Corporate users embraced BlackBerry as a kind of a natural gadget, and RIM is following with a new model before you get used to the old one and the new Curve is one of them. But do we need that flood of devices?
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Let us see what new BlackBerry Curve 3G has to offer to corporate users. Designed to provide the growing mass of smartphone purchasers with an affordable choice, the BlackBerry Curve 3G supports high-speed 3G (HSDPA) networks around the world and gives users very good communications features they need to accomplish at home, at work and everywhere in-between. Well, old models have all that.
Curve 3G smartphone features a comfortable full-QWERTY keyboard for fast typing, optical trackpad for navigation, built-in GPS and Wi-Fi, as well as dedicated media keys, so music lovers can easily access their tunes while on the go. The new smartphone also features a camera that can record video and a microSD/SDHC slot that supports up to 32 GB memory cards for media storage. Support for 3G networks makes browsing faster, streaming music smoother, and gives users the ability to talk on the phone while they browse the web, instant message with BlackBerry Messenger or share their location with friends on popular social networking websites.
The BlackBerry Curve 3G ships with BlackBerry 5 and is BlackBerry 6 ready. BlackBerry 6 is a new operating system for BlackBerry smartphones that was announced last week. It retains the well-known features that distinguish the BlackBerry brand while delivering the experience that is both powerful and easy to use. BlackBerry 6 is expected to be available for the BlackBerry Curve 3G, subject to US carrier certifications, in the coming months.
That sounds great, but there is one essential question we just need to ask. Does anybody really needs another BlackBerry? Compared with iPhone and some Android mobile phones, and those are more mobile computers than mobile phones, new BlackBerry is an evolution rather than revolution. And revolution is what RIM needs. Corporate users, and RIM says its devices aim at that market, are very happy with their old models. In fact, RIM doesn't need a new device because any old models work just fine.
And indeed, what's the use new features? First, new features are just cosmetics and irrelevant to corporate users (not to mention the absurd ability to talk and surf the web at the same time). The new device is faster but its small screen makes the reading of web pages difficult and for e-mails slower speed of older models works just fine. Media keys and camera that record video also don't belong to enterprise device.
In the other hand, iPhone is well accepted in business circles, Android phones are on the rise and it becomes clear that just cosmetic details are not worth a few hundreds of dollars. Where are new applications? What essentially new Curve brings? Why would anybody buy the new BlackBerry? The answer is simple: there's no reason for buying. Old models work just fine, and new customers will buy another interesting device from another company. Instead of pointless polishing RIM should ask itself: "What our R&R department works?" Or better: "Do we have an R&R department?" ■