History of the Blackberry

However, RIM has some weaknesses to conquer as well. RIM focused only in its niche market which is risky because competitors may take away RIM’s customers which is not good for any organization. Well, RIM remains the most successful mobile software vendor, but not in its hardware. If we come to the RIM’s hardware, there are limitations of it. Furthermore, RIM has a limited application stores and even for the customer services

- There are plenty of hardware component manufacturers for cellphones but BlackBerry’s operating system is complicated therefore it limits the number of software developers that will work with them.

Joseph Palenchar (2013) noted that “the old days saw BlackBerry’s market share in global smartphone shipments peak in 2009 at 20% and fall to 5% in 2012, marking the company’s lowest level since 2003.” (para. 3) “Increase the chances that BlackBerry can regain some of its lost market share during the make-or-break year of 2013” (para. 9) Revenue is declining because the market is becoming smaller. With Apple, Samsung’s products are growing deeply in customers’ impression, BlackBerry is standing in the behind position compare with those two brands. BlackBerry is not enough strong to attract those Apple and Samsung’s customers to choose its products even they produce the new products.

Primarily, RIM is well known for developing Blackberry, a cellular smart phone that was established in 1984. Blackberry is one of the very few cellular device companies that introduced and supplied people

Throughout the years, RIM improved and innovated their design of the BlackBerry line of products. In 2000, BlackBerry was named the Product of the Year by InfoWorld. This occurred around the same time that

Research in Motion, (RIM), is “a global leader in wireless innovation, (which) revolutionized the mobile industry with the introduction of the BlackBerry solution in 1999” [ (Research In Motion, 2011) ]. While RIM has no publically available mission statement [ (missionstudy, 2009) ], we can deduct the following:

BlackBerry Limited (Nasdaq: BBRY, previously Research in Motion - RIM) is facing many challenges that threaten its future development. Furthermore, some even question its future. This case write-up addresses its past weaknesses and strengths, while providing solutions to current and future problems. Below, we analyze the strengths and weaknesses compared to their competitors:

Settlements of awaiting litigation normally represent a concession that takes related information into account and offers benefits to both parties (Glader, 2006). If the settlement is not mutual, the decision of continuing the hearing is likely to victimize one party and halt negotiations. The fact that the government and Microsoft Corporation came to an agreement after several unsuccessful efforts to do so in the past implies that the planned settlement was not a win for the government or Microsoft; but a central ground reflecting the facts of the case, the court

In 2011, Apple increased their market share from 15.6% to 19% while RIM fell from 16% to 10.4% (Global Mobile Statistics, 2012). There are several different prospering smart phone brands that are negatively impacting RIM’s financial success. Not only are there a large number of competitors, but they are also well known companies such as Sony, Samsung, Google, and Apple to name a few. These are dominant companies in the electronics sector and all of which have large fixed costs so they must operate at economies of scale and produce near capacity. In turn, they have to sell all these products so that competition becomes more aggressive (Clegg pg.62). These companies all have the competitive advantage of offering their consumers another product lines whereas BlackBerry only offers phones and the new PlayBook which hasn’t been overly successful.

Mike Lazaridis, RIM’s CO-Chief Executive Officer, was a passionate advocate for the power of basis science to improve and transform the world. With his engineering degree, Lazaridis is responsible for product strategy, research and development, product development and manufacturing. Jim Balsillie with more charismatic and outgoing personality brought his wealth of business knowledge to RIM. With such strong leading executive team, RIM had achieved a great employee growth by department from Fiscal 1999 to 2001. (exhibit 3) Moreover, RIM has a well-developed corporate culture that celebrates achievement, creativity, and risk taking. Employees at RIM were well compensated and motivated by various benefits, at the meanwhile, RIM is also famous for its corporate giving to the communities.

RIM has had a rash of bad press due to failures in its email system as well as its product and management strategy. RIM has suffered two major disruptions of service in 2009 and 2011 that have tarnished the touted reliability standard that has been a standard marketing tool for BlackBerry devices. In 2011 alone, RIM stock dropped more than 50% due to a series of product errors and profit warnings. (Sharp & Prodhan, 2011)

2008-09, RIM‟s market share kept on escalating with it acquiring a good deal of market while also expanding its product portfolio to cater to the need of people at the same time.

It had been their unique first all-touchscreen smartphone. It has also been sluggish and buggy. It was unsuccessful. If a business is going to improve their business, they require a great cause to do this. They even need the time and persistence to do it appropriate. It is important to think out of the box and innovate. Doing exactly what other companies do to attract customers is not the correct way to approach.

Blackberry is a brand that was created by Research in Motion’s (RIM) Founder Mike Lazaridis in 1996, providing wireless web enabled devices across multiple networks. RIM is a Canadian based company founded in 1984 that formally worked

▪ BlackBerry product first launched in 1999 ▪ Wide range of Wireless Service Providers (AT&T, Verizon, Sprint and all major global providers) ▪ 41 Million units sold in 2009 ▪ 80+ Million units currently in use globally