BlackBerry maker RIM this week hosted the Wireless Enterprise Symposium in Orlando, Fla.
One of the announcements causing the biggest stir was the BlackBerry Bold (formerly “BlackBerry 9000”) –touted by some clueless observers as the device to rival the iPhone.
At the conference, co-CEO Mike Lazaridis was interviewed by Silicon.com reporter Natasha Lomas. One exchange stood out:
RIM co-CEO Mike Lazaridis on the BlackBerry Bold:
This is three years in the making. So I’m sorry but this wasn’t a response to another device. Either that or we have a time machine somewhere, or some kind of magic crystal ball or something. This was actually designed three years ago and the actual physical design of this product–I have the original models from 2006.
Full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “MacVicta” for the heads up.]
That took RIM three years to make? Sheesh, they’re in even bigger trouble than we thought, if that’s possible:
“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.” – MacDailyNews, May 12, 2008
We hereby publicly challenge RIM and co-CEO Mike Lazardis to produce the original models of their BlackBerry Bold and prove that they are from 2006.
We can’t wait to see them. Bold italics denote massive sarcasm on a scale heretofore never deployed on this site. And that’s saying something.
There’s a reason why Lazaridis needs a helper (Balsillie) to be CEO of a company with a market value that’s less than half that of Apple’s. There’s also a reason why Steve Jobs excels not only as the sole CEO of Apple, but also concurrently excelled as Pixar CEO for years.
Certainly, in this case, the old maxim is thoroughly disproved: two heads are not better than one.
Again, RIM and Lazardis: Put up or shut up. Produce the original models of the BlackBerry Bold and prove that they are from 2006.
Here’s what RIM will be doing in the near future:
• Pretending that antique technology wrapped in an iPhone-like exterior is innovation
• Talking up physical keyboards over touchscreen keyboards until they finally produce a rudimentary touchscreen keyboard to tout
• Like every other mobile device company, totally ignoring and never mentioning Multi-Touch, especially vs. simple single-touch-screens
• Trying to keep their central email server online up in Canada
• Watching their market share lead erode dramatically
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
MacDailyNews Note: We’ve contacted RIM requesting proof backing up co-CEO Mike Lazardis’ claims, but RIM has not responded as of publication.
Funny – he doesn’t actually say anything about the ‘original models from 2006’ … only that he ‘has’ them.
That means nothing – CEO doublespeak.
It’s not all delusional.
Another important chunk of the interview:
“The iPhone effect…
I think that BlackBerry was the first and best integrated and most secure smart phone solution in the world a decade ago. And it continues to be today. But I think what happened was the amount of marketing and the attention they [Apple] generated in the market – the customers are now coming to the store and saying I didn’t know you could do all that with a phone. And when they get there they realise there’s a selection – there’s not just one device. And so what it’s actually done is increased our sales.”
It looks like any other crummy BlackBerry and to me doesn’t resemble the iPhone in any significant way. I also can’t imagine this being seen as a true competitor to the iPhone which is vastly superior in so many ways.
I somehow doubt they were developing such a device. Everyone laughed at the iPhone for it’s lack of a keyboard, and I believe RIM was one of them. Now, a year later, they release one.
So, Vista(Longhorn) was in the making over 7 years ago.
If you were first, Blackberry, then why ain’t you shipp’in…you’re already a year and a half behind.
Apple showed their product 6 months in advance…let’s see what you got.
Talk is cheap…let’s see a prototype. I would feel BOLD to speak about a product when you can’t show it.
We would be amazed to see how long ideas have been in Apple’s labs…only theirs ships.
If true would they not have some patent apps on file dated 2006
RIM needs a strong, stable, robust programming platform if it ever wants to compete with Apple. It’s the software, stupid.
So i know the resolution is supposed to be great on the bold and all . . . but it’s still a small screen?? who wan’s a higher screen resolution if it’s going to be on an itty bitty screen??
Like Steve said . . . it’s the physical buttons that keep getting in the way.
Buttons are the future. Sorry.
Common sense…a keyboard when you need it and no keyboard when you don’t need one.
