Research In Motion (RIM)

Research In Motion (RIM)

Definition

Research In Motion (RIM), known as BlackBerry Limited since 2013, is a Canadian enterprise software and services company originally best known for developing the BlackBerry brand of interactive pagers, smartphones, and tablets. Founded in 1984 by Mike Lazaridis and Douglas Fregin, RIM gained global recognition in the early 2000s for its innovative wireless communications solutions, particularly the BlackBerry line which became popular for its secure email services.

Examples

1. BlackBerry 850: One of the first products by RIM, the BlackBerry 850, introduced in 1999, was essentially an interactive pager capable of wireless email, becoming popular among business professionals.
2. BlackBerry Curve: Launched in 2007, the Curve series became one of the best-selling smartphones globally, known for its QWERTY keyboard and robust email services.
3. BlackBerry PlayBook: Introduced in 2011, the PlayBook was RIM’s entry into the tablet market, featuring a professional-grade performance but ultimately unable to compete with the likes of the iPad.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What led to the rise in popularity of RIM?

• RIM became popular due to its secure wireless communications, especially email services, which were essential for business professionals.

2. Why did Research In Motion change its name to BlackBerry Limited?

• The name change to BlackBerry Limited in 2013 was part of a rebranding effort to align the company name with its most successful and well-known product line.

3. What are some of the security features that made BlackBerry devices stand out?

• BlackBerry devices were known for their end-to-end encryption, secure messaging services, and robust enterprise management capabilities.

4. How did RIM contribute to mobile communication technology?

• RIM was a pioneer in mobile communication technology, introducing features such as push email, which allowed emails to be delivered to devices automatically in real-time.

5. What challenges led to the decline of RIM’s market position?

• The rise of touchscreen smartphones like the iPhone and Android devices, combined with a failure to innovate, led to a decline in RIM’s market position.

Related Terms

• BlackBerry OS: The proprietary mobile operating system developed by RIM for BlackBerry devices.
• Push Email: A service that automatically delivers new emails to the user’s device without manual initiation.
• Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM): A suite of services used by businesses to manage, secure, and deploy mobile devices and applications.

Online References

1. Wikipedia: BlackBerry Limited
2. Investopedia: BlackBerry Limited
3. Official BlackBerry Website

Suggested Books for Further Studies

1. “Losing the Signal: The Untold Story Behind the Extraordinary Rise and Spectacular Fall of BlackBerry” by Jacquie McNish and Sean Silcoff.
2. “The Innovator’s Dilemma: When New Technologies Cause Great Firms to Fail” by Clayton M. Christensen.
3. “Mobile Communications: Re-negotiation of the Social Sphere” by Rich Ling and Per E. Pedersen.

Fundamentals of Research In Motion (RIM): Technology Companies Basics Quiz

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