BlackBerry Maker RIM Posts Major Loss

     Canadian-based company, Research in Motion (RIM), continues to struggle in the communications industry as they report heavy losses for the company. Both Apple and Google have overtaken RIM's once secure market share dominance through innovation and a deep understanding of the needs of customers. It's due to the companies understanding of the demand culture we live in that both Apple and Google are so successful. Both companies understand that what consumers desire and what they have are two very different things. Apple and Google have dominated the communications industry by capitalizing on this demand and developing technology that fills consumers' needs.

     RIM has failed dramatically because it doesn't understand it's customers. This is evident in nearly everything they do. From their failed marketing attempts to a younger generation, to hardware that does little to push the industry forward, to an operating system that trails far behind their competition's, RIM has lost the reputation they once held as a leading smartphone manufacturer.

Share prices for the company have fallen 80 percent since little more than a year ago [Reuters]

   
     The company has found themselves in the news again this week giving bad news to the public by posting a quarterly loss. Not only has RIM failed to produce results to improve their company's standing and investor relations, but they have also lost a number of upper-level employees. RIM has stated that Jim Balsillie, co-founder and co-chief executive of the company until he gave his resignation in January, is stepping down from the board to complete his retirement. The company also stated that both David Yach, chief technology officer, and Jim Rowan, chief operating officer, would be leaving their positions.

     These events have many experts in the industry counting down the days until RIM has no choice but to sell the company and close it's doors. Chief operating officer Thorsten Heins, who was recently named president and CEO of RIM, has not ruled out the possibility of selling by stating that he is open to hearing purchase offers. For the full story and more information click here.  

     The decline of the once successful RIM is surprising to very few people. The Canadian company appealed to corporations and businesses by focusing on security and reliability rather than what consumers demanded. While this was a successful business strategy for technologies such as the television or computer, which first began as a tool for governments and businesses. Today's smartphone is being integrated into a different culture. Consumers now influence the actions of corporations and when a communications company such as RIM are blind and deaf to the needs of today's consumers they are left wandering hopelessly until they are put out of their misery.