Posted on August 4, 2010, at 7:34 PM .
CNN recently put up a story addressing the issue “Why do people still use BlackBerrys” with the subtitle “It’s the smartphone everyone owns – and no one seems to like.” The article points to three anecdotal reasons that BlackBerry users have for liking the device including: the keyboard, red notification light and the fact that most are given one by their work.
The article starts off on a negative note, saying that “BlackBerry isn’t hip, high-tech or cheaper than its main competitors” which is all very questionable. Not only does the article not bother to justify this statement, but it also is making a common mistake that all mainstream media seem to be making these days. Somehow the media has it in their head that people don’t like BlackBerrys and they aren’t up to par with the competition.
Continue reading ‘Why Do You Use a BlackBerry? CNN Talks to BlackBerryCool’
Posted on May 3, 2010, at 1:16 PM .
This is a great example of how BlackBerry is generally left out of the conversation. Fortune’s Jon Fortt, who covers “digital giants” for the publication, actually made the claim that the iPhone is a smatphone and the BlackBerry is not. Fortt must have said this tongue-in-cheek because the basic definition of a smartphone applies to iPhone, BlackBerry, Android etc. His colleague on the show, Michael Copeland, senior writer at Fortune, switched to Android from BlackBerry. Michael points to the Swipe app which helps texting on a touchscreen, and insinuates that this was the biggest selling point for RIM that is now lost to the touchscreen Android.
Both Fortt and Copeland seem a little too narrow-minded when it comes to the smartphone industry, as they aren’t taking in to account the relative benefits BlackBerry provides, and the scope of the applications available. It seems the problem is that the advantages RIM provides aren’t consumer focused enough, and aren’t making an impact in their discussion.
It’s not that I think these two are particularly relevant in the tech world, but rather their conversation is indicative of a marketing problem at RIM. The company is continually left out of the conversation when Android and iPhone are in the room, and the platform’s advantages are drowned out in the noise of I Am T-Pain and Google Goggles. RIM is clearly trying to address this issue with its Super Apps campaign, but is it going to be enough?
Posted on December 29, 2009, at 1:24 PM .
[Click here or the image to watch the video]
Indonesia is a new and potentially huge market for RIM. With a population of 238 million, the potential for BlackBerry subscribers is enormous. Companies such as InMobi have tracked the success of RIM in Indonesia and mainstream media have covered the challenges RIM faces expanding into this region.
Continue reading about the success of RIM in Indonesia
Posted on August 13, 2008, at 10:15 AM .
The 2008 Olympics in Beijing are now in full swing and plenty of BlackBerry applications are jumping on board. Here’s the full run-down of the many different ways you can keep up-to-date with the global track meet on your BlackBerry. Go (insert respective country here)!
Viigo: Olympic news channel with schedules and medal standings. (Download Viigo)
EQO: IM client with Olympic news. Also running an Olympic themed contest where you can win a BlackBerry of your choice. (Get EQO)
Zumobi: Has partnered with Lenovo for a special Olympic widget. (Download Zumobi)
NBC Olympics News Page: http://m.nbcolympics.com (Download Browser Launcher)
CNN Olympics News Page: http://cnnmobile.com/beijing08 (Download Browser Launcher)
CBC Olympics News Page: http://www.cbc.ca/olympics/blackberry/ (Download Browser Launcher)
BBC Olympics News Page: http://news.bbc.co.uk/mobile/bbc_sport/olympicsport/
Reuters Olympics News Page: http://mobile.reuters.com/mobile/m/Category/COLY
Canada BlackBerry Theme: Yeah, we’re homers. Go Canada! (Download BlackBerry Theme)
US BlackBerry Theme: For our friends down South. (Download BlackBerry Theme)
If you find any more worthy apps out there offering Olympic coverage on your BlackBerry, post about them in the comments section!
