DoCoMo halts BlackBerry Bold sales due to overheating

Reuters reports that DocoMo halts sales of BlackBerry Bold because the phone can overheat while the battery is being recharged.
DoCoMo said it has sold about 4,000 high-end Bold phones, and about 30 users have complained the phone's keyboard area had heated up. The company said it has received no reports of users getting burned or of phones catching on fire.

RIM says issue appears to be limited to Japan and rules out battery problem. The sales of BlackBerry Bold devices in other countries are unaffected by this matter.

Turn Your BlackBerry into a Remote Control

Unify4Life's AV Shadow can transform your BlackBerry smartphone into a universal remote giving you complete control over all of your home's audio/video equipment.
Another product from Unify4Life called Garage Shadow can turn your BlackBerry into a garage opener.

How Fast is Your BlackBerry

Cisco has an application to test the network speed of iPhone and BlackBerry Storm. The application is called Global Internet Speed Test (GIST). 

The test is performed by downloading a known quantity of data from a single web server. The size of the data is different for the different types of network connections, so that the test will take roughly the same amount of time from the user’s perspective. For a cellular network test, 256KB are downloaded. For wireless, 512 KB are downloaded. A single download is performed, timed in milliseconds, and results are reported in terms of 1000 bits per second (kbps). 

BlackBerry Curve: American's Most Popular Handset

According to a report by RCR Wireless, BlackBerry Curve is the most popular handset in U.S. for the month of December.

Here is the top 10 list:

Device	Ranking in December	Ranking in November
RIM BlackBerry Curve	1	1
Apple iPhone	2	2
BlackBerry Storm	3	3
LG Voyager	4	6
LG Dare	5	4
BlackBerrry Bold	6	5
Samsung Rant	7	Not Ranked
Samsung Behold	8	9
Samsung Instinct	9	10
LG Env2	10	8

RIM upgraded by National Bank

Research In Motion was upgraded from "sector perform" to "outperform" by National Bank today. Target price is changed from $45 to $60. However, RIM stock closed over 4% down today as the broad market is looking at 12-year low.

BlackBerry Bold Smartphone Now Available in Japan

Research In Motion (RIM) and DOCOMO today announced that the BlackBerry Bold smartphone is now available at DOCOMO corporate and retail channels nation-wide in Japan.
The new BlackBerry Bold smartphone from DOCOMO features a newly designed QWERTY keyboard with Japanese text input support, built-in GPS and Wi-Fi. Among the smartphone's rich set of multimedia capabilities is an optional 2 megapixel camera with video recording – DOCOMO will also offer a model with no camera – and an advanced media player for music, videos and pictures. In addition, it includes the new BlackBerry Media Sync application, allowing customers to easily synchronize their iTunes digital music collections with the smartphone.

Here is the full release.

New BlackBerry Curve 8900 Smartphone available in Turkey

Avea and Research In Motion (RIM) launched the BlackBerry Curve 8900 smartphone in Turkey on Feb 19. The new BlackBerry Curve 8900 has an expansive feature set that keeps users easily connected to family, friends and colleagues. In addition to its exceptional phone, email, messaging, organizer, web browser and multimedia applications, the BlackBerry Curve 8900 smartphone features global connectivity support, built-in Wi-Fi and GPS, a next generation 512MHz processor and a stunning hi-resolution display.

Here is the full release.

BlackBerry is on Top again

According to an IDC report commissioned by The Industry Standard, Research In Motion (RIM) increased its U.S. market share from 40.4% in Q3 2008 to 47.5% in Q4. Apple, on the other hand, lost market share in the U.S., dropping from 30.1% in Q3 2008 to 22.3% in Q4.

A rebound in place for RIM share price?

Schaeffer's research has an article indicating that relatively heavy call activity on RIM on Wednesday with more than 6,800 calls were bought.

Here is the full article.

Google Maps updated to utilize BlackBerry Storm's GPS

If you own a BlackBerry Storm on Verizon Wireless, you can download a brand new version of Google Maps for mobile that utilizes the Storm's internal GPS. The Storm is the first Verizon BlackBerry that makes it possible for My Location to access GPS location. After you install the new version on your Storm, you will notice improved accuracy for My Location and Latitude.

So if you have a Verizon BlackBerry Storm, just go to m.google.com/maps from your BlackBerry's browser to download the latest version of Google Maps.

BlackBerry Niagara

BlackBerry is gearing up to release another new smartphone to the masses, BlackBerry Niagara. The new device is almost a BlackBerry Bold 9000 and BlackBerry Curve 8900 hybrid. The Niagara is bigger than the Curve, but smaller than the Bold and features the same 480 x 320 screen the Bold offers. In addition, the Niagara is expected to run the same 624MHz CPU processor as the Bold.

The Niagara is also expected to run BlackBerry OS 4.6. It will feature a full QWERTY keyboard, EV-DO Rev. A, a GPS, a 3.2-megapixel camera, BES 5.0 support and a Qualcomm MSM7600 processor.

There is not yet a release date for the Niagara, but insiders told Boy Genius that it would likely launch in May on Verizon Wireless.

Here is a detailed report.

BlackBerry Application Suite on the HTC Fuze

This week, RIM made its BlackBerry Application Suite (BAS) official by demonstrating it in Barcelona. BAS lets users of Windows Mobile 6 or higher run RIM’s BlackBerry handheld OS. It provides access to the vast majority of features available within the BlackBerry OS, including Messages, BlackBerry Messenger, the RIM browser, even BlackBerry Maps. You will also be able to install compatible third-party apps.

