Blackberry Jam

RIM is hurting.  Their attempt at a tablet was widely rejected.  Their new phone models are just recycled versions of the ones that drove people crazy in the first place.  The things that made Blackberry stand out are now used by other systems.  Their international advantage has diminished.

And now their stock is falling.  Fast.

Like Microsoft, Blackberry came out as The Thing To Have.  There was a clear advantage for businesses and people who needed security and flexibility.  That was back when 90% of the population had no idea what a POP or Exchange server was.  Unlike Microsoft, RIM didn't evolve.  People met their needs another way, and while Blackberries are secure as hell for most people it's like buying a Corvette to go to the grocery store.  Their prices have stayed outrageous, and they have little to show for their demand.

Without a breakthrough product, this may be the end of the Blackberry era.  I work in communications, and I can say their customer base widely views them with contempt and frustrated cynicism.  I see huge Android growth and development and a constant decline with Blackberry products.  The public perception is shifting, and they are no longer "the" phone.