RIM targets low cost BlackBerry at India. RIM hopes to pick up some of the shortfall from Nokia's current problems in its emerging markets, and has unveiled a BlackBerry model specifically for Asia. The Curve 9920 will launch first in India, targeting the rise of affordable Android smartphones, but it does not run on the country's new 3G networks, supporting only GSM. The latest model is an upgrade to a previous low cost BlackBerry and will soon be rolled out all across Asia. It runs BlackBerry OS 7.1 and has a 2-megapixel camera, and comes with a retail price of about INR11,000 ($215).
However, in a market where virtually no phones are subsidized, and some local and Chinese vendors are hitting the $200 mark with 3G Android devices, it is questionable why RIM did not add 3G. There are many affordable 3G chipsets available now, and the feature would ensure stronger support from the major cellcos - the main distribution channel in India - which are trying to boost uptake of their new 3G services with attractive handsets. RIM Targets Low Budgets in Asia with New $215 BlackBerry. Research In Motion (RIM) is adopting a ‘back to basics’ approach with its latest smartphone, the BlackBerry Curve 9220, which launched in India today ahead of a phased rollout across Asia.
The device itself is nothing spectacular. As BGR India details, it is based on BlackBerry OS 7.1, with a 2.44-inch QVGA display, Wi-Fi support, inbuilt radio, basic 2 megapixel camera and 2G suppport only. The real beauty is in the price, which is $215 (10,990 INR). Despite the company’s much publicised issues in North America — it is no longer Canada’s top smartphone and losing ground in the US — the company’s phones continue to perform well in emerging markets, and Asia in particular. The Curve 9220 is aimed at supporting this growth and, in addition to a tighter focus on sales in India, Southeast Asia and the Middle East, the device sees the company’s BlackBerry smartphones become more affordable, appealing to a new customer demographic. Research In Motion's New Target Market (RIMM) Just when you thought Research In Motion (Nasdaq: RIMM ) couldn't embarrass itself any further, the BlackBerry maker has surpassed even my wildest expectations of its ability to attract derision.
Handing the reins over to former co-COO Thorsten Heins was a bit of a PR flop, with his initial comments about how "I don't think that there is some drastic change needed" -- which just so happens to be exactly what shareholders think is needed. He has since partially reneged on those words, saying they were referring to organizational continuity rather than RIM's overall strategic direction. Heins told Reuters that he has "significant" plans for the company, acknowledging the need to address its market-share losses at the hands of Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL ) and Google (Nasdaq: GOOG ) .
He also mentioned that only a fifth of current U.S. Smartphone Target Market News. Smartphone Data Should Tell Marketers to Get Mobile Now. Smartphone industry and Apple's iPhone analysis. Mobile Industry. Why the Microsoft Windows Phone OS is Doomed. RIM's top lawyer joins parade of resignations. Smartphone sales and statistics. By Mark Brownlow, October 2012 (first published June 2010) inShare90 Jump to: Smartphone stats Recent sales stats (global): IDC say 153.9 million smartphones sold worldwide in Q2 2012.
Recent sales stats (US and Canada): Nielsen report that 54.9% of US mobile phone owners have a smartphone as of Q2 2012. comScore estimate that smartphone ownership in the US reached 110 million users by May 2012 (3-month average). Recent sales stats (UK and mainland Europe): IDC say 27.4 million smartphones sold in Western Europe in Q2 2012. Sales predictions: The Financial Times cites a JPMorgan prediction that 657 million smartphones will leave stores in 2012.
Smartphone operating systems IDC looked at global smartphone shipments in Q2 2012, placing Android well out in front in terms of operating system share: Source: IDC Worldwide Mobile Phone Tracker, August 8, 2012.