For more details, check out here.

GSMA 2009 Chairman's Awards Presented to Research In Motion

Research In Motion (RIM) was honored with the GSMA Chairman's Award last night at the GSMA's Global Mobile Awards ceremony. This award, established in 1995, is the Association's most prestigious award and recognises outstanding contribution to the growth and development of mobile communications around the world.

In his presentation to RIM Co-CEO Jim Balsillie, GSMA Chairman Alexander Izosimov stated that, "RIM's commitment to innovation has revolutionized the wireless industry and laid the foundations which shaped the thriving smartphone market of today. BlackBerry products and services have changed the way we communicate and interact, making businesses more productive and consumers better connected."

Here is the full article.

RIM settles with SEC

Research In Motion announced today that RIM and four of its officers, Jim Balsillie, Mike Lazaridis, Dennis Kavelman and Angelo Loberto, have entered into settlements with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") that resolve the previously-disclosed SEC investigation of RIM's historical stock option granting practices.
Messrs. Balsillie, Lazaridis, Kavelman and Loberto also agreed to monetary penalties totaling US$1.425 million.
Here is the full release.

Yahoo Launches Yahoo! mobile

Yahoo has launched a new product Yahoo! mobile, which rolls its OneSearch, OneConnected, and OnePlace products as well as other features such as Yahoo Maps!, into a more convenient package than its previous attempt with Yahoo Go! More importantly, the new service is an open environment and allows users to more easily add the content and applications they want on their phone. Marcus Boerries, EVP of Yahoo Connected Life, its mobile division has introduced it as "your starting point for the internet, not just the mobile internet." The product has three main capabilities, allowing consumers to search, staying connected with their friends and family through their social networks, and staying informed. The new product will be available on the mobile web, and as an application developed for the iPhone, and for smartphones from Nokia, RIM, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, Motorola, and Windows Mobile handsets.
Here is the full article.

RIM, Research In Motion

Prompt

Weston, Mass.-based Proxpro Inc. has a product called 'Prompt' that is only available on BlackBerry.
This program ties together traffic, weather and routing data with the appointments listed in your phone. Proxpro's proprietary program uses past traffic patterns and travel times to come up with the best route. That can be particularly useful during a long road trip. During storms, it also avoids sending you down roads that pose weather-related hazards. Planned routes and expected commute times are sent to your phone 30 minutes before your predetermined departure time, and again five minutes before you leave, as a reminder.
It was designed to work only with BlackBerry phones in the 8800 and Curve series. The company plans to launch a version that is compatible with other BlackBerrys by the end of the month.

RIM, Research In Motion

BlackBerry’s Profit Margin Decline May Persist

RIM Co-Chief Executive Officer James Balsillie said that shrinking BlackBerry profit margins may be partly permanent according to a Bloomberg report. Last week’s announcement also suggested the RIM's latest models, such as the Storm and the Bold, won fewer customers than some of the older BlackBerry models, according to analysts including Scott Pope at First Analysis Corp. in Chicago.
Here is the full article.

Adobe Left RIM and Apple out

Adobe announced at the GSMA Mobile World Congress that Flash Player 10 will be available on Android as well Windows Mobile, Nokia S60/Symbian, and new Palm devices. The 2 that are left out are iPhone and BlackBerry.
Here is the full article: Adobe preps full Flash player for smartphones

Acer eyes 10 pct of sales from smartphones by 2012

Reuters reports that Acer is going to launch a new line of smartphone in Barcelona. Acer will officially enter the increasingly popular smartphone arena with the launch of several models this week at a mobile telecoms show in Barcelona.

Credit Suisse downgrades RIM to underperform from neutral

Credit Suisse analyst Kulbinder Garcha says he lowers his smartphone industry volume forecasts to 154 million and 177 million in 2009 and 2010 amid signs of slowing smartphone growth and concerns over affordability (total cost of ownership remains around $800).

Garcha thinks Research In Motion's (RIMM) share gains will slow given share loss in North America. Globally, he expects RIM's smartphone market share to be 17%/17.4% in 2009/2010, leading to unit volumes for RIM of 26 million and 26.3 million in fiscal year 2009 (February and fiscal year 2010.

He cuts fiscal year 2010 EPS view 20% to $2.94; introduces below-consensus fiscal year 2011 estimate of $3.36. He cuts $45 price target to $37.

RIM and Lenovo team up

Lenovo and Research In Motion (RIM) are reported to work together to promote new Lenovo mobile solutions that will help on-the-go business users enhance their mobile computing and communications experience through tighter integration between Lenovo ThinkPad laptop computers and BlackBerry® smartphones.
Here is the full article at Yahoo.

RIM is still hiring

At least in Ottawa, the Canadian capital region, RIM is still hiring. On RIM's career website, there are new openings posted almost daily. Ottawa houses around 4000 Nortel employees at its Carling campus. With Nortel's bankruptcy protection in place, there could be a very high number of technology workers looking for career change in the region.
For comparison, RIM has over $9 billion in revenue over the last 12 month, almost matching Nortel. But it has about 8,400 employees comparing to around 30,000 in Nortel.

Research In Motion

All about RIM

As Nortel is falling, Research In Motion becomes the Canadian flagship technology leader. What amazes me is that RIM is basically a single product company. With competitions pouring in from Apple and Google, it will be really interesting to see how it evolves. That is the sole purpose of this blog.