I remember when one of those M$ high end executive said about IE…’based upon our research, people don’t want tabs’. Now he is laughingstock.
RIMM was caught blindsided and is delusional now, all knowing they don’t have a comparable OS and true multi-touch technology. A smart reporter would have asked for the 2006 patent number.
It’s a shame that alot of people are going to be fooled by the word “touch” as compared to “multitouch”. If I was Apple, I would pinch/scale those pictures on every commercial.
Three years in the making and Apple’s second generation of iPhone will beat it to market. His next share holders meeting should be fun!
It took three years to make that piece of shit yet the Wall Street Journal claims RIM has an all-touchscreen iPhone competitor ready for Q3 2008?
I’ll believe it when I see it.
@DRM sucks
Talk to Dolby about AAC’s DRM, not Apple. Physical buttons are absolutely not the future. Touchscreen buttons with electrical impulse feedback is the future. Smallmindedwise, you are still typing on an old Royal typewriter, it seems. Look how far it has come since those days, and think large and see the real future.
“This is three years in the making.”
RIM most be so proud that in only 3 years they were able to come up with that thing.
new wallpaper and new icons. its like a whole windows update!
Really, MDN? RIM didn’t respond to a piss-ant website like yours? I’m shocked!
It’s also not shocking to think they’ve been developing that device for 3 years. I’m sure they have.
I don’t know. This design doesn’t really seem to be that much of a ‘leap’ for RIM, I think it’s completely likely it had been in development. It’s very similar to their entire slate of existing devices.
Now did they change the exterior appearance to be a “little” similar to the iPhone? Maybe, but I don’t get all the Rim-hating here. They still make great devices that are happily used by a great number of people. What’s the problem with that?
And competition, though I still think the iPhone is miles ahead of anything Rim can produce at this point, is always good.
Hey, RIM. iPhone++; // Coming in June.
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Those criticizing MDN are upset at the plain truth on display in the MDN Take.
MDN’s bullet point list of what RIM will be doing in the near future is searingly dead on target.
Three years?!?!?! The Japanese can develop a car in 28 months! Three years to develop a small phone is sign of BIG trouble!!!
Perhaps the Bold was 3 years in the making, but that’s only because 18 months ago RIM got to see the first iPhone on display and sh*t their pants. They had to go back to the drawing board, but couldn’t scrap everything (plus they don’t have software solutions to match the iPhone), and try to come up with something better.
I’m sure it produced a better Blackberry, but nothing close to what the iPhone can do, especially after v 2.0 is released.
@ Broker, last time I checked everyone is entitled to their own point of view. Including you. Thanks for yours!
It’s true! The Blackberry Bold has been three years in the making, that’s why it looks like every other Blackberry… exept for the silver trim. I’m sure this window dressing part of the design was “inspired” within the last year.
The Blackberry Thunder is the model that started it’s design process after the iPhone, this model will be released later on down the road since they’re still reverse engineeri- er designing it.
Hey, there is nothing wrong with Blackberrys, although this outer shell (black on an aluminum colored frame) does bear a striking resemblance to the iPhone. I’d say it’s a sincere form of flattery towards Cupertino. For what they do, Blackberrys do it well.
On another note, I’d think Apple may want to put in a physical keyboard on a future model if they want to crack the business enterprise market. But I doubt an Apple phone keyboard design would ever look like a Blackberry’s. It would probably be something uniquely Apple.
I agree – MDN is spot on. RIM have big problems. It took Apple two and a half years to get the iPhone out. Three years to create the Bold is nonsense.
iPhone is going to take 50% of their existing market and 80% of their future market within 2 years is my prediction.
MDN, you are no better than DVORAK! Shame on you!
I’ve got 2 words for RIM – Black Pencil.
What I like about the bold: It has smaller pixels which means it has sharper images. I assume it’ll also have an easily replaceable battery.
wait until iphone passes blackberry in market share…wow
Huh. I don’t know what you guys are all stirred up about. What Lizardis said was true. He said it wasn’t designed to rival the iPhone and it won’t.
Geez.
Seems pretty simple to me.
