In a Wall Street Journal Interview, Research in Motion co-CEO, Jim Balsillie, when referring to the rocky start that the BlackBerry Storm has endured due to software glitches actually said this is part of the “new reality” of making a complex cellphones in large quantities.
I actually said outloud, “He said what!”, when I read this. Maybe it is just me but it almost seems like Balsillie is telling us that new BlackBerry devices riddled with software bugs almost to the point of failure are to be expected from now on.
Did RIM not pay attention at all to what has happened to Palm over the years? If this is RIM’s attitude when it comes to making cool devices that just work, they may get a a front row seat as it happens to them.
[Via Engadget Mobile]
Is this a case of setting the bar low?
Wow, I wouldn’t be shocked if Apple used this in a commercial as to why you should buy an iPhone instead of a BlackBerry.
Wow, this guy has balls. As a loyal crackberry fanatic, i think that is unacceptable. RIM is renowned for there amazing devices and if this is the message being fostered at the top it is time to do “Bush” and get rid of this guy!!! There have been too many service outages in the past year for my taste. Stick to what you know RIM but be smart about any future advances into the consumer market. Just make a subsidiary of RIM called “BlueBerry” or RedBerry” or whatever!!! focus on the consumer thing so you dont have to worry about crossing the messages and the core of the company. This is not an excuse to let down the guard or have people settle for less. Damn i could do this dudes job. Whatever happened to corporate responsibility. Anyway Fix the Damn Storm so i can shut the damn applefanbois up and have a device that is as full capable and amazing as i know it is. sorry Balsillie you are being silly!!! Get the damn thing working!!! People might not be as loyal and patient as you think they are. Anyway it is late here in Australia and i am gonna finish up my calendar on my storm!!
I have no idea why this is a news item! Microsoft has been practicing this for well over a decade!
Windows 95 – buggy. Windows 95A, B, C – better.
Windows 98 – buggy. Windows 98 SE – better.
Well you get the idea – the pattern continues with all usable releases of Windows (this doesn’t even look at failures like BOB and Millennium!). Microsoft finally formalized the fact with the advent of the Service Pack. The great thing about this is that at least now you know not to bother with the initial release of Windows – wait for SP1.
Not to defend Microsoft, but modern operating systems are so complex that there’s no way to fully test it before release, and buggy software is the result. Unfortunately, today people expect their “smartphones” to be desktop replacements – and this is the result. I don’t understand why RIM and Balsillie are being hung out to dry for simply stating the obvious!
How does telling the world that your devices will suck from now on help you sell more of them?
@JerryD,
I don’t follow you your Micrsoft analogy because you are comparing their PC OS when they actaully have Windows Mobile which ususally doesn’t come in to the conversation when talking about new smartphones.
One other thing to take from that WSJ article is that that RIM has only shipped 500,000 BlackBerry Storms in it’s first quarter.
I am sure that is signifcantly below their estimates of what they would sell.
Yeah, the Microsoft thing throws me as well. Esp when you consider the Black eye of Vista which is bloated and buggy. Remember “The Soft” had to shell out huge money to Seinfeld and an advertising company to try and repair there image. The reason was that bloated buggy software was starting to effect their market share. Now you don’t ever hear about Vista, only about the new Windows 7.
Hope RIM doesn’t have to learn this lesson as well, but with quotes like that coming from the top, I’m not holding my breath. It’s like they are saying our customers don’t deserve any better.
It can’t be good from RIM when Om Malik is saying that the BlackBerry Storm is to the iPhone what the Zune is to the iPod…
http://gigaom.com/2009/01/25/blackberry-storms-zune-problem/
@J.Will,
I was just thinking that Apple has ton of material if they ever wanted to to an BlackBerry vs. iPhone campaign simlar to their PC vs. Mac
I am not an Apple Fanboy by any means and am still hoping that RIM pulls it out with the BlackBerry Storm, however, the iPhone, didn’t have nearly as many bugs out of the box as the BlackBerry Storm and the iPhone 3G wasn’t even close.
I’ve installed every update on my Storm since the day it came out and I am being patient with my BlackBerry Storm but I can tell you that even with .90, my Storm reminds me more of a Windows Mobile device with all the memory leaks, random reboots, 10 minute boot ups, and poor battery life.
