CIO —
The patent infringement case may be settled (RIM coughed up $612.5 million to get NTP off its back on March 3, 2006), but RIM faces a new set of challenges. First, the BlackBerry-maker will need to assuage the doubts that its enterprise customers may have felt during the dispute, and dazzle them with new applications for its handheld devices.
"The challenge for RIM is moving beyond mobile e-mail and deliver that sort of thing that makes RIM much more interesting," says Sara Palmbush, an associate analyst for mobile software at The 451 Group.
In the meantime, RIM also has to reassert itself in the marketplace. Its invigorated competitors -- Microsoft, Palm, Good Technology and others -- used the lengthy legal battle to make some small inroads into enterprises.
"[The legal battle] gave them entry into some organizations that had not looked at them before," Palmbush says.
So while the courtroom battle is over, the war has moved back out to the streets, and RIM’s ability to deliver new applications and products is even more paramount.
-Thomas Wailgum
Keep checking in at our CIO News Alerts page for updated news coverage.
News Updates
Posted March 16: RIM Rival Defends US Patent Office
Amidst criticism from BlackBerry maker.
Posted March 15: BlackBerry Maker’s Ad. Thanks Users, Calls for Patent Reform
RIM uses newspapers to criticize patent system.
Posted March 14: RIM Hopes to Launch BlackBerry in China
No set timeline for deployment.
Posted March 10: RIM Adds IM to BlackBerry Server
Introduced at CeBIT.
Posted March 3: BlackBerry Suit Settlement Reached
Users rejoice!
Posted Feb. 28: Small Victory for BlackBerry Users?
Judge denies NTP request.
Posted Feb. 24: Analysis: Patent Reviews Are a Sticky BlackBerry Patch
Law helps drag out dispute.
Judge Stops Short of BlackBerry Shutdown
But he’s likely to issue a decision soon.
Posted Feb. 23: NTP Blasts RIM A Day Before Crucial Hearing
Throwing jabs before the gavel drops.
Posted Feb. 22: USPTO Rejects Patent in BlackBerry Suit
First final rejection.
Judge: No BlackBerry Hearing
Gov’t request denied.
Posted Feb. 15: BlackBerry Customers Unfazed by Legal Troubles
Shipments up nearly 50% in 2005.
Posted Feb. 13: MS To Offer New BlackBerry Alternative
Moving in on RIM.
Posted Feb. 9: RIM Unveils BlackBerry Backup Plan
Two weeks before courtdate.
Posted Feb. 7: Open-Source BlackBerry Alternative
Amidst BlackBerry fiasco, firm’s looking to cash in.
Posted Feb. 2: RIM: UK Court Dismissed Patent Claims
English High Court throws out InPro suit.
Posted Feb. 2: DOJ: Wait on BlackBerry Shutdown
Justice wants assurance gov’t users would be exempt.
Posted Feb. 1: Fifth and Last NTP Patent Rejected
NTP has 30 days to respond.
Posted Jan. 31: RIM Rival Slapped With Patent Suit
Good Technology allegedly infringed on four patents.
