Will RIM Recover w New CEO Thorsten Heins | Jeff Kagan Tech Analyst

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Jeff KAGAN

Tech Analyst

     

Big news at RIM. The earth is shaking under RIM.

They have been unable to transform and remain relevant as the marketplace changes. They once led the smart phone sector, but when Google and Apple entered the space several years back they started losing. The writing is on the wall. They need newer and younger leadership with different skill sets.

Jim Balsillie and Mike Lazaridis have stepped down. That is an incredible move. As big as RIM is, it is still their baby. It is often difficult for owners to step away. They are emotionally connected. That is understandable. However RIM is also a public company and that means there are quite a few other owners as well, and they just want to make money.

Thorsten Heins is the new RIM CEO. We know very little about him. We don’t know whether or not he has what it takes. What RIM needs.

RIM has suffered in recent years and have not been able to remain relevant against the new smart phone makers.

The reason is simple, technology and public relations. RIM has not successfully updated their technology. There are plenty of new competitors with better devices. RIM has a few features that others don’t, but generally speaking their tech is yesterday and tired.

RIM reminds me of our grandparents. We love them, they are wonderful, but they are yesterday, not tomorrow.

Can RIM reinvent themselves? Can they compete and become a winning company once again? Yes if they have the right leadership and the right attitude.

RIM never paid any attention to public relations and media relations, yet they always grew. The good part for RIM was they have little competition. When that changed, they didn’t know how to stay strong. It was too late to create those long relationships with the public and the media and investors. Suddenly they were struggling to keep their head above water.

Will RIM recover and rebuild? That is the question we all ask today. They can, but will they?

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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 www.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

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