News & Rumors, Interviews

Says RIM CEO: "There is a LOT of Change!"

by Kevin Michaluk

on 26 Jan 2012 11:39 PM

100

CrackBerry Interview w/ Thorsten Heins - Part 2 by crackberry

Part II of CrackBerry's Interview with RIM's New CEO

After breaking the ice and throwing a couple of straight forward questions at RIM's new CEO in our Part I Interview, we tackle some of the hot topics surrounding Research In Motion and their current BlackBerry strategy.

You'll want to listen to the interview above and/or read the Q&A below as we get passionate straight talk from Thorsten Heins. Seriously, if you haven't been won over by the new BlackBerry Chief yet, this may be the interview that does it.

We really are entering into a new era for Research In Motion here. This is a CEO who admits RIM has missed on commitments in the past, admits RIM is choosing the harder way (as compared to building upon Android), but 100% believes in the strength of the company and the current strategy they have chosen to execute on.

Interview Part II - There is a LOT of Change

Kevin: On the topic of change, on the conference call you said, "We don't think significant change was needed." Obviously there is a lot of change already in progress with the migration (from BlackBerry OS) up to the BlackBerry 10 platform, but I'm seeing that the media and financial community are not in total agreement about that message. Can you clarify and explain why you don't think you need change?

Thorsten: I think this got into a little bit of the black and white zone. I was talking about drastic or seismic changes. What I was trying to address was that there was some suggestion that RIM should be split up or should even be sold. My true belief is that RIM has the strength and the assets that we can really succeed in this market.

There is a LOT of change. There is a lot of structure change, there has been already a lot of change in terms of our software, our software platform, bringing QNX in. There is no standstill at any moment here at RIM.

What I wanted to make clear to the market is that we believe in our own strength, we are BlackBerry, we are an integrated solution, hardware, software, services, and network.

Just do yourselves a favor and look where the other OEMs are that are just handset providers. I tell you, I've been in that business before. It's cut throat price and cost competition. And why would I throw the value away of differentiating myself against the others?

Kevin: I keep reading these articles that BlackBerry should build on Android, but I just don't understand them.

Thorsten: Just take a look where the Android OEMs are. I leave this to you. Take a look at their recent announcements and what you will immediately see is there is just no room for differentiation because they are all the same.

What we choose is the harder way. I get it. Did we miss on some commitments? Yes, I admit that. That happens in high tech. This is not baking cookies. This is building high tech products. From time to time your aspirations and your development timelines hit some bumps in the road that were not foreseen. But I think going down that path is exactly right for BlackBerry and its customers.

Keep it locked to CrackBerry... more from RIM's new CEO will be hitting the blogs soon!

Read CrackBerry's 1st Interview with RIM's CEO

Filed Under: News & Rumors, Interviews; Tags: CEO Interview 1, Thorsten Heins

100 Comments

Posted by axllebeer Thursday, Jan 26, 2012 27 days ago

Part 2 here we go! So far everything I'm hearing from him is sounding like good stuff. A good realistic view of where RIM has been and where it will go under his leadership.

Boldly sent from my 9930

Posted by Michelle Haag Thursday, Jan 26, 2012 27 days ago

Love it.

Posted by auditman Thursday, Jan 26, 2012 27 days ago

Admitting their mistakes are a good start.

Posted by bobs415 Friday, Jan 27, 2012 26 days ago

Yes, at RIM, admitting ARE a good start!! Change can we in believe!!

Posted by tstrike34 Thursday, Jan 26, 2012 27 days ago

Now this guy is speaking pragmatically.... Taking ownership of missed deadlines and opportunities... The more I read, the more I likey

Posted by Clinto Friday, Jan 27, 2012 26 days ago

+ a very emphatic 1!!

Posted by BB10FTW Thursday, Jan 26, 2012 27 days ago

Thorsten Heins just keeps hitting the nail on the head. The #1 thing I LOVE about our new fearless leader is how straight forward he is, no bs. Keep the Great blogs coming Kevin!

