“Three of Canada’s biggest companies have joined forces to make the BlackBerry a greater business threat to the laptop computer, with Research In Motion Ltd., Thomson Reuters Corp. and Royal Bank of Canada teaming up to launch a $150-million (U.S.) fund that will back software development for the ubiquitous handheld device,” Andrew Willis reports for The Globe and Mail.
“The new BlackBerry Partners Fund, which is to be launched Monday, will put venture capital behind companies working on software that makes wireless devices more versatile and easier to use. While BlackBerry applications are the focus, the fund will also back software developers that target RIM’s competitors, such as Apple Inc. and its iPhone. The fund will be run from Toronto, but has a mandate to invest in firms anywhere in the world,” Willis reports.
Full article here.
Now all RIM needs are devices worth creating software for.
This is a smokescreen designed to fool investors. “Look, look, we have one, too!” screams RIM. It is extremely telling that RIM is forced to provide the money their own fund while the iFund for Apple’s iPhone (iPod touch and future multi-touch devices) is funded by KPCB.
RIM has proven decisively to be a bunch of followers; derivative losers about to be steamrolled. They simply do not have the hardware and they certainly don’t have the OS and software. They are years behind Apple. RIM’s appalling lack of innovation in this time of crisis should be a clarion call to investors. RIM’s fund is a fake pile of money that will never get widely used, just like their fake iPhone.
Listen, we understand that CrackBerry users love their devices. People loved their typewriters, too.
We simply do not see anywhere near the level of innovation from RIM required to compete effectively with Apple. If you have an iPhone, you understand. And, if you know even the basics of Apple’s upcoming SDK, RIM’s future dilemma is obvious.
You can judge the distance behind and overall cluelessness of iPhone’s future roadkill by the amount they copy the iPhone’s exterior… This ceaseless quest to dress up antiques in Apple veneer is pathetic and sad. – SteveJack, MacDailyNews, March 29, 2008
RIM has already been dealt a world of hurt with Apple’s iPhone, and Apple wasn’t even really trying with the first go around (few countries, mostly exclusive carriers, ignoring the enterprise, no SDK, no Exchange support, etc.). Those days are soon to be over for RIM. RIM is already bleeding share to Apple’s iPhone; now they’re about to start hemorrhaging. Let the bloodbath begin.
We are quite confident in our assessment of RIM. We invite readers to iCal our Take and set an alarm for May 12, 2009, so we can revisit this in a year’s time.
What’s your problem? Why do you relish the idea of RIM being destroyed?
RIM has recently announced that the iPhone has helped sell more of their devices. So, I think we have to see what really happens because RIM is not going to sit still.
Monday morning, first cup of coffee and already the word “bloodbath” is used.
For the record, I (IT central of my company) setup my very first “crackberry” to work with our Exchange Server…………..seriously, that is considered a solution? Bloodbath indeed!
@OK
Dude, Apple takes RIM’s customers away. That destroys them.
Or is there something you don’t get about that?
Although MDNs take is rather harsh, Rim is like Micorsoft in some ways Their priority is enterprise, not users, and while that is fine, there are a lot more users than just enterprise.
This could be the beginning of a change for them. It’s about time work became more enjoyable, and stopped dictating how we live our lives.
@OK
RIM does not have OSX.
Hope you get it.
this is lipstick on a pig…. dress it up anyway you want rim…. you were once belle of the ball and now you’rer turning into a 2 dollar whore walking the streets… ouch!
I think it’s unfair to hammer RIM with the same ferocity as M$. They are an honest company who has done a good job in creating a new market with their Blackberry. Not unlike Apple.
At least they are not convicted felons like MS$.
I believe that eventually, the iPhone will force RIM to change or die.
Whoa, MDN. Take an Elavil. Calm down. Get a grip. And maybe do a reality check. From my anecdotal experience, I don’t think RIM is going away anytime soon. I know perhaps a dozen Mac users who also use the Blackberry and none has yet switched to the iPhone. The Blackberry does exactly what they want to do — phone and email — and arguably does them better than the iPhone. There are many other things the iPhone does better but those things aren’t important to this group. They like the physical keyboard and the ease of reading and sending email. You can argue that the iPhone virtual keyboard is as good or better, but they don’t agree. They’re used to the physical keyboard. Why change? They also don’t like AT&T;(for lots of good reasons). I think all of this will change as iPhone 2.0 & the 3G phone rolls out, and has things like haptic virtual keyboards are eventually introduced, but I don’t think RIM will be steamrolled, to use your terminology. Palm, maybe, but not RIM.
Fitting that the fake iPhone and fake iFund come from the fake United States.
Stupid take, MDN.
As someone said, RIM is NOT Microsoft, which scammed, acquired and stole it’s way into every market. Whatever they “developed” has been a failure on one level or another. The MS Empire is built on a mountain of the corpses of other products and companies.
RIM created a market for themselves and the Blackberry is a perfectly good device. Personally, I don’t like itsy bitsy dust collecting key pads that adult fingers have difficulty hitting one at a time (like the one on my cell phone). But, then I really have no need for the kind of services RIM offers. Many others do.
Sure, it’s not MY ideal. It’s in a different league than the iPhone. They target different users entirely, currently. With the arrival of the iPhone SDK there will be overlap, but why shouldn’t they co-exist?
Apple, RIM and other companies have learned that using open standards and interoperability are key weapons to use against Microsoft. Hence the defeat of HD DVD and Zune.
“What’s your problem? Why do you relish the idea of RIM being destroyed?”
They’re not Apple.
MDN is a great site for a round up of Apple news but some of the the “takes” are, um, trollish.
