01/24, 2:33pm
Move would bolster Lenovo's mobile presence, help shift from PCs
In an effort to enhance its mobile business, electronics manufacturer Lenovo is allegedly considering a deal with BlackBerry manufacturer Research in Motion (RIM). A report published earlier today by Bloomberg claims that RIM began a review of options last year after losing most of its marketshare to competitors, and reports that the Chief Financial Officer Wong Wai had spoken to RIM and bankers about combinations of acquisitions or strategic ventures.
more
01/23, 3:35pm
Management software gets BlackBerry 10 compatibility
Research in Motion is now shipping BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10. The software handles mobile device, security, and app management tasks for large organizations. The v10 release includes compatibility with RIM's upcoming BlackBerry 10-based phones, such as the Z10.
more
01/21, 7:39am
Management discusses options in strategic review post BB10 launch
Research In Motion is considering selling its hardware production arm after the launch of BlackBerry 10, as one of a number of potential actions. RIM CEO Thorsten Heins said that a strategic review could lead towards the sale, or potentially offering licenses for its software to other manufacturers, opening the door to non-RIM BlackBerry devices in the future.
more
01/10, 5:23am
RIM boosted by support from major US carriers
RIM has received a boost with the major carriers including Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile all confirming that they will be offering BlackBerry 10-powered devices on launch, reports Reuters. Executives from each of the wireless powerhouses were hopeful, and also indicated continued business interest in RIM’s devices for enterprise deployment. If RIM is to enjoy a second coming, after rapidly falling to the wayside following the rise of the iPhone and Android devices, carrier support will play a critical role if it is to have a future.
more
01/03, 1:22pm
Samsung also grabbing more share
iOS and Android further consolidated their dominance of smartphone platforms in the US during a three-month period ending in November, according to new comScore data. Google's Android rose from 52.6 percent in August to 53.7 percent in November, while Apple's iOS advanced from 34.3 to 35 percent. Losing out in the battle were RIM -- slipping from 8.3 to 7.3 percent -- and Microsoft, which dropped 0.6 points to 3 percent. Symbian dwindled an extra 0.2 points to 0.5 percent.
more
01/02, 8:56pm
Chitika sees iPad share dropping 7.14 percent over holidays
Apple's iPad and iPad mini may have been a top-selling item over the holiday period, but entries from competitors sold strongly enough to slightly loosen Cupertino's stranglehold on the tablet sector. This according to new figures out from Chitika Insights, which looked at hundreds of millions of smartphone and tablet ad impressions from December 1 to December 27, 2012 in Canada and the United States. Chitika found that tablets from Amazon, Samsung, Google, and Microsoft gained a combined total of 5.5 percent market share over that period, while Apple's iPad lost 7.14 percent share.
more
12/31, 1:05pm
RFH121LW shows up with no pics or specs
As the date for RIM's BlackBerry 10 unveiling approaches, yet another device that will run the forthcoming OS has shown up at the FCC for approval. This newest device, bearing the model number RFH121LW, appeared at the regulatory body with little in the way of information on its specs or connectivity. Despite the lack of details, the secrecy in the filing could point to the device being an as-yet-unrevealed third handset to accompany the touchscreen L-Series and QWERTY-enabled N-Series phones RIM is expected to reveal in late January.
more
12/29, 10:41pm
New pictures show BlackBerry OS 10 running on handset
Just a few days after earlier, blurrier pictures emerged, the forthcoming BlackBerry device with the hardware QWERTY keyboard has shown up yet again in photos. The new images give a clearer view of the device, said to be named the BlackBerry X10, and show the handset running the newest version of BlackBerry OS 10. The screens seem to indicate, as well, that several popular apps will be available for BlackBerry OS 10 as soon as the new operating system launches.
more
12/26, 5:14am
RIM aims to boost developer interest in BB10 with Android Port-A-Thon
RIM has announced that its Android Port-A-Thon will be held on January 11. The event is being held to boost developer interest and ultimately, RIM hopes, spur user interest in its forthcoming BlackBerry 10 OS. RIM CEO Thorsten Heins has promised that BB10 will launch with at least 70,000 apps and is promising developers cash and a chance to win hardware for every Android app ported.
