The iPhone has become the bellwether when it comes to gauging how well phones do at launch. The iPhone 3GS is estimated to have done better than most phones, with Apple reporting a million sold in the first three days. The Palm Pre launch was compared to the iPhone 3GS launch (endlessly), and is widely believed to have been whooped soundly by the newest phone from Apple. That may not be the case with the latest BlackBerry, the Tour, that launched just a few days ago. Analysts are estimating that Verizon’s launch of the Tour saw around 300,000 phones move out the door, in just the first 24 hours. While that level of sales may not keep up for long it’s on a par with the iPhone 3GS numbers.
The Tour is a solid product from RIM, and the first new BlackBerry launched on Verizon’s network since the Storm. The Tour can be used globally, something popular with business travelers and BlackBerry enthusiasts. The BlackBerry Curve has been a very popular seller for RIM, and Tour sales are estimated to be three times those of the Curve. It looks like Verizon and RIM have a very hot item on the market.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Google's CEO Uses a BlackBerry!
At Allen & Co.'s media summit in Sun Valley, AP photographer Nati Harnik took a meta photo of Google CEO Eric Schmidt taking pictures of reporters gathered outside the Sun Valley Inn.
Not in the AP's caption: Google's CEO is -- gasp! -- using a Research In Motion BlackBerry to take the photo, not a Google Android-based device.
How is Android supposed to conquer the world if Google's boss is still a CrackBerry addict? Is he borrowing Bill Gates' phone to take photos?
Thursday, June 18, 2009
RIM Q1 Result Out
Revenue for the first quarter of fiscal 2010 was $3.42 billion, comparable with $3.46 billion in the previous quarter and up 53% from $2.24 billion in the same quarter of last year. The revenue breakdown for the quarter was approximately 81% for devices, 13% for service, 2% for software and 4% for other revenue. During the quarter, RIM shipped approximately 7.8 million devices.
Approximately 3.8 million net new BlackBerry subscriber accounts were added in the quarter. At the end of the quarter, the total BlackBerry subscriber account base was approximately 28.5 million.
Stock is down 5% after the result.
Approximately 3.8 million net new BlackBerry subscriber accounts were added in the quarter. At the end of the quarter, the total BlackBerry subscriber account base was approximately 28.5 million.
Stock is down 5% after the result.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
The New Tour 9630
RIM rolled out its newest handset the Tour 9630, which has 3G capabilities and is said to be able to operate globally. The new handset will be sold at a price of $199.99, after rebates and on a two-year contract, in the US through Verizon Wireless and Sprint Nextel. The new model is said to be the company's answer to Apple's new 3GS iPhone.
Friday, June 12, 2009
RIM BUYS DASH
Research In Motion has acquired U.S.-based Dash Navigation, allowing the BlackBerry maker to provide real-time traffic information and its own GPS mapping solutions. There were few details available on the acquistion, confirmed yesterday by RIM. Dash Navigation was the maker of an Internet-connected GPS system, that provided traffic and destination information. The acquisition would allow RIM to improve on its GPSenabled smartphones.
JP Morgan Boosts Estimate
J.P. Morgan analyst Ehud Gelbaum raised his estimates and price target on Research In Motion (RIMM), while maintaining his Neutral rating on the stock.
Gelbaum, boosted his EPS estimate for the February 2010 fiscal year to $4.06 from $3.71; for FY 2011 his estimate is unchanged at $4.64. For the May quarter, his new estimate is 96 cents, up from 88 cents. His price target on the share is now $88, up from $74. The stock closed yesterday at $83.45.
Gelbaum writes in a research note that the higher EPS estimates reflects an upward revision in his expectations for both gross margins and devices sold for the latest quarter. His forecast on units shipped for the May quarter rises to 7.9 million from 7.7 million, "reflecting the ultra-lean channel inventories entering the quarter and the overall decent handset trends in Q2."
He also says the company could raise FY 2010 gross margin guidance from low 40s to the same 43%-44% range they forecast for Q1, given that "none of RIMM's soon-to-be-launched phones this year contain margin busting new components," unlike FY 2009 when the touch-screen Storm was introduced.
