It’s well documented that RIM and its BlackBerry platform are in the doldrums right now and we’ve recently told of how things are looking pretty grim for the once omnipresent company. However BlackBerry devices seem to be well past their peak of popularity and with thinning BlackBerry news it has prompted us to wonder about its questionable future.
Apart from the new BlackBerry 10 OS due in October and devices that will appear using it, there has been very little to focus on regarding BlackBerry for some time now, except maybe for negative news about the standing of the company. For instance recently we told how BlackBerry was about to ditch more employees and then came the further bad news that BlackBerry phones and PlayBooks were stockpiled with many previous BlackBerry enthusiasts deserting the platform for Android and iOS devices.
With RIM’s market share plunging it seemed to us that the company was pinning all its hopes on BlackBerry 10 and its subsequent devices but we had real concerns that this could be too little, too late. Following this there were more worries with the news of further poor BlackBerry sales prompting us to question once again whether the BlackBerry 10 OS would be enough to save RIM.
Finally, only a few days ago we heard that RIM is to drop the 16GB BlackBerry PlayBook and it was speculated that this was because it offered a lower profit margin than larger storage versions. However RIM’s take on this was that the 32 and 6GB versions offered better value to customers so we have no way of knowing what really prompted this decision. What does seem obvious though is that the BlackBerry platform is really struggling and this is only highlighted by the fact that there has seemed very little real product news lately.
We wonder if BlackBerry is simply running out of ideas and if it’s wise for so much importance to be placed in the BlackBerry 10 OS basket. If that doesn’t take off in the way that RIM is obviously hoping for, it seems to us that RIM will have a hugely steep uphill battle to regain prominence in the market. That is if it isn’t already at the foot of a very big mountain to climb.
We’re really interested to hear what our readers think about the BlackBerry dilemma. Are you still a BlackBerry enthusiast and still impressed with what it has to offer? Maybe you always purchased BlackBerry products previously but are beginning to think about leaving the platform? Where do you see BlackBerry in two years time? Let us know with your comments.