“Additional job cuts at Research In Motion Ltd would be prudent as the BlackBerry maker tries to improve its free cashflow ahead of the planned launch of its next-generation phones later this year, Macquarie Equities Research said,” Aftab Ahmed reports for Reuters.
“RIM, which employs about 16,500 people, plans to bring its workforce closer to 10,000 by early next year, two sources told Reuters,” Ahmed reports. “‘We support further cost realignment in the face of falling revenue and margins,’ Macquarie analyst Kevin Smithen said in a note to clients.”
Ahmed reports, “Macquarie cut its price target on RIM’s U.S.-listed shares to $14.50 from $17.50. They had closed at $11.00 on Friday on the Nasdaq.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Au revoir, RIM assiégée.
Related articles:
Beleaguered RIM slips amidst talk of unsold inventory write-down – May 29, 2012
Beleaguered RIM to axe at least 2,000 jobs – May 27, 2012
Beleaguered RIM’s head of global sales departs BlackBerry maker – May 23, 2012
Beleaguered RIM misses badly on revenue, EPS, unit shipments; Former half-CEO Balsillie resigns; CTO, COO also out – March 29, 2012
Another senior executive exits beleaguered Research In Motion – October 28, 2011
Two more senior staff exit beleaguered BlackBerry maker RIM – September 29, 2011
Stubborn Leadership without vision caused this diaster for all these good men and women.
I was quite dismissive of RIM at first, seeing that their phones ran an outdated OS that made the web difficult to navigate and what I consider to be an insane way of mashing messages into the inbox to include emails, BlackBerry Messenger, SMS, Facebook updates and God knows what else. But some people seem to like it as it gives them a unified inbox view. Personally, it would drive me crazy as I like my messages and emails nicely compartmentalized, the way Apple does it with the iPhone.
Some BlackBerry users I know swear by the physical keyboard, so they do have a loyal fan base. The phone isn’t too bad but I find the integration of Apple hardware and software on the iPhone serves me best and I would imagine a lot of other people too.
But it has to be said the iPhone is just as much a fashion item as anything else, which explains its popularity in the consumer market. All in all the BlackBerry is a phone targeted at the business and professional market but it’s being squeezed on the cheap end by Android phones and on the high end by the iPhone.
I’ve never used a BB phone for any length of time apart from playing with one for an hour of so but navigating the menu items seems a little convoluted to me. I hope to God though that RIM survives and becomes the third force in mobile telephony. Because I’d hate for Microsoft to have any share in the market. I’ve had extensive experience with Windows Mobile 6.5 and believe you me, after that kick in the head, you really, really don’t want anything to do with Microsoft within your lifetime. To say Windows Mobile sucked would be the understatement of the century. If my dog crapped on my bed, the mess wouldn’t be as bad as WM 6.5.
Oh, I get it, MDN…everybody in Canada speaks French, especially in Waterloo, Ontario.
maudits anglais
Tabernac!
You Francophones really piss me off.
English is the primary language at RIM.
The only other language that is used in the Kitchener-Waterloo area is German and German is only used during Octoberfest.
And all the talented employees will be jumping off this sinking ship as fast as they can print copies of their resume. What’s left of the workforce at RIM will be bitter and less competent.
——RM
RIM have decided to give survival a try. Good for them! But I hope they also come up with a reason to survive. So far I see none on the horizon.