Blackberry support waning; RIM should make some Android devices

This is a follow-up post to one I wrote two weeks ago entitled, “Bad News for Blackberry [Survey].” I use a Blackberry Tour and I have been less than satisfied with it. Both the hardware and software disappoint. I have been quite open about my disappointment. Nonetheless, I don’t really have a dog in the fight between mobile platforms but I intend to switch to Android soon, probably on an HTC manufactured phone. Obviously, I haven’t been alone in my whining about the Blackberry platform and Research in Motion generally. However, I was surprised to read Brett Wyman, the founder and owner of BlackberryOS.com, post to his site a searing rant against RIM. He cites the terrible web browser and inadequate app development among the reasons he sees RIM failing in North America.

This is the third time I’ve written this but the only scenario that could save RIM is releasing a industry-leading browser and a shift from installation-based apps to browser-based apps. I don’t think either of these two events will happen within a reasonable period of time. RIM is notoriously slow to release apps and I don’t see the browser project moving along at lightning speed. Its Twitter app development has moved along at galacial speed. It still hasn’t been released, not even in the new beta testing area of the RIM website. Frankly, they should have purchased BitStream a long, long time ago to acquire its BOLT web browser technology.

In the mobile industry news breaks hour by hour and significant advancement in devices occurs every few months. Already, we’re seeing prototypes of 4G phones like the upcoming “Supersonic” HTC Evo 4G. RIM, however, has products in the development WAY too long. People have been talking about Mr. T (the Blackberry Slider) for more than a year. Yet, what do we have? We have some crappy photographs of the phone. When will this product launch? Some have said April. I highly doubt it. It’s supposed to sport a flashy new OS and the new WebKit browser. I can’t imagine RIM having either one ready for the market in time for an April launch. Expect delay, delay, delay… maybe we’ll be
“blessed” with some more crappy photographs along the way. If RIM thinks that will keep users salivating for Blackberry, they’re very wrong.

I think RIM might want to consider a Plan B, specifically the following: ditch your crappy OS for recreational consumers (as opposed to business customers) in favor of Android. This would immediately result in a better browser and better app development. They could try to code a proprietary Blackberry Messenger client for Android. Admittedly, keeping it locked down on RIM-made devices would be difficult. Frankly, I don’t think they have the foresight within the company to go this route but I say, “if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.” Capitalize on the RIM brand but offer the best technology has to offer. It’s something short of plainly giving up but they’re hardly in the running among recreational consumers, as survey data shows. Ardent RIM supporters invested in RIM’s success like Brett Wyman are becoming former RIM fans.

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