The YouTube application is kind of cool, but, the Storm compared to the iPhone doesn’t even compare when it comes to media. This is O.K. though because I bought the Storm to send and recieve email for work on the what I believe to be the best network.
I actually like the idea behind the idea of the keyboard, but the reliability of just knowing my BlackBerry will work isn’t there. I really hope RIM figures it out or that Verizon releases the 8930 very soon. I am almost to the point where I am about to sell my Storm, buy an iPod, and go back to using my Curve until something that works well comes out.
This has to be “out of context” or something?
CEO Jim Balsillie is now trying to make excuses for the Storm and Bold and every other RIM product from now on due to “Software glitches”?
Sure hope CEO Jim Balsillie and RIM figure out very quickly the “new reality of making a complex cellphones in large quantities” DOES NOT at all make “software glitches” acceptable. Wow Apple and the iPhone must have completely demoralized CEO Jim Balsillie and RIM into accepting “software glitches” as acceptable as they try to compete.
I hope this comment is out of context because it sounds like Balsillie is saying that glitchy smartphones going forward will be the norm.
I would hope that he come out and clarify what he meant as I believe these statements could affect the morale of RIM employees. Who wants to work for a team where one of the coaches expects less than excellence and is OK with getting exactly that.
SteveyAyo,
your comparison’s are not true and lacking a certain ability is not a bug.
RIM yet again has bigger problems to deal with.
BlackBerry Storm customers complain
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-10149766-94.html
“customers who bought the device are complaining of buggy software and hardware glitches.
Specifically, users say that the software used to type on the touch screen, which requires users to press down on the face of the phone, is sluggish. I have used the device on and off since it was launched November 21, and I’d agree that it is clunky. For example, the accelerometer that senses and changes the view on the screen when it’s turned on its side is slow. And sometimes the “sure press” screen is difficult to use because it registers the wrong character.”
Also IMO RIM should not be making any of their devices carrier exclusive. RIM shouldn’t be playing carrier games.
Robb,
I agree. Balsillie and RIM should, like Apple be more than striving to be the ‘A’ team. It kinda sounds like Balsillie is waving the white flag of surrender. Could there be a reason why RIM’s CEO is in the press making excuse for his companies current and future devices? Balsillie’s words certainly do not help, customers with buggy BB’s will not take any pity on RIM because Balsillie’s making hard luck, pity statements to the press.
And yes Balsillie might have been taking in general and not just about BB devices, however as the CEO of RIM, and the current flagship BB’s beign full of bug’s Balsillie speaks for one company RIM.
Even if Mr. Balsillie was talking about the Wireless industry at large and not just the BlackBerry, he probably shouldn’t have said what he said.
In essence, he said that making smartphones is hard and consumers should just get used glitchy new releases.
I hope The Rock is right and that this comment is not in context. RIM’s PR machine needs to anther quote out from Jim clarifying what he meant as soon as possible.
This is a huge PR blunder not to mention it’s great material if, as someone above said, TBWA/Chiat Day (Apple’s ad agency) decides to do iphone vs RIM a la mac vs pc.
What I don’t understand is why RIM wouldn’t take the Apple approach: study what your competitor does then do it better. For example, Apple’s way of doing business is very closed while PCs are very open in that, for example, Apple requires you to use itunes and keeps the music library in certain file types so you must use itunes whereas renegade PC types can get their music from anywhere — limewire, etc. Apple is very bundled. You need the Apple Care Protection plan to even get real help. It’s a closed community, which in part stems from Apple’s beginnings as a cult brand.
So if RIM is to be more “open” why not work with companies and retailers to launch their own apps (like REI just did with the ski and snow report) and make it “open” to all smartphones so as to underscore the pain, cost, and snobbery of Apple’s “closed” model. The buggy software is a huge problem. Hire some ex-Apple programmers if you have to, but this sort of thing is unacceptable and will erode your brand. Mr. Balsillie, please take note.
it wasn’t iphone that had a problem switching from 3G to Edge. it was the at&t network. its unfortunate they chose at&t. as for me i use a Curve and i own an itouch. I absolutely dislike the storm. i think it was a mistake. they dont need that market.
I agree with VEA — the iphone should stand for “lifestyle” and the blackberry should stand for “work.” Stick to your respective categories for strength rather than trying to eat every piece of the pie even if it doesn’t fit in your mouth. Do something, if only one single thing, and do it well. Consumers appreciate that.
