Why is BlackBerry Device Satisfaction Slipping???

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All I can say by looking at this graph is "What's Going on Guys?". Why are we so unhappy with RIM product? Is it just because the ones who are happy are not reporting? That's what I think it is. I think that the loyal fans of RIM, like you and I, are just being lazy and not reporting how much we love BlackBerry.

ChangeWave Research, the creators of this research graph, have been known to have problems with RIM in the past. Its been known that the research that ChangeWave has provided is somehow always skewed in the iPhones favor. Never the less, I still say that it is time us RIM/BlackBerry fanatics step it up and show the world that we really do love RIM/BlackBerry.

Make sure you comment with your feelings of this chart or your feelings about RIM/BlackBerry by commenting below.

My first Blackberry was the Storm 1 and that was an absolute disaster. How many times have you read in forums about people on their 4th or 5th replacement? Blackberry are the only phones I have ever had to send back for repair or replacement.

You may remember the review from Stephan Fry?

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Been playing with the BB Storm. Shockingly bad. I mean embarrassingly awful. Such a disappointment. Rushed out unfinished. What a pity.

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My Storm 2 is only now starting to act well, but why should we have to wait almost a year after purchase for this to happen. Should it not work, straight out of the box?

RIM (and admittedly other companies as well) seem to be adopting this 'sell a prototype with beta software on it' approach. That is why consumer confidence is going down.

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Originally Posted by RobinM

My first Blackberry was the Storm 1 and that was an absolute disaster. How many times have you read in forums about people on their 4th or 5th replacement? Blackberry are the only phones I have ever had to send back for repair or replacement.

You may remember the review from Stephan Fry?

My Storm 2 is only now starting to act well, but why should we have to wait almost a year after purchase for this to happen. Should it not work, straight out of the box?

RIM (and admittedly other companies as well) seem to be adopting this 'sell a prototype with beta software on it' approach. That is why consumer confidence is going down.

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Don't quote me to this. But when I was working for AT&T, my BlackBerry rep told my that someone in RIM told her. (I know what your saying "He Said She Said", but keep reading) that the ONLY reason that RIM made the Storm was to shut up Verizon. When the iPhone launched at AT&T, Verizon went to RIM and said "we are dropping you, unless you make us a touch screen." Never have made one before and lord knows the Storm is HORRIBLE. You can now kinda understand why!

Now that being said. It all could have been BS, but I trust my source, so you never know!

No, I can believe it... I remember similar things being said when the S1 was released. I don't remember whether Verizon was mentioned or not, but definitely the general consensus was that RIM rushed out a touch screen to compete with the iPhone like you say.

LOL! Have a look at the graph again... it peaks at Sep08 and the Storm 1 came out Nov08! Downhill from then on!

RIM devices were always lacking when compared to other brands in my opinion. they did lessen the gap in 2008 but they have started to lag again. They have been "relaunching" their devices with new names and minor changes since then. If the entire corporate BB market voted the graph may look better but I think its accurate for the average BB user.

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Originally Posted by wbeckle

RIM devices were always lacking when compared to other brands in my opinion. they did lessen the gap in 2008 but they have started to lag again. They have been "relaunching" their devices with new names and minor changes since then. If the entire corporate BB market voted the graph may look better but I think its accurate for the average BB user.

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It depends what you are talking about. If you are talking about multimedia and such then you are right. If you are talking about secure web browsing and email, or professionalism? Then you are 100% wrong. The BlackBerry always has been the preferred choice in the corporate world.

One word, Browser

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Originally Posted by hindustani8

One word, Browser

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But what about it. I mean I know you said "One Word" but i say that's not enough. Please tell us why you think the blame should fall on the Browser.

Really, the one aspect that I find disheartening about my Storm 2 (which by the by, I enjoy a great deal. I even enjoyed my Storm 1) is the lack of Apps. We have grade school kids pumping out mindless apps for the iPhone left and right (case in point - the farting diamond for iPhone) yet nothing like this or apps of any nature are being made for the Blackberry. My bank has made an app for the iPhone, yet the BB version is still under development with no release date as of yet. The iPhone app has been out for over a year. And this is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg.

Apps such as "MicroSky" for watching constellations and other night stars are out for Droid and iPhone, but the BB version is still under development, a beta has been released, but it burn a TON of memory to run and is still mainly browser based.

That is my big argument and main complaint. There are tons of apps I have rolling around in my head that I would like to write for the BB, but I don't have the expertise to do that, and finding programmers it few and far between when compared to iPhone and Droid programmers.

