RBC highlights what they feel RIM needs to do in order to get back on track

To put it bluntly, for the most part -- I really don't pay too much attention to what analysts say. I likely should, but I don't. Most of the time when I read articles related to analysts, the information gets absorbed into my brain -- but to me, they feel like the weathermen of the technology industry in this respect. They could be right, they could be wrong, but most of time it all just feels like educated guesses that they could win big on or bust and go broke. They have their place though and I realize that.

With that out the way, some information coming from RBC Capital Markets Mike Abramsky and Paul Treiber, piqued my interest when it was reported in the WSJ recently. The article highlighted the four things RIM will need to do during their transition phase and for once, I found myself rather agreeing with everything that was said. Most of which has come up many times through discussions with various others I speak to daily. That list looks like this:

• Backwards-Looking, Uncompetitive Products and Software. Four years after iPhone launched, RIM still hasn’t launched competitive Smartphone innovations or addressed its ‘app gap’. With QNX, we believe RIM needs to renew its focus on innovative, bold user experiences.
• Marketing and Launch Execution. RIM continues to ship products late (e.g., BlackBerry 7) and incomplete (PlayBook minus 3G/email, underpowered Torch 1; Torch 9850/9860 with inferior virtual keyboard, etc.). RIM needs to improve execution as competitors are bringing their ‘A’ game, and have out-maneuvered RIM on marketing, positioning it as passé.
• Investor Credibility/Visibility. RIM’s apparent inability to offer reliable guidance (including Q2 miss and retracting over-optimistic projections) has created, in our opinion, a formidable credibility gap with the investment community that needs correcting.
• Governance. To us, RIM’s board has an opportunity to take a more active role in providing a ‘check and balance’ on key management decisions.

It wasn't all that long ago Kevin went ahead and posted the "What are the Top FIVE things you would do if you ran Research In Motion?" article and looking through the comments on that post, a lot of what was said is reflected above in the words from Mike Abramsky and Paul Treiber. So what do you all think? Does this sound like a plan of action for RIM and something they should be doing or does this all just sound like more RIM is down, lets kick em talk?

Source: WSJ