By Stuart Weinberg, Dow Jones Newswires
Tuesday 03 May 2011
Device maker unveils latest version of its popular Blackberry Bold.
Research In Motion Ltd. co-Chief Executive Mike Lazaridis said Monday the world is moving towards personal wireless mobile computing and his company is positioning itself to take advantage of the trend.
"The world is changing and we're doing all we can to prepare RIM for it," he said.
The executive was speaking to analysts at RIM's BlackBerry World conference. In a wide-ranging address, Lazaridis attempted to articulate the strategic thinking behind a major product transition being undertaken by the company that could determine if RIM remains a top-tier smartphone vendor or becomes a niche company known for its messaging and security.
Click here to find out more!Lazaridis said RIM built a secure, push-messaging system that no one has been able to replicate, and noted how, in recent years, customers began asking RIM to take that technology and put it into a "BlackBerry laptop."
Its answer was the recently released PlayBook tablet, which necessitated last year's acquisition of QNX Systems Software, whose operating system powers the device, the executive said. Lazaridis said RIM was able to build a state-of-the-art tablet,"ultra-portable" tablet that boasts true multitasking and unmatched video. Also, RIM did it in just 12 months, he said.
At the same time, the company hasn't ignored its BlackBerry lineup, Lazaridis said, noting that the company unveiled its newest BlackBerry Bold model, which he described as "drop-dead gorgeous."
Lazaridis said the Bold retains all the features that makes the BlackBerry attractive to businesses, but will also be "an object of desire" for consumers thanks to its speed, improved Web browser and touchscreen, and Qwerty keyboard.
Lazaridis said the combination of the BlackBerry's security, reliability and simplicity--coupled with the addition of QNX and other, smaller acquisition--means RIM can offer an uncompromising, powerful user experience in the new world of personal mobile computing. He said Android-based applications will soon be available on the PlayBook through the BlackBerry App World store and that businesses will be able to run these apps without compromising security.
Lazaridis' comments come as RIM struggles to compete against Apple' Inc.'s iPhone and Android-based devices in the highly competitive North American smartphone market. In recent years, the company has fallen behind its rivals in the U.S., failing to launch a competitive touchscreen device and create a viable app ecosystem. Last week, RIM's stock plummeted after the company surprised the Street, issuing a first-quarter earnings warning that it attributed to lower-than-expected BlackBerry sales in the U.S. and Latin America.
After the executive's remarks, one analyst pointed out to Lazaridis how the RIM managers who had presented to analysts earlier Monday behaved as if nothing was wrong."How do you make sure RIM is in the forefront and don't make the same mistakes ...?" the analyst asked.
In response, Lazaridis said,"I hope you don't get a sense that I'm ignoring what's happened ... I live it everyday."
He said RIM can't blame anyone else for its predicament, as it controls its platform and vision."I want to assure you that we've amassed an incredibly strong organization," he said, reiterating that RIM has achieved its transition in record time."I'm not trying to make excuses. This is a fact."
Lazaridis said RIM is doing its best to maintain growth and prepare for the future."If you want an apology for being late on some of our products, I can give that to you, but it's not because we weren't working hard. It's because we wanted to bring the best possible product to market. Sometimes that doesn't fit nicely" into a quarterly earnings period, he added.
http://www.totaltele.com/view.aspx?ID=464404&G=5&C=6&Page=0
| 