RIM is running out of options

I'm no BB fan, never owned one, but I just don't understand what the problem is. They talk about the security and patents, etc. And especially in the SA context, but surely in the other countries as well, there is the free internet(for R60 a month). Is this not a winning recipe?
 
ThatOtherGuy said:
I'm no BB fan, never owned one, but I just don't understand what the problem is. They talk about the security and patents, etc. And especially in the SA context, but surely in the other countries as well, there is the free internet(for R60 a month). Is this not a winning recipe?
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R60 internet, despite it being slow and must be used on a tiny screen, is a great deal when all the other options are too expensive.
When you have cheap high speed internet in other countries that can work on all of your devices, paying for BIS becomes pointless and all you're left with is a shit phone with BIS that does not run as fast as the other options.

That's why people keep saying, if all phones here could have cheap uncapped internet, Blackberry would be quickly forgotten in SA.
 
ThatOtherGuy said:
I'm no BB fan, never owned one, but I just don't understand what the problem is. They talk about the security and patents, etc. And especially in the SA context, but surely in the other countries as well, there is the free internet(for R60 a month). Is this not a winning recipe?
Click to expand...

A big issue has been RIM sitting on it's laurels for years and not focusing on catering more for the consumer market. I wouldn't say that RIM is running out of options though. The strategy of purchasing the company which has developed their qnx interface for blackberry 10 is the right way to go, the playbook is a great device and the 3G version is here later this year. The v2 of the OS is good and made great enhancements. I love the gesture and multi-tasking of that tablet over Ipad and Android.

But RIM have hard times ahead and they are aware of it. It's going to take close on 2 financial quarters before any BB10 devices hit the market and at the same time, the I5 will be out.

They are doing the right things and have a good strategy but will take time. Saying that, they still posted a $400mil plus profit. A big problem for them in the US, is also restrictions from the providers that block value-add BB services.
 
It's fair comment to say that BB's popularity in SA would decline if others could offer cheap fixed rate internet access. However, given RIM's shaky financial state at the moment, I wonder if there's not a risk that BIS may get more expensive or be changed to a less attractive package in some way. That would surely mean a decline in popularity for BB as well. Does anyone know how profitable BIS is for RIM in its current format?
 
ThatOtherGuy said:
I'm no BB fan, never owned one, but I just don't understand what the problem is. They talk about the security and patents, etc. And especially in the SA context, but surely in the other countries as well, there is the free internet(for R60 a month). Is this not a winning recipe?
Click to expand...

No
RIM is a software company, they should stick to their BIS and outsource their handsets and devices.
Data is getting cheaper, no need to pay fixed R60 a month for a shoddy service.
 
if RIM does keel over and make an exit... what would that mean for current BB owners?
People buying a BB in ZA today is essentially stuck with it for the next 20 - 24months. a lot can happen in that time.
if the BB service stops, can a BB handset work on normal Voda/MTN GPRS/3G network for its data, just change the APN, or is it stuck with a proprietary network, locked to use BB service only?
If it does work, i guess, one can use normal Voda/MTN 3G connection and get much better speed, albeit not unlimited at R59pm.
Mails and internet should still work, faster, if u can setup a mailbox outside of BB service, and BBM would probly certainly not work.
But then, i guess, if you'd consider doing that, then u'd probly not choose a BB in the first place :-)
 
The biggest problem with bandwidth is not RIM it is the local carrier and their management of the APN they have with them.
 
ThatOtherGuy said:
I'm no BB fan, never owned one, but I just don't understand what the problem is. They talk about the security and patents, etc. And especially in the SA context, but surely in the other countries as well, there is the free internet(for R60 a month). Is this not a winning recipe?
Click to expand...

Other countries don't provide unlimited Internet access fr R59, pretty much only South Africa.
 
i know our office in France, who also advocate BB only for business phone, they don't have this uncapped internet thing we have... i think they have 10Mb per month allocation only.
but then, the total cost of the phone, is something like 5 euro per month including BES
 
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