I don’t care if teh Blackberry POS was designed in 45 seconds on the back of a napkin in 1885.
Did RIM bring it to market before iPhone?
Car aficionados refer to this as a “ricer flyby”.
bwa…
hahahahahahahahahahaha
ha
oh
sorry.
what were they doing in the inteRIM?
figuring where the cute lil buttons would go?
wow
i had to use a blackberry the other day just to enter my email address for someone and it took forever…
iPhone has ruined me 4evah!
ha.
I buhlieve him! The models…from 2006…in raw clay…all gray…with edges of a smaller radius…thicker…. MW: really?
What a bunch of BS. So desperate to prove that they are innovative and have been innovating for years. Sounds like they copied a page right out of MS playbook. LOL
MDN has to quote itself from 4 days. lol!
Apparently no one else is quoting MDN so MDN has to resort to quoting itself in order to give itself some shred of respectability.
It’s like listening to children….
Reminds me of something I heard before…
“They gave me a hat,” Mr. Kerry says. “I have the hat to this day,” he declares, rising to pull it from his briefcase. “I have the hat.”
I haven’t read the comments yet but has anyone else noticed the wallpaper style is like the old Mac default desktop picture but in a similar colour scheme to the new apple default desktop picture
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It’s as if they really want Apple to design the whole thing for them.
Our company is forcing us to use BlackBerrys. I’ve had an iPhone since last year. When I received my BlackBerry and looked at the miniscule keyboard and huge manual, I simply put it back in the box and continue to use my iPhone. I check email when I get back to iMac or Powerbook in the evening. The thing is ridiculous, the keyboard is too small and it’s a joke to make a call.
I pay for my own phone expenses – a small price to pay for lack of frustration.
For the sake of brevity —-
http://rip-ragged.com/dross/index.php/2008/05/night-of-the-living-iphone-killers/
Happy Saturday
Here’s a new slogan: “Put a RIM in your Palm”
Cool. I really look forward to get one when they’re released. My BB8800 is the best phone I’ve ever had. Sure, the GUI isn’t as as sexy as the iPhone’s (which I used for about 10 days) but at least it is filled up with thought-through functions and, thank gawd, it comes with actual buttons. I like my iPod Touch…but the GUI isn’t really well thought-through; rewinding in a 2hr movie, anyone? Selecting songs when in Coverflow only plays that album, Coverflow doesn’t support playlists, the damn device needs a reset every 2 months, no crossfades, yadda yadda…I could go on. But hey, as long as the MDN editors thinks that Apple is perfect, nevermind what they’re producing, then it must be so, right?
So Apple is perfect and does no wrong out of the gate, amazing how as someone who enjoys his MAC gear daily that I didn’t know that. Apple does in fact make mistakes daily and its most evident in both the iPhone Leopard.
In the iPhone they created the most locked down user environment and told buyers that it was for their own good. Odd I have never had any pda/smartphone hacked into or otherwise hurt by any app and I have been using PDA’s a lot longer than Steve Jobs has thats for sure. Customers want and demand choice, but in the Apple world you are taught its this way or no way and you will not complain and just accept it. I actually wanted the iPhone but once I realized it was NOT going to meet my demanding tech related needs I passed. When a phone cannot do a basic function that a WinMobile or PalmOS can do like CUT AND PASTE, oh wait you are still waiting for that a year later.
What apple did was show the world that customers will buy form over function and thats fine for them.
The iPhone showed all of the regular phone users that hey you can buy a phone with an iPod build in and buy our over priced reduced quality content. Really who wouldn’t want music at 128k, and movies that are far from HD when Apple claims they are HD. I enjoy my iPod daily and own the 160GB classic and the 80GB 5th gen video. I do not doubt iphone 2 will be a huge hit but to keep claiming they are eating RIM’s lunch is total bull and you know it. Being an apple fan boy does not mean you have try and create FUD about other products that equal and in fact RIVAL the iPhone.
Lets not forget that iPhone 1 was not created in 6 months or a year it has been rumored for years and that means Apple has been working on it for some time. So to say the BB Bold is not a great design shows you cannot see what others see. I personally don’t think the iPhone is a great design and so I clearly don’t see what you see. Its perspective and opinion.
