they don’t change that the company is going down and soon. i
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83Billy 9 hours ago Thumb upThumb down 0This guy did say that massive changes need to happen at RIM. He explained that he believes they can do it on their own ground without sourcing or selling.
I am a huge Android fan and certainly don’t agree with everything he says .. but a lot of it is just spin.
I do think that RIM has expertise, technology, and IP to make a comeback … the problem has been management, leadership, vision etc…. Whether this guy has what it takes .. is yet to be seen. It will be an uphill battle for sure.
I also think there is room in the market for multiple players. I see no reason why Google, Apple, MS, and RIM cannot all co-exist in a global market.
We have lots of exciting times ahead …. the mobile market has been a roller coaster and will continue to grow and be exciting.
Reply 83Billy 9 hours ago Thumb upThumb down 0RIM should go hire Jon Rubinstein …. That could be interesting.
Reply Gr8RayGuest 7 hours ago Thumb upThumb down 0I guess that means he falls in with the “Android is not fragmented” camp.
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24minimage 7 hours ago Thumb upThumb down 0Funny that I was finishing up a battle with a 9650 about an hour after this was posted.The BB had decided to stop reconciling with our Exchange server. The usual fix, resetting her account and reactivating BES, failed until I hammered on it a bit. She asked me if I thought BlackBerry would be around much longer.
Reply 24minimage 7 hours ago Thumb upThumb down 0She= the owner of the BB. I’ve never owned one, but I’ve worked on a bunch.
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