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.

Consumer Reports Buying Guide 2012 Part Two: Rankings For Tablets and e-Readers

by Holly Shoemaker

Earlier in the week I discussed how Verizon topped Consumer Reports Buying Guide 2012 and summarized the guide's smartphone buying tips. For those more interested in tablets and e-readers, I have the rankings and advice for those too.

Tablet Buying Guidelines

• Portability – For those unconcerned with portability, Consumer Reports recommended buying a 10-inch screen.
• Viewing Angle – The guide recommended a wide viewing angle.
• Upgradable Operating System – Consumer Reports recommend to always look for an upgradeable OS.
• Apps – The guide encouraged consumers to opt for a tablet that offers a variety of apps as that will vary based on the OS manufacturer.

Tablet Rankings

In the six- to seven-inch range, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3G 16 GB ranked first with a score of 73, followed by the WiFi model at 71. Research in Motion (RIM) made the list with its BlackBerry PlayBook WiFi 32 GB model with a score of 67. However, it was not a recommended buy, which should come as no surprise.

In the nine- to 12-inch range, Apple comes out on top with the iPad 2 3G with a score of 83. The Samsung Galaxy tab 10.1 ranked third with a score of 78.

e-Reader Buying Guidelines

• Screen Size – The guide recommended that consumers look for a six-inch screen as that provides the best value.
• Touch Capability – The guide recommended that consumers look for an e-reader that offers this feature to allow for easy content selection.
• Network – As the guide covered a certain period of time, it discussed more 3G capability. Consumer Reports recommended skipping 3G access citing that WiFi access costs less.

e-Reader Rankings

In the six- to seven-inch range, the Barnes & Noble Nook Simple Touch Reader ranked first with a score of 76, followed by Amazon's Kindle 3G and then the WiFi version with a score of 75. The Barnes & Noble Nook Color came in seventh with a score of 70.