Blackberry (formerly "Research In Motion")

[CityFarmer]

There is an article on Saturday ST on RIM, titled "BlackBerry not cool any more". I knew RIM is in trouble, but it is much worse as described

The punchline of the article is

"Once a status symbol, it is now a magnet for mockery and derision"

Is BlackBerry that lousy?

[freedom]

blackberry did not progress since iphone and android phones were introduced.

it is really ancient comparing to modern smartphone.

but for business usage and productivity, it is still much better than iphone or android phones.

personal opinion only.

[CityFarmer]

RIM has an edge in security and many useful innovations in their phone, but users need much more, including business users.

As stated in the article, even Obama switch from RIM to IPhone/IPad.

[corydorus]

The problem with Human is when they succeeded they become too proud and no longer see beyond the horizon like they use.
You need a true leader to overcome them.

[godjira1]

I considered myself a diehard bb fan. Even til today i still like the keyboard. But it was impossible to use the browser, no apps/ecosystem....

Now i am using an iphone 4s and it is a superior device in many important ways. But i will be keen to give bb a chance esp if they start using android or something.

[CityFarmer]

RIM is one of my case study of technology stock.

RIM technical superiority, popularity and market share in business user will not immune it from going down.

IMO, RIM has not reached a tipping point, thus become sticky enough to hold its popularity. I do feel the same for Samsung popularity now. Samsung needs to do much more to reach a tipping point and become sticky to its users.

Apple products have reached sufficient stickiness to remain a strong players in its market IMO

[freedom]

IMO, if smartphones and tablets are cheap enough for general population, Apple will lose its glory easily. Currently, the main users of smartphones and tablets still are people with higher income. the population with smartphone is really small comparing to the population with feature phones.

just imagine to let 80% of population in Indonesia or China have a smartphone or tablet, how cheap should smartphone and tablet be and how large is the market. I doubt that Apple can succeed in such a general market as its product are priced too high for general population.

[CityFarmer]

IMO, if smartphones and tablets are cheap enough for general population, Apple will lose its glory easily. Currently, the main users of smartphones and tablets still are people with higher income. the population with smartphone is really small comparing to the population with feature phones.

just imagine to let 80% of population in Indonesia or China have a smartphone or tablet, how cheap should smartphone and tablet be and how large is the market. I doubt that Apple can succeed in such a general market as its product are priced too high for general population.

I have a slightly different view. Price is important, but other factors are playing critical roles for Apple product.

There are cheaper alternative of smartphones and tablets around, but none of them seems threatening the Apple's products.

[freedom]

IMO, if smartphones and tablets are cheap enough for general population, Apple will lose its glory easily. Currently, the main users of smartphones and tablets still are people with higher income. the population with smartphone is really small comparing to the population with feature phones.

just imagine to let 80% of population in Indonesia or China have a smartphone or tablet, how cheap should smartphone and tablet be and how large is the market. I doubt that Apple can succeed in such a general market as its product are priced too high for general population.

I have a slightly different view. Price is important, but other factors are playing critical roles for Apple product.

There are cheaper alternative of smartphones and tablets around, but none of them seems threatening the Apple's products.

I believe the main reason is that people who can afford a smartphone at the moment won't bother to pay a few hundred dollar more for a quality smartphone rather than a so-so smartphone. e.g. blackberry 7 is so ancient, but still sells not far below iphone.

But if Apple wants to compete for general population with other potential smartphone manufactures, I doubt that they can maintain their position.

Just like IBM's Thinkpad in the 1990s or early 2000s. IBM could survive at that time because they could sell Thinkpad at a premium price to a small population. IBM did enjoy a large market share. However, there was no way for IBM to continue to compete with HP/DELL/Lenovo/Acer when PC or laptop became a common thing almost 80% of the population can afford later.

[Janjansen]

The problem with Human is when they succeeded they become too proud and no longer see beyond the horizon like they use.
You need a true leader to overcome them.

I think the same thing happened with Nokia, they used to be the leaders in handphones. I remembered a decade ago, anyone who is anyone would own a Nokia. They made the smallest and sleekest handphones and their profits exceeded even the most optimistic projections. Today, they are a shadow of their former self with outdated technology and unattractive product offerings.