Personally I think the problem is this: Teens which are a good chunk of users for ANY device, are realizing the BlackBerry wasn't made for them. As they slowly lose the teen market, satisfaction of course will drop. I think if you look at the age of the users over a yearly span, there's a spike of teens which is now dropping.

Exactly my point. The BB users want the other goodies their friends have and an encrypted tunnel to the office isn't on that list :)

On the browser topic, u would know thats where a lot of time is spent on the pc and phone so a decent browser goes a long way. Don't really think its needs a lot of explaining, the BB browser has always lagged (in more ways than one).

I think people who switch over to a blackberry(myself when the storm1 came out) expected to do the things the iphone could do, Games, video, fast internet. It never lived to the expectations. Maybe they were unfair expectations back then but almost 2 years later since the S1 came out and still don't see a RIM device that meets those expectations. With google phones flourishing within that same timespan, its making a lot of people wanting those phones including myself

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Originally Posted by ShimmyShine

Personally I think the problem is this: Teens which are a good chunk of users for ANY device, are realizing the BlackBerry wasn't made for them. As they slowly lose the teen market, satisfaction of course will drop. I think if you look at the age of the users over a yearly span, there's a spike of teens which is now dropping.

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thats a very good point. smartphone usage has broken the age and to some extent the income barrier and the BB is only appealing to a small band. The storm especially had put RIM on the radar for teens but that one "less than perfect" device couldn't hold the interests. and there is yet to b a successor.

to extend the point: In my opinion RIM only has 2 types of devices, the 100% touch screen and the candy bar with the option of full or sure-type keyboards. if users have something to upgrade/change to they will probly b interested for a bit longer. or some will find the setup thats right for them.

We need to see sliders, flips, 4" screens and video out ports etc.

probly a bit to ask for a company that does all the software and hardware for itself. hmmm they should probly look at that business model.

Look at it this way... A large majority of BB users are coporate users...users who unfortunately have no time to come on BBos and vent or proclaim their love for their BBs... I personally think that the percentage of satisfied BB users is much higher than what's being shown here... think about it... who has more time to fill out an online survey?... a corporate manager or a teenager?... and who is the main target audience for a BB?... a corporate manager or a teenager?...

I won't dismiss the fact that RIM has some catching up to do (alot in fact... Iphone 4?!!) and yes they are totally losing the teen market (which is bad...you lose in the future as well) BUT.. right now, RIM is not really offering a Hip modern phone for teens and young adults... though if you ask RIM they will point to BBM... Most persons on this forums are not really gonna take advantage of all that RIM is offering in their products... thats why the Iphones and incredibles are so appealing right now... those phones offer more of what us techno geeks like to see in a phone... just my 2 cents..

accidental double post. has been removed.

How about OS6? I've seen a billion vids of select people using it and that would keep me with my BB. Only problem is, they are taking waaay to long to release it. This is both enraging and frustrating. The current browser is horrible. GUIs on iPhones and Droids walk all over BB. OS6 appears to greatly bridge that gap, but jeez...send it out already! OS6 should have been the 1st OS released a year ago. Bet they wouldn't have near as many disenfranchised customers as they do right now.

You have to think business wise though. If you had OS 6 now, what would make you get the new Slider or Clamshell or 9300??? Its like OS5 was. As soon as the 9700 released it took about 6 months and every old device had 5.0 OS. I bet it will be the same way.

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Originally Posted by TheOnlyJrod

You have to think business wise though. If you had OS 6 now, what would make you get the new Slider or Clamshell or 9300??? Its like OS5 was. As soon as the 9700 released it took about 6 months and every old device had 5.0 OS. I bet it will be the same way.

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As with Windows & Android a new OS should keep sales (and interest) going for all available devices. The idea should be to release something that ppl want, not something that they have to get if they want a better OS sooner.

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Originally Posted by wbeckle

As with Windows & Android a new OS should keep sales (and interest) going for all available devices. The idea should be to release something that ppl want, not something that they have to get if they want a better OS sooner.

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+1 TO THAT!!! If I start thinking business, then RIM is failing. I don'y buy a new computer just so I can have a new OS. Its quite the other way around. This is worse in the case of the BB, because we've all seen OS6 out there working! Instead, RIM wants to push BBM...something we already have. WTF?

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Originally Posted by wbeckle

As with Windows & Android a new OS should keep sales (and interest) going for all available devices. The idea should be to release something that ppl want, not something that they have to get if they want a better OS sooner.

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I guess my Marketing/Sales background is making me disagree. Sorry.
Any other opinions about RIM/BlackBerry's issue.