(Credit: Research In Motion)
Research In Motion is reportedly attempting to sell itself after rejecting the former co-CEO's plan to open up its network to carriers. But for some reason it is not pursuing the creation of a lucrative category between smart phones and feature phones -- the super feature phone.
Less than a smartphone, but far more than a feature phone
What are you left with if you take a smartphone and remove the ability to install apps? It's far more functional than a feature phone, with built in apps for e-mail, Facebook, and a camera. But it's definitely not a smartphone like an iPhone or Android device. RIM's range of devices are fully capable, with integrated apps and cameras, but suffer from a paucity of apps other than an attempt to integrate Android apps.
What are you left with if you take a smartphone and remove the ability to install apps? It's far more functional than a feature phone, with built in apps for e-mail, Facebook, and a camera. But it's definitely not a smartphone like an iPhone or Android device. RIM's range of devices are fully capable, with integrated apps and cameras, but suffer from a paucity of apps other than an attempt to integrate Android apps.
The key to the super feature phone is the ability to use cheap data plans in the $10-per-month range, rather than the more expensive full data plans required by smartphones. Not everyone needs a smartphone with a data plan. RIM should focus its devices on the feature phone segment, especially for armies of corporate workers that need access to email but not much else. RIM can easily compete with the players in this space, including Samsung's Bada and Marvell's Kinoma.
RIM should also ensure that the carriers do not sabotage a super feature phone plan by forcing a full data plan, like they did to the ill-fated Microsoft Kin and instead leverage the BlackBerry network.
A lucrative mobile device management future
RIM has always held a core competence in integrating corporate Microsoft Exchange e-mail and calendar servers in sync with its devices. RIM has attempted to expand into the integration of Google Android and Apple iOS devices with Microsoft Exchange with its Fusion product line, but those devices can now integrate out of the box with corporate e-mail and calendar systems.
RIM has always held a core competence in integrating corporate Microsoft Exchange e-mail and calendar servers in sync with its devices. RIM has attempted to expand into the integration of Google Android and Apple iOS devices with Microsoft Exchange with its Fusion product line, but those devices can now integrate out of the box with corporate e-mail and calendar systems.
(courtesy:cnet.com)
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