Free Case Study On Research In Motion

Research in Motion traces its existence back to more than twenty years ago when it was founded purely as a result of ambition and vision. The company's origin dates back to 1984, and its founders included Douglas Fregin and Mike Lazaridis. The years following its establishment saw it introducing innovative products into the communications field. In 1988, the company made significant innovations including the development of wireless data technology and connectivity products for Mobitex wireless packet-switched data networks. Two years later, RIM introduced the DigiSync Film KeyKode Reader used in Motion Picture labs and media production facilities. Later on, RIM introduced the point-of-sale terminal (MPT).It then launched The Interactive Pager, which was the first two-way messaging pager (Sweeny, 2013).
As a pioneer of technological ideas and innovations, there was always a risk of infringement of its works by other companies. One of the greatest challenges RIM encountered happened in 2000. A holding patent company, New Technology Products (NTP) accused RIM wireless email service of infringing on its patents. NTP filed a lawsuit against RIM in court that put in motion a case that lasted for almost six years. The RIM argued that it was not infringing on any patent since its relay utilization stations were in Canada (Sweeny, 2013). The case threatened RIM markets especially in the USA. Apart from the monetary damages, Blackberry also faced the threat of an injunction that could lead to its closure. Thus, RIM had to pay a settlement of 612.5 million dollars to NTP. Though financial experts expected this to be a big blow to the RIM, it instead resulted in a growth in shares by 15% (Livingston, 2008). The RIM weathered these lawsuits by a string of appeals in the court that saw the cases settled without much damage to the company.
RIM has policies and measures in place to protect its intellectual property. For instance, in the event of their subscribers losing their devices there is provision for locking them wirelessly to prevent access to the information in them by other parties other than the owner. In addition, blackberry technology allows one to control their lost devices by making them ring, changing its password or deleting any sensitive information in them. (Blackberry, 2013).RIM also keeps a record of its entire staff’s conversation using a domain. Former RIM chief Information officer said that all the activities carried out in the RIM’s internal network are logged and kept track off. It means that to carry out private conversation; one has to carry his private device. The workers are aware of the surveillance policy and they cooperate fully with it. In a case of any breach in these security measures, the company quickly tracks its source and deals with it quickly. The company wipes out all information in such devices leaving it empty (Livingston, 2008).
For many years, Blackberry enjoyed an unparalleled domination in smartphone provision. In recent years, however, RIM has been facing stiff competition from iPhone, Android and other smartphone manufacturers. When IPhone came into the market in 2007, experts thought that was the end of blackberry. However, blackberry extensive subscription network enable it to retain some firm hold over its users. By the time, iPhone 4 was being released Blackberry had reached 22 million users in the USA (Sweeny, 2013). iPhone's base in the USA began accelerating markedly thus hurting blackberry severely. By 2013, there were only 7 million Blackberry users in the US compared to 48.91 iPhone users (Sweeny, 2013). Android and Microsoft companies also snatched more subscribers from RIM. Such devices include HTC, Sony Ericsson, Motorola and Samsung. Their customers continue growing in large numbers whereas Blackberry's users continue to decline.
Blackberry enjoyed its dominance mainly because of its ability to innovate new things that suited the customer’s needs. Introduction of the wireless emailing and texting application made it a frontrunner among other mobile communications devices. It revolutionized the communications industry making everything available with a touch of a button. Data encryption is also a strength of the RIM particularly to the subscribers working in businesses and government capacity (Sweeny, 2013). Since, such fields’ success rest solidly on privacy and blackberry is the best choice of the other alternatives. One of the blackberries core competencies is also in the unique design of its phones. The material is also exceptionally strong and rarely does a blackberry device fall on the ground and cracks or breaks up. .RIM got into numerous partnerships with other companies that saw its networks grow. Such partnerships allowed it to observe changes in the communication needs in the world and create products that suited those needs. The existence of blackberry rests mainly on these factors and the loyal group of subscribers that it has left.

References

Livingston, J. (2008). Founders at work: Stories of startups' early days. Berkeley, California: Apress.
Sweeny, A. (2013). Blackberry planet: The story of research in motion and the little device that took the world by storm. Hoboken, N.J: Wiley.