Posted by Tariq.H Friday, Jan 27, 2012 27 days ago

precisely. i think rim is going to a new level with this guy and i like what i hear from him

Posted by axllebeer Friday, Jan 27, 2012 27 days ago

Agreed. He just says it how it is and for that I have to give him a big thumbs up. From all of what I have heard from him thus far is the most strait-talking CEO that I can think of.
Boldly sent from my 9930

Posted by sf49ers Friday, Jan 27, 2012 27 days ago

I couldn't agree more, Mike and Jim a big thumbs up for you guys as well for recognizing and promoting Mr Heins as the captain of the ship

Posted by bobs415 Friday, Jan 27, 2012 26 days ago

Do it for the Gipper!! Let's go Team!! (Oh please...)

Posted by Rgainsmi Friday, Jan 27, 2012 26 days ago

I know he has no choice but saying OS7 devices are competitive then goes on to say he tests other platforms devices, makes me think his dreaming! I use the 9860 and I can tell you it ain't a 4S! :-(

Posted by El Platanero Friday, Jan 27, 2012 26 days ago

Dude it's not supposed to be a 4s. I love my phone. Can I say that the competitors don't have some things that I want? No I can't. I can say that my phone has everything I need in a phone short of a camera. You could throw any of the new devices at me and I wouldn't be impressed. I'm just hoping that the upcoming Bold knocks my socks off because if it doesn't then it will be a while until RIM sees any of my money.

Anyway back to the point. If you want a 4s then go get one (no sarcasm). And for the record the 4s wouldn't exactly be what I would call cutting edge.

Posted by Kiddo2050 Friday, Jan 27, 2012 26 days ago

Actually it is competitive as a phone and in messaging. Hell all I want is fluidity and maybe a little more eye candy (but fluidity most (zero lag)) and I couldn't care less about apps.

But I still beleive that BB10 will be the competitor people like you want.

Posted by elsteve9 Friday, Jan 27, 2012 26 days ago

I'm with you. Zero lag, messaging...that's what I want.

I'm willing to put in a big extended battery, ok. I want the thing to work ALL STINKIN' DAY.

But the zero lag thing...that's what I find most frustrating about my blackberry.

-Stephen

Posted by bb.bold Thursday, Jan 26, 2012 27 days ago

Did I hear him say "app world is the most profitable platform for application developers"?? I love BB but I simply do NOT believe that. Is there proof for that claim? where's that study?

Posted by Kevin Michaluk Friday, Jan 27, 2012 27 days ago

That was a statistic given during the keynote session at BlackBerry DevCon in the fall. Will try and dig up the link (reference might be buried in video). I think it wasn't an "in total" quote, but referenced a per developer basis (highest or 2nd highest % of developers who make over 100k per year on a mobile platform was on BB). Better yet, I'll try and reach out and find the study. Stay tuned.

Posted by lotuslanderz Friday, Jan 27, 2012 27 days ago

Alec Saunders' talk at DevCon in Oct when the BBX platform was introduced.

(second most profitable platform...)

Posted by Shake Friday, Jan 27, 2012 26 days ago

This actually was not true and then Kevin bought a 500 dollar clock app to put it on top.

Posted by Masahiro Friday, Jan 27, 2012 26 days ago

I lol'd.

Posted by sf49ers Friday, Jan 27, 2012 27 days ago

yes that's correct, as per RIM 13% of the app developers submitting apps to the app world made over 100K last year and that is quite incredible.

Posted by D_Town_Tony Friday, Jan 27, 2012 26 days ago

It is 110% true, I develop now for both BB and iOS. I cleared 100k in both 2010 and 2011 on the App World (not to mention online distribution) That said it is slowing as the competition grows. I's just much easier to get noticed competing against the number of Apps on App World vs the number on the App Store, so that statistic is true, but slightly skewed because of that.

