If you think apps in marketplace is the only reason behind BlackBerry’s failure, then you probably need to think again. There are multiple reasons and together they become even more complex to sort out.
Starting is obviously the apps in the marketplace. Less in number and poor in quality and even worse in performance. The AppWorld has some how reached to that 50K mark recently. This is the primary reason why people people think BlackBerry is a failure but lets find out what else is going wrong with the manufacturer.
Data Plans
BlackBerry Messenger app is the primary reason why there is still a BlackBerry club in the town but the fee is quite high. Vodafone India offers BBM plan for Rs. 129 a month that is roughly US$ 2.5 and that is only a BBM plan. You don’t get to surf any other data over the internet. If you want a full internet and BBM plan, you need to pay around US$ 8/month.
More complexity, you cant connect internet on your PC using this plan. If you want to surf on your PC, you need to shed another 2 dollars for the regular internet plan that is available for normal devices. Complex complex and complex.
Any other device running any other OS just needs that $2 /month plan and you get to surf data on your desktop and your cell phone. That leads me to the conclusion that “Choosing a BlackBerry handset is quite easier than choosing a BlackBerry plan.”
The Hardware
BlackBerry handsets are priced way above normal handsets. I have a Curve 8520 that costs around $ 200 and has this configuration
- 256 MB Ram
- 512 MHz CPU
- Runs on OS 5
- No GPS
- Bluetooth works good only with other BB devices
- 1150 mAH battery
Compare this to another Android device in the same range and you get a much much better hardware with AGPS, better CPU and obviously the apps. That leads me to the result that RIM makes good margin on the hardware as well as on the BBM plans it offers through several carriers.
I never mean that BB devices don’t have anything worth praising. The keypad is an standard, all carriers do have dedicated BlackBerry helpline with sweet voices handling your calls in English. But that;s not all that can get RIM back in the competition which is already being dominated by Android, iOS and now Windows Phone. Something, maybe a lot of things need to be done urgently before that dedicated customers too say good bye my lover.