Undoubtedly, at present, everyone is familiar with the RIM’s trouble. The question is here; whether it could recover its market share or not? This time, the company is unable to find out the main reasons why it’s declining quarter-over-quarter. The company has reached to its lowest value and rumors are revealing that it’s seeking for potential merger.
Resemblance Of Apple And RIM
But, I think, there are lots of things, on which, the company should care about. Here, Apple’s black days struggle could be an inspirational story for the Canadian handset manufacturer. Apple had exactly the same condition in 1996 what it’s now with RIM. I think, Apple’ condition was even more worse than what it is with RIM at present. Apple was to sell to some potential buyers such as IBM and Sun in 1996, but that time, Apple had a visionary ” Steve Jobs”, which paved the company from such misfortune.
Is Unnecessary Product Lineup Hurdle For RIM?
In 1996, Apple had 15 different computer products such as Quadra, Power Macintosh and more. That time, the company really needed to cut down its all redundant expenditure (encompassing production and stock costs). Jobs focused to drop the complexity of product line. He decided to have just four computer products but of distinct qualities. He emphasized on innovative computer products rather than lineups and later he succeeded to recover market share.
If you consider about the BlackBerry Smartphone lineups, there are 22 different products available in the U.S. market. But, would you find out differences between those? Really, it’s very tough task for anyone because these products are almost similar to each other. Indeed, RIM needs to focus on reducing the complexity of products line. It should emphasize on just two or three rather than 22 Smartphone models. It’s better to build business which could exist for long time than to focus on number of sales, which is short term strategy.
RIM Should Inhibit Its PlayBook’s Production
Steve Jobs had clear cut strategy; he created a quadrant, by keeping ‘consumers and professional’ on one side and ‘laptops and desktops’ on other sides. Apparently, RIM should focus on its product line, as PlayBook is performing since last year, the company should inhibit its production. Really, at present, it’s reckless to invest billions of dollar on the production of PlayBook, which is still struggling to make its presence in the market especially at that time when the Canadian handset manufacturer are going through financial crisis.
RIM Needs A Real Visionary
At present, there’s a need of a visionary inside the company. A firm has recently rated top to Apple’s present CEO–Tim Cook–, but I Â think we should not compare Tim with Steve. Tim is an exemplary supply chain controller and more employee and shareholder friendly. Undoubtedly, Tim has brought the company at zenith position (market valuation of $600 billion). But, the real hero of the company was Steve, made an impression of the company into consumers’ mind. In 1996, when Apple was to be bankrupted, that time, Steve dragged the sail to the shore of the sea. Steve took risks, simplified products lineups and emphasized on innovations.
Do you think that RIM’s new CEO “Thorsten Heins” is appropriate substitute for ex co-CEOs –Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie? Lazaridis is a brilliant inventor, successfully laid the company for number of years. Here, there’s no need to explain why RIM has decided to lay off over 10,000 jobs because it’s the need of the time to set the costs down.
Give Up To Relay On BlackBerry 10 And Think Beyond The Box
Recently, RIM persuaded its shareholders to keep patience until first quarter of next year. The reason is quite obvious, the company has full faith on its BlackBerry 10 Smartphone. But I think, the company should give up the idea of BlackBerry 10 could be a turning point for the company. The CEO of the company is considering the OS Â as a last hope for the company. But as the situation is around, it’s difficult to say whether the company could survive until the launch of its BlackBerry 10 or not? However, Thorsten has clarified that upcoming BlackBerry device will have touchscreen, but I’ve little doubt whether it could entice iPhone and Android Smatphones’ fanatics or not.
It’s well-known that why mobile carriers are more likely to sell RIM’s Phone, because they make better profit from it compare to iPhones and Android phones. Still a significant number of RIM’s fanatics are willing to get their hands on BlackBerry keyboards. I think, this time, RIM should work hard on next great thing.
The Question Is About PricingÂ
Indeed, it’s very tough for RIM to compete with Chinese handsets in terms of price and also to contend high-end iPhones and Android devices. It’s true, RIM succeeded to grab a large portions of Smartphone market because it launched next great thing (having advanced data access and email facilities) ahead of feature phone. Likewise at present, Google is working on its own Glass project, envisaging to not take your smartphone out from your pocket for viewing messages and calls.  In simple words, if RIM wants to rescue itself from complete ruin, then it needs to simplify its products line, hire a visionary, cut some of its workforce and build the next big thing.