Gelbaum, boosted his EPS estimate for the February 2010 fiscal year to $4.06 from $3.71; for FY 2011 his estimate is unchanged at $4.64. For the May quarter, his new estimate is 96 cents, up from 88 cents. His price target on the share is now $88, up from $74. The stock closed yesterday at $83.45.
Gelbaum writes in a research note that the higher EPS estimates reflects an upward revision in his expectations for both gross margins and devices sold for the latest quarter. His forecast on units shipped for the May quarter rises to 7.9 million from 7.7 million, "reflecting the ultra-lean channel inventories entering the quarter and the overall decent handset trends in Q2."
He also says the company could raise FY 2010 gross margin guidance from low 40s to the same 43%-44% range they forecast for Q1, given that "none of RIMM's soon-to-be-launched phones this year contain margin busting new components," unlike FY 2009 when the touch-screen Storm was introduced.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
RIM Takes Over 1/3 Of Cell Phone Industry Profits
Although smart phones represent a small portion of all cell phones sold every year, when it comes to profit, RIM and Apples are going to take the majority in 2009.
RIM did the best on profit growth, increasing its estimated share of industry profits from 8% (2007) to 19% (2008) to 35% (2009). Apple’s share of industry operating profits went from 3% in 2007 to 20% in 2008 and to an estimated 31% in 2009.
Source: Tech Crunch
RIM did the best on profit growth, increasing its estimated share of industry profits from 8% (2007) to 19% (2008) to 35% (2009). Apple’s share of industry operating profits went from 3% in 2007 to 20% in 2008 and to an estimated 31% in 2009.
Source: Tech Crunch
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
BlackBerry Is Behind In Web Traffic
According to a AdMob report, iPhone leads in Web Traffic in Apple, while BlackBerry is in a distance third place.
Source: AdMob
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Yahoo! Mobile For BlackBerry Get Cancelled
An interesting development at Yahoo. Here is an email received by a Yahoo! Mobile Beta user.
From: Yahoo! Mobile beta
ReplyTo: xxxxx
Subject: Yahoo! Mobile for smartphones beta update
Sent: May 18, 2009 8:30 AM
After careful consideration, Yahoo! has decided to cease development of Yahoo! Mobile for smartphones effective Wednesday, May 20th.
Moving forward, we will be focusing our efforts on the newly-launched Yahoo! Mobile experience for browsers (available at new.m.yahoo.com) and for the iPhone (available via the Apple App Store).
The feedback we’ve received from our beta testers during this program has been extremely helpful in improving the customer experience across all of our Yahoo! Mobile products. We hope you’ve enjoyed being a beta tester and that you’ll continue to provide passionate input to us regarding our products.
We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you. If you have further feedback or any other questions, please contact customer care.
Many thanks,
The Yahoo! Mobile team
From: Yahoo! Mobile beta
ReplyTo: xxxxx
Subject: Yahoo! Mobile for smartphones beta update
Sent: May 18, 2009 8:30 AM
After careful consideration, Yahoo! has decided to cease development of Yahoo! Mobile for smartphones effective Wednesday, May 20th.
Moving forward, we will be focusing our efforts on the newly-launched Yahoo! Mobile experience for browsers (available at new.m.yahoo.com) and for the iPhone (available via the Apple App Store).
The feedback we’ve received from our beta testers during this program has been extremely helpful in improving the customer experience across all of our Yahoo! Mobile products. We hope you’ve enjoyed being a beta tester and that you’ll continue to provide passionate input to us regarding our products.
We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you. If you have further feedback or any other questions, please contact customer care.
Many thanks,
The Yahoo! Mobile team
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
RIM has no netbook plans
RIM’s co-CEO Jim Balsillie has promised that the company will stay focused on phones, despite its competitors - particularly Nokia - talking about diversifying to netbooks and laptops.
Balsillie said the company has no interest in adding a netbook to RIM's product line. The only netbook Balsillie is interested in is one "you can hold up to your ear and clip onto your belt." In other words, a BlackBerry. Anything larger just won't cut it, as a parade of discontinued non-phone portable hardware has already shown us. "These devices don’t work," he said.
Interestingly, Apple has a similar view on netbooks. Asked about Apple's interest in the category during an late April earnings calls, COO Tim Cook said it has none.