On the Leopard, 802.11n AP’s etc Apple has clearly let their customers down and they continue to do. I have no crashes with my PBG4 running Panther, I had only a rare crash with Tiger on that same machine but I have constant crashes (what everyone calls kernel panics and refuses to call them crashes) under Leopard. I get the Grey screen of death and I lost s significant amount of work that was supposed to be saved but it didn’t because it crashed right in the middle.
While I find it funny how MDN is touting the quadrupling of iPhone countries and their dominance I ask how many countries has RIM been in and how long have they been there. So its not a big surprise Apple is going there now is it.
@Michael,
Your kernel panics are most likely caused by a bad RAM chip. Replace your RAM and you’ll be all set.
yes, Leopard surely aint finished. Spotlight anyone? It’s now 10 times faster but Apple got rid of the “other” search path option i.e. the possibility to narrow down your search to a certain partition or folder – just by drag&drop;. Now it’s just gone. Cheers Apple. You still can’t sort your results by size. And the kicker, there is still no way for variables like “Kind is Any” and then (to exclude) “Kind is not…”. Hello Apple…anyone at home? Not everyone is a 1-partition-with-emails-and-Word-docs-only-person. Thank god for the people behind stuff like HoudahSpot, Quicksilver, Pathfinder, FontExplorer X or Dragthing. And now that I mentioned FontExplorer: what retarded dumbass at Apple came up with the idea to get rid of all Postscript or OpenType versions of the sysfonts, say??? What a brilliant move, because you can’t just delete or replace them either with the “real” stuff i.e. the PS1 or OT versions; no, Apple wants you to start fiddling with the font IDs in an editor.
Perfect…Apple? No.
The reason why Apple seems so great is simply because the competition is a sorry piece o donkeynuts.
At least they’ll make a EVDO version, Apple won’t!!!!
What a minute.
So RIM was designing this 3 years ago when Apple also was designing the iPhone. Since The Blackberry Bold looks like it should have been released 3 years ago compared to the existing iPhone, the iPhone is really 6 years ahead. On top of that the iPhone interface blows this thing out of the water and what is that worth in years? I would say another 3 years. OK now the iPhone is really 9 years ahead. Plus the NEW iPhone 2.0 (June release?) is another year ahead.
Total = Apple is 10 years ahead of RIM in handheld developement
I WANT A CHIP IMPLANT!!! Sorry for shouting but I want one NOW!!!
Apple iPhone and Blackberry are completely different markets.
The email system on the BB is tested, proven and secure for corporate users.
The iPhone, though it is beautiful, will not easily make inroads into this community.
The greatest potential for the iPhone is the ability to put business apps on the iPhone. If this is not possible to be pushed to all iPhones without using iTunes and using a corporate exchange server, you may see inroads, but for larger corporations, it simply will not happen.
Apple’s business plan wants to maintain a lot of control. This is fine when you’re dealing with consumers, but corporate clients often want much more. They’re not going to jailbreak their iPhones to use them on a corporate network.
Unless Apple changes their business plan to accomodate corporate users, I sincerely doubt they will make any serious inroads into the BB community.
Whether you love Apple or not, this is reality.
3 years in the making to copy OS X’s front gui and stick windows mobile underneath.
ROFL!
Sounds like total bollocks to me.
Reasons not to buy a RIm Crackberry:
1. It’s not an iPhone!
2. Too complex to use
3. Uses a bastard step-child version of Windows mobile (YUCK!)
4. Shit phone build quality
5. Crap user experience – not intuitive at all
6. Designed for people who will want to read the 300 page manual just so they can send a basic email
7. Old technology wrapped up in cheap plastic
8. Screen is too small
9. No multi-touch or touch inputs
10. Crap battery life
11. RIM suck
There you go… buy and iPhone!
oh… and one more:
12. Isn’t compatible with iTunes
re: Apple’s business plan wants to maintain a lot of control. This is fine when you’re dealing with consumers, but corporate clients often want much more. They’re not going to jailbreak their iPhones to use them on a corporate network.
