News and Rumors

The reports are in, and while there are some positives, the negatives outweigh this time around. Net income for the first quarter was a low $695 million, or $1.33 per diluted share, compared with net income of $934 million, $1.78 per diluted share in the fourth quarter of last year - that's down 26%. Also, revenues came in at $4.9 billion, down from $5.6 billion in the fourth quarter, or a 12.5% drop.

And as to smartphone and tablet shipments, during the first quarter, RIM says that it shipped approximately 13.2 million BlackBerry smartphone devices and about 500,000 BlackBerry Playbook tablets. However, these numbers are what has shipped, not been sold. RIM also is not releasing the official number for PlayBook's sold. I'm guessing that the number may reflect negativity on how the PlayBook has fared in its' first few couple months since launched. As a result of its declining financials, RIM said that it will begin a series of layoffs beginning this quarter.

However, there is a upside to all of this. RIM seems to be kicking it in the rear as we heard today from a Verizon CMO that Big Red would be selling three of the upcoming BlackBerry devices in Verizon stores. That is when RIM had the glory days, when Verizon was their top seller. Perhaps a rekindled relationship between Verizon and RIM can bring the US subscriber base up and save RIM from a bad fall.

What are your thoughts? Any predictions?

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• View the Research In Motion first quarter results for fiscal 2012 (PDF)

RIM today announced plans to launch its much-anticipated BlackBerry PlayBook tablet in Hong Kong. The BlackBerry PlayBook is scheduled to be released in early July through authorized carrier partners and retail channels in Hong Kong. This announcement comes after we reported last week that the PlayBook will be coming to 16 additional markets within the next month. Let us know if you are in Hong Kong and going to get a PlayBook!

• Read the full Press Release
• Discuss in the BBOS Forum

Where does a cellphone user turn to nowadays to find out facts about the risks of using a cellphone? With high cellphone usage being rather new, compared to the time that has been put toward research, there has sprung a number of conflicting reports on what the dangers, benefits, ect, can be.

According to a report issued late last month by the World Health Organization, "radio frequency electromagnetic fields" are "possibly carcinogenic to humans based on an increased risk for glioma, a malignant type of brain cancer associated with wireless phone use." The Economist has published a response column dismissing the report as overblown. They contend:

We have even heard reports that cellphone radiation can actually be good for you based on studies dealing with Alzheimer's disease. So where does one turn to get credible information about what reports are true? At this point, only time will tell as research is given the proper amount of information to give some empirical data. Have any reports/theories of your own?

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As follow-up to RIM’s BlackBerry World announcement in May of this year about plans to make BlackBerry Mobile Voice System 5 (BlackBerry MVS 5) with voice over Wi-Fi calling available for more corporate phone systems (see press release at BlackBerry - Press Releases), we are pleased to let you know that BlackBerry MVS 5 is now available in North America and the UK for Avaya phone systems.

The list of phone systems that work with BlackBerry MVS now includes:

• Avaya Aura 6.1
• Avaya Communications Manager
• Avaya CS1000 Communication Server
• Cisco Unified Communications Manager
• Mitel Communications Director

BlackBerry MVS 5 brings together the desk phone and smartphone to enable employees to securely and cost effectively make and take desk phone calls practically anywhere in the world on their BlackBerry® smartphones. Calls can be made over cellular or Wi-Fi networks with automatic, prompted or manual handoff between these networks based on employee or administrator preferences. Employees use the same phone interface on their BlackBerry smartphones that they use for cellular calls and enjoy the convenience of single number reach, extension dialing and ad hoc conferencing. Companies benefit by having smartphone calls managed and controlled by BlackBerry MVS 5 and routed through the company’s phone system for potential savings on long distance and international roaming charges, and adherence to company policies and regulatory compliance requirements. Voice over Wi-Fi calling with BlackBerry MVS 5 also makes BlackBerry smartphones cost-effective desk phone alternatives, particularly for highly mobile workers, telecommuters, and workers who are on-campus but often away from their desks.

• Get more details and discuss MVS 5 with us in the BBOS Forum

In this exclusive BlackBerry World video interview, Alec Taylor, Vice President of Product Marketing at RIM, discusses how businesses are beginning to shift towards cloud services. He discusses overall insights into this trend, as well as specific details surrounding BlackBerry solutions which offer access to the new Microsoft Office 365 cloud-based opportunities.

Cloud service utilizes the network as a means to connect the user to resources that are based in the cloud. So one advantage of using the cloud, is the user can upload information to the cloud which will store that information for a later time. This is nice for easy access to files, and also freeing up memory for apps/software that isn't being used very often.

What I thought was most interesting, is how the general feel of what he was saying about RIM moving towards using a cloud service within the next couple years. I imagine that one of the first moves will be taking BBM and App World into the cloud using the BlackBerry ID.

• Discuss Cloud services with us in the BBOS Forum

RIM has decided to re-brand their userbase site MyBlackBerry under the new name BlackBerry Communities. I'm guessing they are trying to create a more social feel to the site to promote more user interaction. Also, the site has gotten a complete refresh which looks pretty good. Here is what the email says that was sent out by RIM to all MyBlackBerry registered users:

Do you like the change? Let us know what you think of the new BlackBerry Communities refresh!

• Discuss this with us in the BBOS Forum