With recent reports of the company laying off thousands of employees (reportedly 5000 employees, around one-third of the total employee strength), the lukewarm response to the Playbook and the decline in its stock market prices, recent times haven’t been very easy on Research in Motion (RIM), the makers of Blackberry.
However, it is too early to put down RIM just yet. Contrary to popular market experts’ forecasts, the Playbook sold more than 500,000 tablets when it was released, as opposed to the 360,000 predicted by analysts.
RIM has another ace up its sleeve – that might change the smartphone market totally, and that is the QNX operating system, which Blackberry bought a few years ago. It is used in almost all segments ranging from medical devices to nuclear weapons to space stations, places where security is of utmost importance.
The latest offering from Blackberry, the much delayed Blackberry 10 will reportedly feature the QNX operating system, as will the Blackberry Playbook OS. The Blackberry 10 will connect users to embedded systems in day to day usage, such as credit card machines, ticket counters and others. Also, it is guaranteed to be secure thanks to QNX’s emphasis on security and protection.
Another plus point for Blackberry will be that its competitors like Apple or Google have overlooked this system, and if utilised properly, it could revolutionize the smartphone segment entirely, tilting the scales in RIM’s balance. After all, the very concept of a digital wallet could change the way monetary transactions are conducted in daily life.
Presently, RIM’s future looks bleak. What remains to be seen is how fast the company can turn around their fortunes and emerge as a strong alternative to other smartphones in the market with their latest offering. As of now, we can only wait and watch.