Unless Apple changes their business plan to accomodate corporate users, I sincerely doubt they will make any serious inroads into the BB community.
—
Get with the program idiot!
What do you think Apple is doing for corporate users in the next iPhone feature update????
The whole update makes the iphone the best mobile deivce for any corporate user.
I recommend you watch the keynote about the next feature update that Apple had months ago – go look for it on the Apple site.
You can then retract your obsolete and uneducated views.
And just incase you are too fscking lazy to look for the keynote, whereby SJ and Co blow away all the corporate users – here is the link to it:
http://www.apple.com/quicktime/qtv/iphoneroadmap
WATCH AND LEARN!
@ApplePi
I agree, completely different markets. The iPhone is for people who want a cool-looking easy to use all-in-one portable communication and digital media device. BlackBerry is for the others.
You guys all are idiots, plain and simple. To actually believe that Apple is eating RIM’s lunch is a joke. I’m not going to waste my time elaborating but you’ll see in time how well BB does no matter how amazing the iPhone is.
MacDailyNews Note: We’ve contacted RIM requesting proof backing up co-CEO Mike Lazardis’ claims, but RIM has not responded as of publication.
The hubris to think they give a shit about you. MDN, you’re not even a pimple on RIM’s ass. Besides he’s busy killing it in the wireless industry…
Sitting here in Florida wrapping up a week at the Blackberry Conference and MDN is amusing.
I sat in on pretty much every carrier and executive session discussing mobility with pretty much every major corporation and the answer was the same:
No interest in Iphone for corporate use.
It’s a lifestyle device and even with ActiveSync it’s nothing more then a dumbed down Windows Mobile device (I wouldn’t brag about that)
I wouldn’t call having Eclipise and .NET as well a robust java SDK as having “no develpoment tools” Understand what your talking about before getting in a fanboy rant.
I overheard a blackberry user saying to his business colleague that the buttons on his Blackberry had become ‘cunchy’ due to all the crap trapped under them. (Eeeewww) This was making it difficult to use.
^^… Wait… O, sorry, I thought YOU were accusing people here of being fanboys. O. You, eer, were. That’s strange. -_-
Btw, that comment above was too MobileAdmin.
re: mobile admin.
Well if corporates are too thick to realise the benefits of their staff using an iPhone to any other then device its their loss – Apple dont need those customers.
They also dont need businesses with IT decision makers that are so obsessed about sucking up to Microsoft because they are shit scared of losing their jobs and never take the users needs in consideration.
I have worked before for one such company and all I can say is that it makes me laugh that an IT department in one of the largest oil companies in the world truely believes that every single one of the corporations 63,000 employees across the world only need word, excel and powerpoint to do their job.
If everyone thought like that on this planet everyone would still be living in caves.
Microsoft is one of the worst companies to ever do business with, and yet there is soooo much misled loyalty.
Same goes for the people who decide which mobile phone company gets the massive contract in corporates.
Those same people only give the deals to the cheapest tender, not the one that will help the business by making employees work more efficiently and can supply an easy to use device that employees want to use.
I was given a 6 year old mobile phone when I joined the corporate i worked for – can you believe it – A 6 YEAR OLD MOBILE PHONE!
It didn’t even have a colour screen, and the IT guys had disabled bluetooth and email access because they were paranoid to the point of obsession about ‘security’ and viruses’.
Corporates have never been at the forefront of modern technology. have never been risk takers.
What they need to do is sack everyone who is responsible for IT purchases and get new blood in. These new people should be of the new generation who are open minded, up-to date on technology and above all not bred on the cool-aid from Microsoft.
These people will drive corporates into growth and move the business forward, not the narrow-minded dinosaurs who should have been sacked years ago.
Most of those companies are even still using Windows 2000 or NT even now…
Hey guys, we laugh at RIM but we know there are real people in the company who need the jobs.
Quick, go get another job NOW while RIM is still attractive.
I don’t think RIM will be around in 3 years.