Posted by MaxPayne79 Friday, Jan 27, 2012 27 days ago

You know I really hope there will be some changes because my first impression of this ceo shakeup was that this is strictly a window dressing move. Company looks bad, let's make a difference. And after the first few intervIews with the new ceo, I heard nothing of any kind of changes what so ever. But the only thing this company needs is change not a new ceo. It needs a real focus, a real plan and purpose. And definitely it needs to stop trying to be and beat the iphone. So I'm glad changes are a'comin....like my horoscope said, lol. Seriously though, this is the second piece of good new to come out of rim this week. 1st being a qnx bold. Yaaay.

Posted by Tariq.H Friday, Jan 27, 2012 27 days ago

he's been here for a couple of days only.. you didn't expect the new ceo to bring bb10 with him just because he's the new ceo

Posted by sf49ers Friday, Jan 27, 2012 27 days ago

+100

Posted by MaxPayne79 Friday, Jan 27, 2012 27 days ago

No but I expected him to come out swinging with a new swing in his step and fresh voice. This company is on the verge of being bought or shut down, you don't come out wishy-washy when it's this bad. You come out storming like it's a war because u care about the brand you're speaking for and u don't wanna see it fall apart. You come out with at least some sort of a concrete change. You come out with something, not nothing. Anything is good at this point that can make the shareholders perk up and listen. Cause ain't no one listening right now. I want a strategy, A plan, A simplifying of the process and a carving out of the brand. That's a focus. I want action. But I got bupkiss lol.

Posted by sf49ers Friday, Jan 27, 2012 27 days ago

on the verge of being bought or shut down? who told so? read this in his another interview with CNBC

http://www.cnbc.com/id/46154309

Posted by MaxPayne79 Friday, Jan 27, 2012 27 days ago

He's a ceo bud. That's means his job isn't to tell you the truth but rather what u need to hear. That's the pr part of a ceo's job. still...in one interview he says there no need for drastic change. Then in another he states big change is coming...I don't know man, I don't know.

Posted by blue-b Friday, Jan 27, 2012 27 days ago

I personally don't get comments like this, they are executing their plan for bb10 which is a huge change, but this isn't a huge change from the plan in place last week. But he's committed to executing it well, and supporting it with the marketing and promotion to get things done. How's that confusing?

Posted by bbpandy Friday, Jan 27, 2012 27 days ago

You don't see changes?
How about them saying that they will communicate better? (want proof?...look at all the interviews, & how it's RIM contacting CB)

First thing he did as CEO is say we need a CMO. A person with lots of consumer telecoms experience NOT currently working at RIM. (btw I read an article somewhere where they said it looks like RIM is not only activly looking for a CMO but willing to pay whatever it takes to get one.

There are LOTs of other changes too...I'm quite happy with what I'm seeing from this guy. What I don't want is a new CEO who does something stupid like throw out all the changes that are currently happening at RIM (like QNX) or breaks up & sells RIM

Posted by bobs415 Friday, Jan 27, 2012 26 days ago

Good form, Max!

Posted by MaxPayne79 Friday, Jan 27, 2012 27 days ago

And it's irrelevant how long he's been a ceo. If they're serious about this brand, they would've backed his launch with firepower ie a new strategy, new tactics, a new way of thinking. New something. But they didn't.

Posted by world traveler and former ceo Friday, Jan 27, 2012 27 days ago

How do you know that is not happening already? ... they are not going to announce things for the benefit of their competition until products and services are ready to roll out! ... just stay tuned! .. great things are underway .....

Posted by bobs415 Friday, Jan 27, 2012 26 days ago

Nah,first he has to get rid of those "Welcome to the new Millenium" signs all over the office. Then, get a suit that doesn't have bell-bottom pants. Trade the fleet of Plymouth vehicles.

Posted by Darrweng Friday, Jan 27, 2012 26 days ago

it is easy to say change. but what do you want to change is a more difficult question. what is RIM's priority? OS7 marketing esp. in US at present, Playbook 2.0 next month and BB10 end of year. do you want changes on those and suffer a further delay? he stated on a lot of interview that the changes would come on how RIM would deliver. the two Co-Ceos have laid out the plans already and it looks good. Thor would just have to be focusing on the targets.
oh and btw, RIM CEO calling Crackberry Kevin to discuss the issues is a huge change in doing things in my opinion.