Sorry, but they are. Try posting that take on a Blackberry forum and see what happens.
A couple’a things:
1) Competition is good, and while the Blackberry may not be an immediate threat to the iPhone, it’s definitely still a contender, and make no mistake, if ,heaven forbid, the iPhone were to go away tomorrow, the Blackberry would be numero uno.
2) Even being aware of KPCB’s $100 million for iTouch development, still $150 million from the “fake iFund” group does not seem like much more than window dressing. The only real chance that $150 million might have to compete successfully would have been to put that up at the beginning of the race. I still don’t think that would have kept the iPhone from becoming what it is today, but it might have done a lot to entrench the Blackberry and give it a better foothold now that the iPhone is a real market force being seriously considered at all levels from consumer to enterprise – some of the very markets that nay sayers said it would never ever penetrate. RIM is a prime example.
The world is still waking up from it’s stupor – The belief that all that Apple does is produce “eye candy” and “toys”. Apple is a very real market presence and has been and continues to keep the personal computing sector moving forward, rather than being stuck in the quagmire of MS and its partners. The sooner that manufacturers and developers come to grips with the this, the sooner the world will achieve an equilibrium that ultimate can benefit the makers and the buyers.
Slowly but surely the lesson is being learned that, when Apple comes out with something would-be competitors better sit up and take notice sooner than later. Unfortunately for RIM and for the consumer, RIM is – well – too little too late.
I sincerely hope that MDN isn’t trying to pull a ‘Dvorak’ – that is, slam a company simply to get more hits and posts.
Give it a chill man. It’s articles like this that turn people off. I don’t see why you feel threatened so much? I get that you love Apple. I get that if RIM came out and said that Apple had no hope of doing anything in the market, that Apple should be sold and the money given back to the shareholders – well with the Ballmer/Dell type comments – I GET the fun in slamming them.
I just don’t see why you are so brutal against a company like RIM? Remember that competition will keep Apple pushing to be number 1. There is a world that can exist with some decent competition. Cause in the end, we ALL benefit from that.
Please lighten up just a little with some of the more respectable companies out there.
Mr. Peabody! You make a lot of sense!!!
@zek
You’ve summed it up admirably!
– RIM is a one product company
-RIM does little or nothing to innovate.
– It has traded extremely well for 10 years on its one and only idea.
– This thanks mainly to the complete idiocy of Microsoft, Nokia, Motorola et al.
– RIM deserves all that is coming to it, in the meantime it will follow Apple like crazy to try and stay relevant.
MDN’s take is quite right. So take your RIM profits now before someone spots these things for real.
I agree with MDN’s take! Blackberry is/was the best smartphone out there. Does anyone remember their CEO’s shoulder shrug take last year when asked about the iPhone?
Let’s also not forget that Verizon had the FIRST opportunity to get the iPhone and instead, used their arrogance and small-mindedness to turn it down.
These folks are direct competitors now and deserve a beating considering their attitude towards their now direct competitor.
Blackberry, come up with something competitive, and quick, or take a longterm, slow bashing death because of arrogance, and lack of vision and innovation. The sooner you realize that unused buttons take up precious real estate, the sooner you will have some room to work with. You guys in the lab are lazy and are sitting on your pension. The attitude that your product is “good enough” is the Steve Ballmer attitude, and is your direct downfall sooner or later.
“I think it’s unfair to hammer RIM with the same ferocity as M$. They are an honest company who has done a good job in creating a new market with their Blackberry. Not unlike Apple.”
RIM has spent 10 years plus as a one trick pony.
yes, i would love to see them break out, prove me wrong, and create the second product with appeal in the current market, but so far they have done almost nothing…..
…..in which case, evolution says they die off. end of story.
Danno Bonano@ “I just don’t see why you are so brutal against a company like RIM?”
Back in the 1980’s I remember owning an Amiga 500. It was like someone had sent me a computer back from the future. Since that time mediocre companys like Microsoft and RIM have taken over and held us back. Granted, the commodity toliet paper approach of selling also-ran technology has made it common, but held us back all the same time.
The time has come to push the salesmen aside and embrace the new wave of innovation that Apple forging. Thankfully, Apple is not alone and they will lead the way to a brighter future where innovation not marketing defines technology that puts the user the first.
Really, what is wrong with the RIMM Corp. They are the top dog at the moment and a worthy competitor. It is ridiculous to take them lightly. This MDN slant just plain gets old.
For years lots of my money has been going for Apple products. They are great and I’m a satisfied customer. That does not mean other companies are evil or make bad products. They must compete to stay in business.
RIM is going to do what they think is best for their company. All the BS and hatred expressed on MDN is utterly stupid.
Frankly, I’m fed up with MDN and as soon as this is posted, the bookmark is being deleted and I’m outta here.
Goodbye and good riddance.
As a Canadian working in the U.S. and very happily using my iPhone, I confess to being a little unnerved by the pressure RIM is under right now. Apart from blackberry, what other household names can Canada boast of? I never used a blackberry but I know lots of people who depend on them and if they end up switching to iPhone 2.0, that could spell trouble.
I hope this new fund will spur some needed innovation at RIM. My former boss got a look at me using my iPhone last week and almost decided to get one right there. He hates AT&T;though, so he’s still on his blackberry. For now at least.
Blackberry needs to remain at the forefront of business tech for the sake of Canadian pride. We can’t even bring home the stanley cup anymore, what else is there??
> …you were once belle of the ball — but Apple’s now ball of the belle. Or something like that….
Tommy can ya hear me? Oh Tommy? Tommy?