Having said that, thanks for helping with a joke. Because it will be funny to see how much Apple blows RIM out of the water in June. You announced your Next Gen phone and it will pale in comparison with the iPhone 2.0
In case you have kept a “secret weapon” up your sleeve to announce AFTER the iPhone 2.0, that is risky because it might SUCK compared to whatever iPhone 2.0 is.
Then you will look even worse in comparison (trying to “catch up”).
I suggest quickly focusing your efforts on writing quality iPhone software. That will be your business of the future.
An Apple Writer.
Hey guys, I got a question.
When are the CEOs of RIM and Motorola and Nokia, etc. going to watch the Steve Jobs keynotes and also get some iPhones to examine?
It’s pretty crazy that they STILL are not taking the iPhone seriously.
Some of their staff should just buy an iPhone and then show it to their bosses and say “Hey boss, there’s a new thing I need to tell you about and it’s called an iPhone.”
Ha!
@QuestionGuy
Why take Iphone seriously? Quote”The 825 million phones sold in 2005 indicate that more than a third of all existing subscribers bought a new phone within the year. In 2006, an estimated 930 million phones were sold, an increase of around 12%. In 2004, sales hit 707 million phones; in 2007, over a billion phones will be sold” source http://www.roughlydrafted.com/RD/RDM.Tech.Q1.07/BEC05CE1-D5EB-4E48-B46C-7385D5AADCFE.html
Some more to help you fanbois come back to the light read the artical. 1% of a market that is just 5 % of the overall phone market is small. Put a slant on it, spin it up as far as you can. Iphone is nothing compared to the overall handset market.
Get a grip. der Fuerher has been wrong before.
mobiladmin – not surprising considering WES is sponsored by RIM. Did the question of the iPhone come up and there were proactive nos across the board? or did it not come up?
People People People….The Iphone is a great phone, it appears more geared for fun. The Blackberry is geard more towards business folks, with some things for fun. And who cares what amount of shares a company has, it does not mean one is better then the other. There are prob more people that bought the Iphone for fun vs people that bought for business. But I won’t by from a company that raped their consumers of hard earned money, and only offered it to one carrier. BB makes their phones available to all, and offers a lil something in every phone that is just right for their needs.Iphone may rule in alot of ways, but over all, the Blackberry shines…GaryBerry
Hey MDN ..
Everyone on here is a Mac fan hense why else would they visit and contribute? I have been a Mac user since the IIe through my G5. I also have two Iphones (one with OS 2.0 latest build) I merely am seperating the actual facts from some of the fine users who have a single sided mind to this.
While WES is a Blackberry event, it’s a good mobility event that attracts companies, developers from around the planet. I’d say 60% was from out of the US this year. I also attend many non-blackberry events be it carrier sessions or offsite luncheon’s with other Fortune 500 executives etc. There is a interest in Iphone technology and no doubt it’s done some good marketing for how far mobility has come. The census is not many are willing to invest in:
more expensive devices
device durability
having to support another application on the desktop (itunes)
Itunes activation requirement
lack of carrier choices
Now if you belive the web experience will not improve across every mobile platform with 3g and beyond you better hope Apple comes up with something new quick as a good internet experience will be common as it is across any PC people use now. Mulitouch is nice .. it’s just not for everyone. I heard time after time “if they only made one with a keyboard”. Realize some people prefer a keypad.
It’s amusing that the statements about Microsoft when it’s Microsoft ActiveSync that is what will allow enterprise connectivity with Exchange in Iphone 2.0. Clueless.
The IT world right now is govern by expense control and squeezing savings where you can. If your fortunate enough to work somewhere that just buys whatever you demand and don’t consider ROI, TCO then more power to you.
“On another note, I’d think Apple may want to put in a physical keyboard on a future model if they want to crack the business enterprise market. But I doubt an Apple phone keyboard design would ever look like a Blackberry’s. It would probably be something uniquely Apple.”
Yeah, and I understand the next version of the Power Mac will come with a floppy disk drive.
Apple won’t put a keyboard on an iPhone. That is WON’T as in WILL NOT.
Why isn’t that “willn’t”?
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The burden of proof is on you MDN you stupid fucks.