There are great opportunities in the Machine to Machine sector, largely due to the sheer volume of devices expected to be connected to the Internet of Things. The Telematics market is the longest-standing and most mature part of the M2M industry and has been a test bed for the design of more robust, reliable and longer-lasting components.
The fact that Google has just acquired the first-ever self-driving car licence should come as no surprise. Yet a surprise participant that could make a huge impact on the market is Canadian Blackberry maker RIM, which could see its software development offset poor performance in the handset and tablet space.
Canadian handset maker RIM has showcased its BlackBerry 10 platform at its BlackBerry World conference in Orlando, Florida. The firm has also released the initial developer toolkit for native and HTML5 software development.
Research In Motion CEO Thorsten Heins has outlined a strategic overhaul of the Canadian device vendor aimed at refocusing the company on its enterprise service roots. But he conceded simultaneously that many of the firm’s traditional strengths are no longer valued as highly as they once were by its customer base.
RIM has appointed a new CEO after increasing shareholder pressure and a poor financial performance in 2011. Thorsten Heins will take over as president and CEO, with former co-CEOs Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie stepping down. Lazaridis will become vice chair of RIM’s board and chair of the board’s new Innovation Committee and Balsillie will remain a member of the Board.
Using Las Vegas gadget-fest CES as a platform to rally some support, Canadian manufacturer Research In Motion (RIM) is showing off the latest versions of its flagship operating systems for both smartphone and tablet devices.
RIM could soon split the roles of CEO and chairman in a bid to reverse its fortunes. Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie are currently co-CEOs and co-chairmen at the embattled Canadian handset manufacturer, but that could change following an internal review of its board structure.
Beleaguered Blackberry maker RIM reported more bad news as the firm saw its net income plunge by almost three-quarters to just $265m in the third quarter of 2011. The figure is a 71 per cent drop from the $911m it recorded in 3Q10, and was impacted in large part by a $485m pre-tax charge related to unsold PlayBook tablets.
Canadian device vendor Research In Motion (RIM) has warned shareholders that it has a large inventory of Playbook tablets sitting in its channels at the moment, amounting to a provision for this quarter of around $360m.
Canadian handset vendor RIM has announced that it is rolling out its BBM Music service on a commercial basis following a successful beta trial.
Canadian devices firm RIM has announced its acquisition of digital content services provider NewBay, the BlackBerry maker’s fifth acquisition of 2011.