RIM Blackberry Handsets Say “NO” to Recession
It was Dickens who once wrote “it was the best of times…it was the worst of times.”
It may be the worst of times economically for most of the world, but it sure hasn’t phased sales of the Blackberry Storm since it was introduced in November, 2008. On the contrary, consumers have snapped up over 3.9 million Blackberry handsets in the December, January and February - with over 70% of subscribers being “non-enterprise”, (aka “consumers”).
The company has pushed hard to make the Storm, especially, the phone for not just your average lawyer or high-powered businessperson. It also wants to be the phone of choice for the average upscale cell phone user as well. And it now seems the strategy is working. Just about one half of RIMs 25 million subscriber base can presently be categorized as “consumers”.
This kind of news couldn’t come at a better time for RIM executives. Apple, Nokia, Motorola, RIM and other handset makers have been battling for their share of the touchscreen market since the iPhone was released in 2007. Still the King of the Hill, the iPhone does have its work cut out for it to continue to stay on top. If RIM can continue its assault on the iPhone with another popular new model this year, it will continue to eat its way into iPhone’s market share. One thing about the cell phone industry these days….it is never boring.
