Business Model: Blackberry vs iPhone

[dangleheart]

It looks like Blackberry would emerge as a head to head competitor to iPhone. Is the business model of RIM and Apple/iPhone similar? ( other than business centric vs consumer centric )

I do not know how RIM makes money, just in equipment sales or they have end to end technology for data or they get a share of the monthly dues? Also, is Blackberry an email device which can also make voice calls?

Does apple get a cut off the monthly dues one will pay to AT&T?

 

[itsallinurhead]

You can actually use a Blackberry with a business.

 

[brasscat]

Apple is customer-centric, but they'd like that to change.

Nobody knows what the deal specific is for the iPhone/ATT partnership, but it's widely rumored that there is a per-month cut for Apple.

 

[aaarrrgggh]

Blackberry Business Plan...

RIM gets much more of their revenue from software licensing to corporations (Blackberry Enterprise Server, BES). Historically, not only has this been a cash cow, but it also created a very effective lock-in for companies to the Blackberry, and to Exchange (or Notes). It does a great job managing security and policies for a corporation.

Unfortunately, it is expensive as hell. Many companies are forced to move away from it (and its competitors like Good) to contain costs-- the values it used to provide are eroding into a commodity.

RIM is pushing into the consumer market now, and they just don't offer the same value. A better web browser is really what it takes to succeed there. They might do well in places that don't have EDGE speeds yet, but they seem to be hurting there.

Apple is really a hardware company, and their biggest strength (aside from marketing skill) is customer appeal. After lessons learned from the iPod, they also seem to have mastered supply chain management like nobody else. The iPhone is a better competitor to Nokia's 770/N800 than the Blackberry, although with the potential for saving money, it could very well undermine RIM.

RIMM will be crashing pretty soon. People don't seem to realize that Apple sold more iPhones in two days than RIM sells in some quarters. Apple, on the other hand...

 

[dangleheart]

What does BES really do at the corporation? Is it deployed in the DMZ of the corporate network and integrate with the enterprise email system? Does it interface with only Exchange or any email systems the corporations use? May be apple needs to get in that market and iPhone connectivity to email.

 

[joelcsf]

BES is Blackberry's life blood as far as push email is concerned:

http://na.blackberry.com/eng/services/server/exchange/

 

[DiamondMac]

I am very interested to see how the iPhone does against Blackberry's in the future.

I have a TON of friends with Blackberrys and everyone likes it but nobody LOVES it.

They enjoy the features but are frustrated with other things that are found on the machine and the slowness at times it can be.

They have all looked at my iPhone and several have already switched while others are staying.

Right now, the buisness part of the iPhone is lacking a little bit but I would be surprised if a few software updates didn't change that

 

[dangleheart]

Now I am intrigued... and have some ideas cooking...

 

[diamond.g]

I am very interested to see how the iPhone does against Blackberry's in the future.

I have a TON of friends with Blackberrys and everyone likes it but nobody LOVES it.

They enjoy the features but are frustrated with other things that are found on the machine and the slowness at times it can be.

They have all looked at my iPhone and several have already switched while others are staying.

Right now, the buisness part of the iPhone is lacking a little bit but I would be surprised if a few software updates didn't change that

Now I am intrigued... and have some ideas cooking...

Basically Apple needs like three things to topple RIM

1. Remote Zeroize of iPhone (that will satisfy government IT shops)
2. Push MAPI (should take care of being able to email appointments, to-do list, and all the other Exchange centric things)
3. Server package that integrates with existing mail systems (and for the government it probably has to run on windows server or unix depending on what branch you are talking about)

Once those things are taken care of (well that and no camera version) I can see the government looking into using them (generals and other high ranking officials).

 

[MacbookSwitcher]

Contrary to popular belief, Apple is not really a hardware company. Rather, they live by the mantra: "In order to make great software, you have to make your own hardware." Apple makes great software by putting great hardware that supports the software, behind it.

As has been previously stated, RIM makes their money from their server software, not from making particularly innovative or compelling phones. Apple is the opposite. They make almost nothing from .mac, but are making a killing on the game-changing iPhone.