Microsoft and Nokia Acquiring RIM? | Jeff Kagan Tech Analyst

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Jeff Kagan

Tech Analyst

     

Microsoft and Nokia thought about acquiring RIM. Wow. It’s amazing how quickly RIM is tanking.

Two or three years ago RIM was still leading, but I saw a rapidly growing problem caused by new technology and new leaders in smart phones like Google Android and Apple iPhone.

I discussed this growing RIM problem in a speech, and received push back from investors and workers.

Unfortunately this problem has come to pass.

Tablets failed.

Today RIM is struggling to hang on for dear life.

So what is next for the past leader?

That is the question the industry has. RIM still has lot’s of corporate customers and technology that has value, but they have to create the next Wave quickly or it will all just whither and die. And time is running out.

Even though I like RIM, I can read the writing on the wall. Why can’t they? Perhaps they can and simply don’t know how to create the next Wave. Perhaps they don’t understand the Wave. Perhaps they got lucky with their original technology and rode it as long as they could. If so that is trouble.

I don’t see RIM just dying. Just going out of business. Instead I see RIM being acquired. That’s if they cannot revitalize the company.

We have been down this path with other companies like Palm. Palm was acquired by HP which we hoped would shock it back to life. It didn’t.

Is RIM on the downside of the Wave for good? Can’t they create the next Wave to ride? Yes they can, of course, but will they?

They just tried with tablets and failed.

This same threat happened to AT&T, Verizon and Qwest. We saw AT&T and Verizon create the next several Waves with wireless and television and they are still growing even though local phone is shrinking. Qwest on the other hand took a different path, failed, and was recently acquired by CenturyLink.

So what is the future for RIM? Only they can answer the question. Unfortunately we have seen nothing positive as of yet.

Come on RIM. We want to see you make it. But the next winning step is up to you.

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Please attribute to Jeff Kagan, Tech Analyst with www.jeffKAGAN.com

If you would like to discuss, call me at 770-579-5810 or send an email to jeff@JeffKAGAN.com

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Jeff KAGAN| Tech Analyst w Atlanta based jeffKAGAN.com

Analyst sharing perspective on the changing industry for 25 years

~ Also Columnist, Author, Consultant, Speaker

~ Column http://www.ectnews.com/perl/section/jeff_kagan/

Phone 770-579-5810 Email jeff@jeffKAGAN.com Web www.jeffKAGAN.com

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