I don’t agree with you guys. Don’t think RIM needs to or should limit their market to “lifestyle” or “work”. Apple is not doing that with the iPhone. Not a fan of limits, don’t think limits are a good thing. I DO agree “Do something, if only one single thing, and do it well. Consumers appreciate that.” But think RIM, like Apple has the ability to do more than one thing right.
For example lets go back a few years. RIM was late to adding camera’s onto their BB, the excuse from enthusiasts was “it’s a business device” / “corporate security” bla bla bla. That’s a reason for RIM to make a non-camera device but it’s not at all a reason for RIM to make all BB’s non-camera devices. Everyone must remember there is at least a few hours in the day when business is done and non-business time begins. There is no reason why RIM or Apple can’t do both well.
Speaking of why labels and limits are a bad thing, we still have enthusiasts trying to claim Apple’s iPhone is not “business” because their universal desktop sync program works through the iTunes app. Perhaps the same can be said about RIM and it’s continued lack of native support for any desktop sync program other than windoz OS? There are plenty of “business’s” which don’t do windoz, yet in order to use BB’s rely on 3rd party sync programs which have never been up to snuff with the native BB desktop. Why is RIM unable to provide a native sync for the BB’s? Why should “lifestyle” and “work” BB users who don’t do windoz’s continue to be unsupported?
Label’s and limits are a bad thing. Who knows, if RIM had ever given universal native support to multiple OS’s, if RIM started to support “lifestyle” and “work” sooner, before being pushed by Apple and the iPhone to do so perhaps RIM’s CEO’s wouldn’t be making excuses to the press for the current and future flagship BB’s being released to consumers with software and hardware bugs.
And so it begins, just a taste…
Open mouth, insert BlackBerry
http://www.betanews.com/article/Open_mouth_insert_BlackBerry/1233013478
RIM simply isn’t up to the task of putting out a state of the art smart phone. The are trying to mold their aging OS into the likes of the iphone or Android, which it simply isn’t capable of. I also don’t really think RIM’s engineers are up to the task. They seem to be stuck in 1st gear, while everyone else is in overdrive.
Hate to keep beating this idea into the ground but RIM with some well placed brick and mortar stores, non-exclusive phones and some well thought out large scale beta testing could be alleviating alot of the bugs before the phones are released for sale to consumers. I also agree that the current BB OS is end of life and a change should be made if RIM wants to try and keep up with the market leaders.
As a long time software developer and manager in the telecommunications industry, I can categorically state that if that attitude is pervasive in the company, especially coming from the top, then RIM deserves to get their “new reality” kicked hard in the butt by the marketplace.
This is not supposed to be the crappy desktop quality software we’re used to from Microsoft and less so from Apple, it’s supposed to be carrier-grade quality; 99.9994% uptime. OK, maybe we can relax that a bit for handhelds, but given their server outages, RIM should be targeting 5-nines reliability instead of 9-fives (55.5555555%).
To all the developers and testers at RIM, let me say that Mr. Sillyballs has blessed your crappy software. Yes, you’ll still get an excellent performance review when the software you wrote crashes thousands of handsets on a daily basis. Yes, it’s OK to have more than one beer at lunch now; the new standard is one six-pack.
I mean, can you see Steve Jobs saying something like this to Apple engineers? I think he’d stomp the guts out of anyone who even suggested that poor quality was the new reality. No, Apple does not make perfect products, but that’s their goal.
Uh, is it politically incorrect to use an iPhone at work in RIM? Is it like driving a Honda when going to work at the Ford plant? Will other workers key your iPhone screen?
Ok first stop boo hooing about what he said. He was correct tho that is the future of all cell phone company’s they have to beat the others out the gate with new product… No phone is glitch free it was mostly verizons fault for releasing the storm 4 days before it was posed to be revised less than a week later RIM announced the updated software for the storm
Second … The i phone is nothing more than the next “cool” thing I know peoplebthat have them and they kinda defete the purpose of a compact powerhouse cell phone My buddy dropped his I phone 2 feet to the floor on carpet and it completely shot s he had to grab his blackberry out of his glove box and use that ( as the i phone does not come with insurance he is out of the 400 bucks too bad for him
Bottom line… Bla9kberry I’d hands down the best phone I have ever used I love it and will probably never change! Oh and the storm is just a crap phone to start with