Posted by jerry12 Friday, Jan 27, 2012 27 days ago

He makes sents to me , I don't want a driodberry. I want a blackberry & I will wait for OS10. My 9930 is doing a good job so I can wait.

Posted by canuckcam Friday, Jan 27, 2012 27 days ago

There wasn't really anything new that he didn't say in the interviews to the media. All he did was admit mistakes but really nothing to move forward to appease the shareholders to continue to put their money in the company.

How about the myriad of devices that RIM puts out. Crackberry's own forums show how fragmented the Blackberry family is. Each one of those devices takes a development team. That is A LOT of development going into similar products that are competing against each other, let alone all the other phones. Hmm.. should I get the 9900 or the 9790, but really I think the 9860 will do... For the developer it's insane to support Blackberry OS 5,6,7 (and BB10 soon) at the same time trying to support all the various screen sizes....

I carry both a 9900 and iPhone4S... past the email, bbm and keyboard that keeps me on the Blackberry, the iPhone wins for everything else. Consumers really don't care about BES and how secure their data is.

And companies are beginning to see the flexibility of the iOS (and beginning on the Android) platform. On my iPhone I have the capability to record a video, re-compress it and FTP it in high quality to my work all in one go. I can send live audio via IP back to my workplace with IFB intercom coming back in my headphones without using the phone. I can even go live-to-air streaming video and audio - CNN proved it last year in the Middle East. There's apps for all of that.

But I can do email on my Blackberry. And THAT'S what's wrong with RIM.

Posted by sf49ers Friday, Jan 27, 2012 27 days ago

RIM is aware of the problem and they are working towards it, traditional Blackberry OS and IOS or Android are built on different fundamentals, one evolved from being a media consumption device while the latter evolved from being a pure communications device and hence obvious differences, but RIM is hard at work with BB10 to make the platform best of the both worlds.

Posted by Darlaten Friday, Jan 27, 2012 27 days ago

Finally, someone on these forums actually gets it. I take my hat off to you sir, for you hit the nail on the head.

Posted by grundyman Friday, Jan 27, 2012 26 days ago

I couldn't agree with you more.
How many times have we heard RIM admit their obvious mistakes?

At one point I think I was one of the biggest Blackberry fans out there , then came along the iPhone . I still stuck with Blackberry , believing they were gonna come up with similar features . I went out and got the Storm on launch date , I thought that was the answer, ran out and got the storm 2 ; I made the same mistake twice. It took so much out of me to go get the OG Droid , thinking I needed BBM , and no one would have email support like BB.

Once I loaded my Gmail account , and using Android threaded text , I could tell what the diffidence was. In so many ways it was a lot better then what BB had to offer.

I still remember the headaches of the battery pulls , memory leaks , that thing they called a browser, horrible cameras , that thing they call APP World ...

The one thing I miss about the four Blackberry's I owned is , The Battery life. I could go a few days without charging them , not so much the Storm and the Storm 2. I also owned the 7250 and the 8830.

Posted by sf49ers Friday, Jan 27, 2012 27 days ago

the more I hear the more I like Mr Heins, he is to the point, honest and straight forward..good choice Mike and Jim, congrats to the RIM board for finding the Man to turn the ship around

Posted by jasperlin Friday, Jan 27, 2012 27 days ago

Step 1: Admit your mistakes. loving it. this guy sounds like he's got some passion.

Posted by Auli Friday, Jan 27, 2012 27 days ago

You know what, I'm gonna hold my breath until I see the real products they launch under this guys management , we are consumers and the only thing that matters is what we hold in our hands , so I can't judge this guy yet .