more
12/24, 5:10pm
Possible final build of hardware keyboard-toting BlackBerry
Images of the forthcoming BlackBerry 10 N-Series handset with a physical keyboard have leaked once again, giving the best view to date of what the handset will look like when it launches some time next year. The device pictured in the new images looks largely unchanged from what was seen earlier this year in leaked press images, with a large, squarish touchscreen above the QWERTY keyboard that is the signature of the BlackBerry line. The N-Series is expected to launch after the all-touchscreen L-Series, which will debut in media events around the world on January 30.
more
12/21, 6:01am
Nokia, RIM reach agreement ending all outstanding claims
Struggling smartphone giants RIM and Nokia have reached a settlement ending all outstanding patent claims between the two companies. A statement issued by Nokia indicates that the settlement is heavily weighted in its favor. Nokia will receive a one-time payment from RIM while the Canadian company will also furnish Nokia with ongoing payments, although the details of which remain undisclosed.
more
12/20, 5:39pm
$2.7 billion in revenue down five percent from previous quarter
Beleaguered BlackBerry manufacturer Research In Motion today reported its financial results for the quarter ended December 1, beating analyst expectations with an adjusted loss of 22 cents per share. Wall Street prognosticators had expected a loss of 35 cents per share, but RIM's ongoing cost cutting efforts caused the company to outperform expectations with $2.7 billion in revenue and an adjusted net loss of $114 million. The better-than-expected results may give the struggling smartphone maker some breathing room with investors as it prepares to launch its next generation of BlackBerry devices early next year.
more
12/06, 5:45pm
Biggest corporate customers, government eligible for program
Research in Motion today revealed a program of incentives to its largest corporate customers to encourage them to upgrade to the upcoming BlackBerry 10 ecosystem. RIM is offering online training, webcasts, and free trade-ups of licenses and services for many of its government and corporate clients still on the platform. The educational materials are available now, with the trade-in program commencing just before the January 30 BlackBerry 10 launch.
more
12/01, 8:30pm
Goldman faith in BB10 pumps RIM stocks
Embattled BlackBerry maker Research In Motion saw its stock jump slightly this week as investment bank Goldman Sachs expressed confidence in RIM's ability to return to profitability on the back of its forthcoming BlackBerry 10 operating system and devices. RIM shares closed at $11.60 on Friday, up 0.52 percent for the day and up significantly from their close on Wednesday. On Thursday, shares had jumped as much as four percent in light of Goldman's prediction. Overall, shares of RIM are up nearly 80 percent since late September.
more
11/27, 8:46pm
Corporate purchases of iPhones over six times that of BB units
Everyone knows that Research in Motion (RIM), the makers of the BlackBerry, have had a rough year -- but the disinterest in the platform has spread to even its most core constituency, corporate and enterprise buyers, industry analyst IDC reports. A significant portion of that disenchantment may stem from the burgeoning Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) movement, that has seen a grass-roots exodus away from BlackBerrys in favor of iOS devices, along with some Android devices, amid growing impatience for BB10 to arrive.
more
11/27, 2:20pm
Patagonia 9620 is a budget RIM phone with OS 7.1
A new Nextel Mexico ad spotted online reveals a new BlackBerry handset will soon be released. However, the phone, called Patagonia 9620, will arrive at Nextel Mexico sometime in December, though pricing nor release dates aren't revealed. The ad does reveal the phone's specs, which include OS 7.1, a 1.2GHz Qualcomm MSM8655 processor and 768MB of RAM.
more
11/20, 8:05pm
Federal agency joins ICE, large contractors declaring intentions
Casting doubt on Research In Motion CEO Thorsten Heins' declaration that he expects at least 400,000 government customers in the United States to upgrade to BlackBerry 10 devices, the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has revealed its plan to switch to Apple's iPhone 5. The move will take place in phases across calendar year 2013, with the ultimate intention of shifting away from the BlackBerry architecture completely.
more
11/19, 1:59pm
Claims company not talking about emissions, clean energy
Environmental activism group Greenpeace has downgraded Apple in its 18th annual Guide to Green Electronics. The slip to sixth place is blamed on a "lack of transparency" with several issues, namely "GHG [greenhouse gas] emission reporting, clean energy advocacy, further information on its [Apple's] management of toxic chemicals, and details on post-consumer recycled plastic use."
more
11/14, 11:25am
Samsung grows lead on Apple in smartphone sales
Android devices now represent 72.4 percent of the cellphone market, according to new third-quarter research data by Gartner. The figure represents a major boost over Q3 2011, when Android had a 52.5 percent share. Some of that ground appears to have come from the platform's closest rival, iOS, which has slipped from 15 to 13.9 percent. Also down are Research in Motion's BlackBerry phones, shifting from 11 to 5.3 percent, and Symbian, shrinking from 16.9 percent to just 2.6.