Balsillie said the company has no interest in adding a netbook to RIM's product line. The only netbook Balsillie is interested in is one "you can hold up to your ear and clip onto your belt." In other words, a BlackBerry. Anything larger just won't cut it, as a parade of discontinued non-phone portable hardware has already shown us. "These devices don’t work," he said.
Interestingly, Apple has a similar view on netbooks. Asked about Apple's interest in the category during an late April earnings calls, COO Tim Cook said it has none.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
SAP CRM Available on BlackBerry Smartphones
The new BlackBerry Sales Client for SAP CRM, which was recognized at SAPPHIRE 2009 with an SAP Pinnacle Award for Innovation, is now available from RIM, giving sales reps simple, secure, real-time access to customer information in SAP CRM with the same seamless and intuitive experience they have come to expect from BlackBerry smartphones. The new solution is being showcased by SAP and RIM at SAPPHIRE.
Details are here.
Details are here.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
RIM Chief Bids for NHL's Coyotes
Jim Balsillie, the co-chief executive of Canadian smartphone maker Research in Motion, made a $212.5 million offer to buy the National Hockey League's Phoenix Coyotes on Tuesday, following the team's unexpected bankruptcy filing, which was announced by the team's owner.
The offer is conditional on the team relocating to Southern Ontario, according to a statement by Balsillie.
Details here.
The offer is conditional on the team relocating to Southern Ontario, according to a statement by Balsillie.
Details here.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Google Apps Will Soon Connects With BlackBerry Enterprise Server
Google Apps Connector for BES will offer:
Google is currently beta testing Apps Connector with "select companies and universities", with free availability to all Premier/Education customers come July.
Here is the full article
- Gmail with push support, offline access, read/delete sync, spam filtering, and support for archiving/stars right.
- One-way sync (GCal > BlackBerry) with Google Calendar, with support for recurring meetings and meeting notification alerts.
- Two-way sync for contacts.
Google is currently beta testing Apps Connector with "select companies and universities", with free availability to all Premier/Education customers come July.
Here is the full article
J.P. Morgan Upgraded RIM
A little over a month after J.P. Morgan downgraded RIM, it raised its rating to neutral from underweight and set a $74 price target - well above its prior $40 stock call.
If people bought the stock when JP downgraded it and sell today when it upgrades, it seems a very good return. A reverse indicator? :)
If people bought the stock when JP downgraded it and sell today when it upgrades, it seems a very good return. A reverse indicator? :)
Monday, May 4, 2009
The Best-Selling Smartphone in the U.S. in Q1
BlackBerry Curve move past Apple's iPhone to become the best-selling consumer smartphone in the U.S. in Q1 of 2009, according to a market research report Monday.
RIM's consumer smartphone market share increased 15 percent to nearly 50 percent of the smartphone market in the first quarter versus the prior quarter, as Apple's and Palm's share both declined 10 percent each.
Port Washington, N.Y.-based NPD Group Inc. said that the top five best-selling smartphones in the quarter were:
1) BlackBerry Curve
2) Apple's iPhone 3G (all models)
3) BlackBerry Storm
4) BlackBerry Pearl (all models except flip)
5) T-Mobile G1
RIM's consumer smartphone market share increased 15 percent to nearly 50 percent of the smartphone market in the first quarter versus the prior quarter, as Apple's and Palm's share both declined 10 percent each.
Port Washington, N.Y.-based NPD Group Inc. said that the top five best-selling smartphones in the quarter were:
1) BlackBerry Curve
2) Apple's iPhone 3G (all models)
3) BlackBerry Storm
4) BlackBerry Pearl (all models except flip)
5) T-Mobile G1
HP CloudPrint for BlackBerry Smartphones
HP CloudPrint for BlackBerry smartphones is a web services based solution that allows users to print emails, documents, photos and web pages using a BlackBerry smartphone, wherever they are – in the office, at home or on the road.
The CloudPrint service enables mobile users to easily print to the nearest printer. The service is printer-agnostic and driverless and requires simple Internet access. HP and RIM plan to make CloudPrint available to BlackBerry Internet Service subscribers as well as BlackBerry Enterprise Server customers.
The CloudPrint service enables mobile users to easily print to the nearest printer. The service is printer-agnostic and driverless and requires simple Internet access. HP and RIM plan to make CloudPrint available to BlackBerry Internet Service subscribers as well as BlackBerry Enterprise Server customers.
