RIM's Port-A-Thon Has Hours to Go

by Holly Shoemaker

Developers looking to make a little cash from Research In Motion (RIM), have a few hours left today. In anticipation of its BlackBerry 10 launch on Wednesday, January 30, 2013, RIM is conducting another Port-A-Thon, a 36-hour marathon that began at noon on Friday, January 18, 2013. In that 36-hour span, RIM will pay Android developers $100 for every approved app that gets ported over to BlackBerry 10. There is a a limit of 20 paid apps per developer.

Port-A Thon Rules

RIM has allocated $500,000 toward distribution, and to qualify developers must register and submit their apps into the BlackBerry World Vendor Portal by 11:59:59 PM EST on Saturday, January 19, 2013. Any app submitted outside that timeframe, will not count, and BlackBerry must approve all apps.

Valuable Sessions?

RIM sees value in these sessions, and the Port-A-Thon held on January 11, 2013 brought in over 15,000 apps. RIM ultimately needs to gain back consumer satisfaction and apps provide a way to do that. However, the company needs to hope that top apps get transported over and meet the needs of all stakeholders involved.

BlackBerry 10 Finally Receives Launch Date, but Specifics Lack

by Holly Shoemaker

Research In Motion (RIM) has finally set a release date for its BlackBerry 10 devices – January 30, 2013. Consumers should expect to first see a full touchscreen device followed by ones with keyboard capability.

Thorsten Heins, the company’s CEO, said RIM initially used about 50 carriers for testing. While he said the number increased, no specifics were provided at this time. The company also remained vague on what devices the four major U.S. carriers would stock.

In terms of apps, Heins said the company will gain ground, but specifics lack here too. He did not mention any new apps for the BlackBerry 10, but said it will offer must-have ones and programs specific to countries. For interested developers, RIM started accepting apps for BlackBerry App World for the new QNX-based operating system in October. 

Stakeholders Respond Well

The market and analysts responded favorably to the news. Goldman Sachs upgraded the company’s shares. It stated there is a 30 percent chance that RIM’s BlackBerry 10 lineup with be successful. Goldman Sachs upgraded the company’s status to "buy" from "neutral." In turn, the stock market responded well. RIM’s shares rose almost 10 percent. While the stock rose 78 percent since September, it has lost more than 90 percent from its 2008 high.

When will the company make a profit? Analysts still expect the company to clock in a loss next year, with a turnaround expected in February 2014.

Concluding Thoughts

This is encouraging news for RIM, although the company still cannot compete with the upcoming holiday season. To that point, RIM does not seem all that concerned. Its devices will initially target the high-end market and rely on the popularity it had focusing on QWERTY. Now, after much disappointment, RIM must stay firm on this release date.

Plea to Apple: No Need to Become Less Secretive

by Holly Shoemaker

I recently read a special on cnn.com regarding how Apple should become a more open company. The article argued that Apple is more transparent than people think because it has to hold itself accountable to customers, employees and shareholders. That point is not a unique argument to companies. All of them, to some degree, need to divulge certain information, with public companies having a higher burden of course.

The article also argued that as Apple continues to grow, it will by default become less secretive. Apple has already grown throughout the years, and the company maintains that secrecy helps the company’s product development. With stock hitting record highs after the iPhone 5 launch and the Court upholding its patents, Apple does not need to become more open. In addition, the article discussed how Research in Motion (RIM) had to make itself more accessible to the public. RIM had no choice as it continues to suffer from not releasing the BlackBerry 10 update.

There are two areas that Apple will have to continue to work on: gaining customers trust back on Apple Maps and ensuring that it holds true to its word on improving working conditions in Chinese factories. That may take a little more time as Foxconn continues to gain bad press.

Concluding Thoughts

Consumers know that one way Apple retains its position in the marketplace is through secrecy. It also keeps its staff members to upholding those standards. Despite Apple coming across insincere at times, it has a formula that works and loyalists will remain true to the brand. Apple will continue to sell products because of its name.

Google will always remain more open and it should stay that way. Open-source technology differentiates the companies and assists consumers with choice. Besides, with Microsoft saying it may become more like Apple that is enough for now.

Plea to Microsoft: Do Not Become More Like Apple

by Holly Shoemaker

Microsoft will continue to make news with its upcoming release of Windows 8. Last week, Steve Ballmer, the company’s CEO, said he could envision the company becoming more like Apple. In his annual letter to shareholders, Ballmer said the company may decide to build its own smartphones to complement the upcoming Surface, the company’s first tablet. 

Concluding Thoughts

While I understand the need to compete, consumers do not need another Apple, and Microsoft will need to analyze how its current partnership with Nokia affects it standing in the smartphone market. It will also need to see how successful Windows 8 is with consumers.

I still maintain Microsoft will better position itself by filling the market gap left by Research In Motion (RIM). Despite its intentions to relate more to individual consumers, gaining strength on the business-to-business (B2B) side has strategic merit as we see with Nokia and its map app platform. With Windows 8 approaching, Microsoft should think more about the opportunity to promote its new Windows Phone and the Surface, but on a B2B scale.