more
11/12, 8:51am
Mobile OS, two new BlackBerry 10 handsets to be formally unveilled
Research In Motion is planning to launch BlackBerry 10 on January 30th, CEO Thorsten Heins has revealed. A launch event for the mobile operating system will take place in a number of countries around the world, which will also play host to the first public unveiling of two new smartphones running BlackBerry 10.
more
11/11, 7:15pm
Contest to fill app catalog offers trips to GDC, hardware
Research In Motion is preparing to offer developers rewards for porting games to BlackBerry 10. Starting on November 16th and lasting 36 hours, the Got Game Port-a-Thon will provide cash and prizes to developers who successfully put their app on the platform, with the value of prizes on offer increasing with the number of successful submissions from a participant.
more
11/08, 6:03am
RIM scores key win with security certification for BB10 OS
Embattled Canadian handset maker RIM has scored a key win for its BlackBerry 10 OSim, gaining security clearance for use in both US and Canadian government agencies. The FIPS (Federal Information Processing Standard) 140-2 certification is awarded to operating systems that meet the standards required for secure and encrypted data storage on devices. When RIM’s BlackBerry 10 handsets go on sale in Q1 2013, they will be permitted for use in sensitive environments immediately, also making them attractive to enterprise markets as well.
more
11/04, 7:30pm
RIM 7-inch tablet has faster processor, fixed storage
Blackberry has released the PlayBook 3G+ in the United Kingdom. The tablet has been made available in the country with a single storage capacity of 32GB, and while the 3G data connection is a welcome addition, it does not have the capability of connecting to the newly-launched and faster national 4G network.
more
11/02, 4:42pm
BlackBerry, Symbian plummet year-over-year, iOS ticks up
Seventy-five percent of the smartphones shipped last quarter ran Google's Android operating system, according to new figures out from market analysis firm IDC. The new total represents a jump of nearly 20 percentage points over Android's market share for the same quarter last year, with much of Android's growth coming from corresponding drops in share for Nokia's Symbian platform and Research In Motion's BlackBerry operating system. Year-over-year, Android smartphone shipments were up 91.5 percent, while shipments of smartphones running Apple's iOS were up 57.3 percent.
more
10/31, 5:02pm
RIM makes ready for first quarter launch
Research In Motion has begun carrier testing devices running its forthcoming BlackBerry 10 operating system, the company announced today. The Canadian manufacturer said the new OS had achieved lab entry with more than 50 carriers, and RIM still expects to launch devices running the OS in the first quarter of next year.
more
10/29, 1:20pm
Support could allow up to 8 million devices on DoD network
The Pentagon is working to open up its network to iOS and Android devices, according to an official document noticed by the Washington Times. The Department of Defense says it is hiring a contractor to build a system supporting at least 162,500 iOS and Android devices. In the future, that technology could be expanded to allow up to 8 million devices.
more
10/12, 10:37am
Mexican RIM rep shows off BB10 on L-series handset
While RIM officially outlined some features of its upcoming BlackBerry 10 platform earlier this week, Mexican RIM representatives are demonstrating the handsets to media. Specifically, an L-Series handset running on the BlackBerry 10 operating system was demonstrated in a near five minute-long video, offering the best look yet at a working version of the OS. Unfortunately, no specs or other information is revealed about the hardware itself.
more
10/10, 2:32pm
Balance feature locks enterprise functions
Research In Motion headlined the second-day keynote at the MobileCon expo in San Diego, where the company once again showed off its upcoming BlackBerry 10 platform. Chief information officer Robin Bienfait reiterated RIM's commitment to building a fresh computing platform "from the ground up," and further claimed the mobile device is "approaching the functionality and power of a laptop."
more
10/01, 8:50pm
Aristo to have 2GB RAM, 4.65-inch touchscreen
While previous leaks detailed only two forthcoming BlackBerry 10 devices, a new leak reveals that the company may be working on a third device. Rapid Berry has uncovered what appears to be an internal document detailing the specifications of the Aristo, a previously unheard of touchscreen device running BlackBerry 10. The new device is bigger than the other expected touchscreen BlackBerry 10 device, and packs more memory as well.
