RIM: The next month is critical with Blackberry sales mixed

TalkBack 1 of 8:: Next »

Thread View
Flat View

Offer a downspec Blackberry: I think the problem is two-fold.

First, everything RIM offers is a premium, up-spec piece of equipment. The least expensive (according to the AT&T Wireless website) is a Pearl 8110 for $299.99. Even at 2-year contract pricing the least you'll spend is $50 on an 8700c. God help you if you damage the thing and aren't covered under warranty, or don't have insurance. You'd have to auction one of your kids to replace it.

Granted the iPhone is similarly priced, but it benefits in two ways: First, it's the new "it" gadget to have because it's new, it's different, and it's sexy. Second, it's got that GUI interface that makes you feel you're using something special. It might sound stupid, but if you put an iPhone next to a Blackberry, it's the same aesthetically as comparing a Blackhawk helicopter to an F-22 Raptor. And that's the second problem; cell phone users are incredibly vain and pretentious about their phones. Yes, some people need the Blackberry for business purposes and couldn't do without them. But I'm willing to bet the majority of Blackberry users have no idea of half the features available to them. I've even seen a woman buying a Blackberry for her 12 year-old son. I guess he was practicing to be a Regional Sales Manager.

I think RIM could head in the right direction if they made a smaller, cheaper version of the Pearl that didn't do as much, but was more affordable. Something the phone companies could offer for free at two-year contract pricing. Nothing moves units quicker than giving them away. Market it as a Walkman the way they do with the Sony Ericsson W580i, make the screen bigger, brighter, and retool the icons to look more polished and iPhone-like.; Posted by: TonyF2013 Posted on: 10/28/08 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use