Posted by joshua1986 Friday, Jan 27, 2012 27 days ago

No matter what RIM is going to do, that transition must reflect their care for not only the business users, but also the customers. Either more APPs, or beautiful designs, these are the changes from a company's CTO's perspectives of designing phones to a common person's perspectives. Of course, RIM should not give up its strength, but the priority and design logic needs modified.
Marketing is the same thing. So start from chaning RIM's stupid strategy in CHINA first! They ONLY server business users in CHINA! Not ony the cheif marketing office needs to be chosen carefully, but also the chief officer in China. Whoever ingore this market will pay for their debt for sure.

research in static

Posted by sidds18 Friday, Jan 27, 2012 27 days ago

Just a thought guys....why do we need this QNX platform.I have the playbook but i miss the menu button of my blackberry...Couldnt they have gone to better the old platform like apple does?
the true BB users like the platform and the options it comes up with when you press the menu no matter in which app you are.Can they improve it in superlative form? improve the browser many folds more smooth functionality.
Pls let me know....reply comment throw some light i might be missing something/maybe whole lotta thing.
Cheers

Posted by simu31 Friday, Jan 27, 2012 26 days ago

I'm sorry, but if you can't see the advantages of QNX over the BBOS, then I can only believe that you've been using your Playbook with your eyes closed.
PBOS is WAY faster, more fluid and more stable than BBOS. On top of that, because it is newer technology, rather than an evolution of an old technology (as with BBOS), there are many more possibilities to enhanse the sourse code with add-ons which simply couldn't work with the old BBOS.
I also have both a Playbook and a BB telephone. For the first few days, the PB kind of annoyed me because I didn't have a button to press to back-up, leave a programme, or give me more options as with a BB phone or even an iPad. But as soon as I worked out how the bezel replaces those physical buttons, I found it a WAY better system.
I'm constantly trying to bezel other things now (including my BB phone and my friend's iPad). It is almost addictive how simple it makes things and actually p!sses me off that it's not on everything else I touch.
As for "true" BB users, I'm sorry we/they are a dying breed in many "important" territories. All the news (despite how much crap is written) points to RIM being dead in the water - and no, I do not agree with that stuff - it's not legacy customers alone who are going to save RIM and BlackBerry (especially in the US), it's legacy customers AND getting new people onto the platform.

Si.

Posted by sidds18 Friday, Jan 27, 2012 26 days ago

Thanks for reply Simu so basically I'm in the initial stages of PB where you get annoyed and maybe since its a new platform it is still evolving but don't you think they should be more solid and do more extensive research before launching the product and we loyal customers just go and pick it up.I did the same with storm 1 and then storm 2 and now with 9850 and then inspite of having the option b/w iPad and PB i went with my heart and paid from my pocket over the apple gift card of 500$ which i had .
You see my point here is we loyal customers don't want BB to die.And its not just the US but even developing nations are flooded withBB phones so everyone is contributing but it always seems to me that whenever a new product from BB is launched there is always some or the other area where RIM has cut corners and we loyal lovers of BB accept it the way it is inspite of knowing in the heart of hearts that there are lot of things missing.
PB without email client and most basic needs which defines a BB was missing makes no sense.Give clients the freedom to choose not force them to buy a blackberry phone in order to experience PB.
once again thanks for the reply.
Cheers

Posted by D_March Friday, Jan 27, 2012 27 days ago

Kevin this is really great content. I was very critical of you when you posted your article on google buying RIM. But I have to say I am loving what you're providing BB fans now and I'm really enjoying these interviews and am excited for the future of RIM.

Posted by mss-ca Friday, Jan 27, 2012 27 days ago

Since he worked for RIM for a long time, I don't take his words like people take religious stuff. Until he prove his story is right, I don't believe anything he say or what others at RIM has to say.

Looking at how RIM still release a lot of different phone models instead of focusing on few phones with improved hardware and OS.

Posted by greatwiseone Friday, Jan 27, 2012 27 days ago

He hasn't actually worked at RIM for that long compared with a lot of the other exec's and upper management. RIM releasing all the different models is partially based on addressing CDMA and GSM carriers and the fact that RIM sells in so many countries around the world.