more
09/28, 7:06am
BlackBerry 10 N-series handset appears in publicity shots
The first press shots of a RIM BlackBerry 10 N-series handset with a physical keyboard have appeared in a leaked video (since pulled). However, CrackBerry managed to capture some screen shots for posterity showing a much more contemporary looking take on RIM’s traditional handset style. The N-series will sit alongside the all touch screen L-series of handsets that RIM hopes to start shipping in Q1 2013.
more
09/21, 11:49am
BlackBerry services go out for three hours in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East
RIM has already fixed an issue with BlackBerry services on Friday that saw them unavailable for a few hours in Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. The outage was registered by RIM and fixed just about three hours later, followed by an apology to its customers. Reasons for the outage aren't known.
more
09/20, 1:35pm
iPhone 5 teardown pictures surface
German site iPhone-Garage has somehow received an iPhone 5 unit and set about disassembling the device to reveal its internals. The site posted images of the teardown process, which reveals little that was not previously known about the device. It is notable that the site somehow acquired one of the new iPhones, though no information is available on how exactly the site's authors went about doing so or if the images came from another source.
more
09/04, 2:55pm
Android controls smartphone platforms
Samsung retained its top spot in the US phone market during the July quarter, but lost a little ground to some of its rivals, according to new tracking data from comScore. At the end of the April quarter Samsung had 25.9 percent of the market; by the end of July, though, it had dropped 0.3 points to sit at 25.6 percent. Also losing some share were second-place LG, which slipped from 19.2 percent to 18.4, and Motorola, which dipped from 12.5 percent to 11.2.
more
09/04, 8:26am
BlackBerry 10 'London' turns up again ahead of launch
RIM’s forthcoming BlackBerry 10 ‘London’ smartphone has surfaced again ahead of its official release in the coming months. The latest snapshot comes courtesy of CrackBerry, and shows a launcher screen for the first time with icons seeming to merge a ‘Metro’ look with a more traditional touchscreen icon paradigm. Among the apps shown include BBM, Facebook, Music, Pictures, Remember, Calendar, Contacts, Browser, Text Messaging and a new StoryMaker app that looks like it will produce custom movies.
more
08/02, 10:09am
RIM will launch the 4G LTE-enabled PlayBook tablet on Bell, Rogers and Telus on August 9
RIM revealed on Thursday that its much-anticipated 4G LTE PlayBook tablet will be hitting some of its Canadian stores on August 9. It will only be available through Bell, Rogers, and Telus, though pricing hasn't quite been confirmed. The tablet will use a microSIM card to access the high-speed network.
more
07/30, 8:10am
Apparently stillborn 10-inch BlackBerry PlayBook revealed
Vietnamese site Tinhte has received images of the rumored, but unreleased, 10-inch BlackBerry PlayBook leaked images tablet. The tablet gets torn down as evidence that it is authentic with its innards splayed to reveal what appears to be a device that is ready to ship. However, all reports suggest that the device was stillborn and that this production-ready example may be one prepared ahead of what appears to have turned into an aborted product launch.
more
07/21, 11:36pm
Patent declared an 'obvious variant' of previous work
Eastman Kokak has failed to win an appeal with the US International Trade Commission (ITC) against RIM and Apple regarding digital image preview technology. The ITC agreed with the ruling judge that neither Apple nor RIM violated the patent in any products, as the original patent was clearly a derivative of prior work. The specific reasoning for the appeal refusal will be released once all sides have redacted confidential information.
more
07/17, 12:10am
Latest blow in a series of bad news for RIM
RIM has taken another shot in what it hopes will be the road to recovery. Qantas Airlines has announced plans to replace all 1,300 corporate-sponsored BlackBerry devices in its employ with iPhones. Not only is the iPhone favored by upper management and polled staff members over the Blackberry, the move is expected to save Australia's national airline millions of dollars per year.
more
07/14, 10:03pm
Remote management software found to infringe
Research in Motion has been found liable by a federal jury for infringing on patents held by Mformation Technologies. Reuters reports that jurors have found that the Canadian hardware manufacturer had infringed on remote device management software held by the New Jersey-based Mformation, and RIM has been ordered to pay a royalty of $147.2 million. The company has already filed an appeal to reverse the verdict.