RIM Released a New BlackBerry Push API
RIM is extending its existing, well-proven push technology from the enterprise into the consumer space, allowing developers to leverage push technology for BlackBerry applications targeted at consumers. Push technology provides a proactive mechanism for developers to deliver data to BlackBerry smartphones as it becomes available. It brings immediacy to mobile communications with real-time content, preserves battery life, and minimizes data usage by eliminating the need for "poking" and "polling" servers. RIM's unique push technology significantly enhances the user experience and provides a proactive mechanism for developers to deliver data to BlackBerry smartphones as the data becomes available.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
3 Business (UK) Offers BlackBerry Bold for Under £30 a month
3 Business today announced the launch of the BlackBerry solution on its network for the first time ever. The company is offering the 3G (HSDPA) -enabled BlackBerry Bold smartphone to 3 Business subscribers, providing small businesses a powerful, stylish smartphone with the industry's leading email and messaging solution as a competitively priced package on the UK's largest 3G network.
The BlackBerry Bold smartphone is available for just £29.79 a month on 3 Business' 900 package, which includes a free handset, 1125 minutes, 150 texts, 2000 3-to-3 minutes and 1GB of data for email and web browsing on BlackBerry Internet Service.
The BlackBerry Bold smartphone is available for just £29.79 a month on 3 Business' 900 package, which includes a free handset, 1125 minutes, 150 texts, 2000 3-to-3 minutes and 1GB of data for email and web browsing on BlackBerry Internet Service.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
I Love BlackBerry
A free application "I Love BlackBerry" can be downloaded at EarlySail. It will show your usage during work hours and during nights and weekends. It organizes your daily, weekly, monthly usage for the current period as well as displays long term averages.
To download it, click here.
To download it, click here.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Apple's Co-Founder uses BlackBerry
Lifehacker.com had an interview with Apple Co-Founder Steve Wozniak lately. In answering one of the questions, he mentioned he had a iPhone and a Blackberry, but not using them for emails. Here is the details:
Lifehacker: What gadgets and software applications do you use on a day-to-day basis?
Steve Wozniak: I have such a crowded life and crowded schedule. When people send me a link with a gadget, I'll look at it and buy it if it looks interesting, but I don't have time to check out everything I'd like to.
I do have a Nixie Tube watch, which I get a lot of benefit from. The biggest benefit in my life comes from my Segway, which I use everywhere I am. If I'm going to San Antonio, for example, I'll load it in the car and just go everywhere with it. The other crucial thing is my Verizon wireless card, which I have to have because hotel Wi-Fi is just so unreliable.
... I have one MacBook Pro, with a 17-inch screen. I got into that and consciously separated myself from having 3, 4, 5 computers in my life, which just became too much. As far as the mobile devices, I've gone through all the different smartphones, all the different gadgets. For a while I was using a Razr for voice and messing with mobile devices, but now I'm traveling with an iPhone and a BlackBerry. I don't use them very much for email, though, unless I'm detained for a long, unexpected stretch. I save answering my email for when I'm going to be in front of my nice, comfortable keyboard.
Lifehacker: What gadgets and software applications do you use on a day-to-day basis?
Steve Wozniak: I have such a crowded life and crowded schedule. When people send me a link with a gadget, I'll look at it and buy it if it looks interesting, but I don't have time to check out everything I'd like to.
I do have a Nixie Tube watch, which I get a lot of benefit from. The biggest benefit in my life comes from my Segway, which I use everywhere I am. If I'm going to San Antonio, for example, I'll load it in the car and just go everywhere with it. The other crucial thing is my Verizon wireless card, which I have to have because hotel Wi-Fi is just so unreliable.
... I have one MacBook Pro, with a 17-inch screen. I got into that and consciously separated myself from having 3, 4, 5 computers in my life, which just became too much. As far as the mobile devices, I've gone through all the different smartphones, all the different gadgets. For a while I was using a Razr for voice and messing with mobile devices, but now I'm traveling with an iPhone and a BlackBerry. I don't use them very much for email, though, unless I'm detained for a long, unexpected stretch. I save answering my email for when I'm going to be in front of my nice, comfortable keyboard.
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