That action smells of desperation. That’s the wrong thing to do with corporate financial resources. It looks like they’ve lost confidence in their ability to compete.

Smart Move!  This allows more control by RIM and less by shareholders.  RIM will be able to operate in a more adventurous and innovative environment.

Apple and its iPhone need strong competition to stay on top of the market.  RIM will provide this.

Shareholders are only interested in immediate ROI.

Apple and its iPhone need strong competition to stay on top of the market.  RIM will provide this.

In principle, I concur. However, RIM have stayed too long with an outmoded business plan and have become a de facto niche player. Beyond email, in what other context does anyone think of a Blackberry? Currently the iPhone and Droid have are perceived as exploiting all the other communications and networking media available; although even here the iPhone is buttressed by the App Store and iTunes, which puts the device in a league all its own.

RIM will no doubt battle gallantly onward to hold onto its largely corporate market share, and I wish them well, because yes, Apple needs a competitor. It is unclear whether RIM can sufficiently reinvent itself to stay relevant as demand continues to evolve for greater functionality. More importantly, its corporate stronghold is already breached by Apple’s strength in the consumer market, which has been porting the iPhone to the workplace. Whether the iPhone ever becomes a common corporate choice is almost irrelevant. It doesn’t have to, anymore than the Mac does to affect the corporate space, although I suspect Apple would not mind if it did.

I am inclined to agree with Brian Chaffin that it may come down to Apple vs Android in a brave new world, but for Android to compete with Apple, it’s going to have to make substantial inroads with apps and music - oh wait - books on the iTablet? Here’s to hoping Android can keep up.

I am inclined to agree with Brian Chaffin

Sorry, Bryan, typo…