more
07/04, 8:31am
RIM facing more financial pressure as the squeeze gets tighter
Struggling Canadian smartphone maker RIM is now facing a fee squeeze from carriers, reports Bloomberg. Already reeling from plunging sales and its first-ever quarterly loss, carriers are said to be pressuring RIM to reduce the fees that that they draw from customers through monthly contract charges. The fees generate as much as $4 billion for RIM’s annual bottom line, or a third of its revenue, and is yet another problem to hit its besieged CEO Thorsten Heins.
more
07/02, 4:13pm
Samsung, LG, Apple three big US OEMs
New quarterly data indicates little change in the US cellphone market, according to research firm ComScore. Android devices continue to dominate as a platform, up 0.8 percent to account for 50.9 percent of smartphones. Apple's iPhone, meanwhile, has grown 1.7 percent to claim a 31.9 percent share. Research in Motion has fallen 2 points to 11.4 percent, while Microsoft is up a tenth of a point to 4 percent. Symbian continues to lose remaining ground, dipping 0.4 percent to a 1.1 percent share.
more
06/29, 7:26am
RIM Board under pressure to make Windows 8 decision
Following RIM’s dire Q1 2013 results, sources have revealed that a late switch to Windows Phone 8 is being seriously considered as an option, reports Reuters. In addition to announcing a record $518 million loss during its conference call, the company also announced that its comeback OS, BlackBerry 10 has been delayed yet again, now into 2013. RIM’s Board is said to be under pressure to come up with an alternative solution CEO Thorsten Heins plan to stay on its current course.
more
06/26, 4:10pm
New BBM user interface, color scheme
Following on the heels of an image leak that was claimed to show off the first two BlackBerry 10 devices, additional images of a revamped interface for BlackBerry Messenger on BlackBerry 10 have surfaced. N4BB.com has acquired two images that appear to reveal the reworked messaging service. The UI is believed to have been redesigned to take advantage of the OLED screens said to be featured on RIM's forthcoming phones.
more
06/25, 4:33pm
Touchscreen-only and keyboard model pictured
Leaked images and initial specs appear to shed more light on not one but two forthcoming handsets from RIM. BlackBerry news site N4BB.com has secured what appears to be an internal document showing off BlackBerry L-Series and N-Series devices. Notably, the document may give a first look at the hardware-keyboard model, promised by RIM execs after news broke that the first handset to feature BlackBerry 10 would be a touchscreen-only device.
more
06/21, 3:24pm
Physical keyboards on BlackBerry 10 devices will arrive eventually, but not at launch
Breaking with a long-standing tradition, Research In Motion (RIM) confirmed on Thursday that its first device running on the upcoming BlackBerry 10 OS won't have a physical, QWERTY keyboard. That handset is rumored to arrive in mid-October, with the touchscreen rumors also originating from this story. Instead, the phone will have a virtual, on-screen keyboard like competitors from Apple and Android-powered devices, The Washington Post reported.
more
06/20, 5:08pm
Rumored layoffs said to materialize
Reports have emerged that Research In Motion has begun laying off large amounts of its workforce as the troubled handset maker struggles to return to profitability. Layoffs have been expected for some time now at RIM, as the company has committed to slimming down its operations. RIM confirmed to AllThingsD today, though, that significant head count reductions are underway.
more
06/18, 9:00pm
Three to six month cessation, little impact on company
Toronto phone manufacturer Celestica announced Monday that it is ceasing production of BlackBerry-based devices by embattled producer Research in Motion. Celestica is tapering off production over the next three to six months, and will continue to work in the short term assessing RIM's future supply chain strategies.
more
06/08, 6:40pm
RIM to 'remain committed' to tablets
Research in Motion (RIM) is no longer producing the cheapest, lowest-memory version of the beleaguered PlayBook tablet. The 16GB model will be removed from inventory lists after the stock currently in retailer's possession is gone. Production will continue on the 32 and 64GB versions of the seven-inch tablet.
more
06/02, 6:29pm
Complainant in different industry, BBM allowed to be used by RIM
BlackBerry manufacturer Research in Motion (RIM) has won a rare victory in court. The Federal Court of Canada has ruled that RIM can continue to use the acronym BBM, for BlackBerry Messenger, as an analyst firm challenging the trademark operates in an entirely different industry.
more
05/29, 7:26pm
Bankers called in to guide turnaround
Research In Motion has admitted that its fiscal first-quarter, which ends on June 2, is expected to show an operating loss as the BlackBerry maker continues to struggle in the smartphone and tablet markets. Amid the chaos, the company has called on JP Morgan and RBC to render assistance in the ongoing restructuring and transformation.
more
