The diametrically opposed fortunes of RIM & Nokia v Apple & Samsung over the last three years or so is, being honest, pretty breath-taking. We’ve long used them as the best example in our long-running ‘Diversity of Performance’ theme. But I admit that I never envisaged we might be contemplating the complete annihilation of two of the previous giants in the smartphone market.
Yesterday, Nokia shares crashed another 7%. Microsoft’s announcement of the Surface (see Microsoft’s iPad) seems to have come as a surprise to Nokia. It looks as if the all-important Windows 8 operating system will not be available on the current Nokia Lumia range. Also there are well-sourced rumours that Microsoft is planning to follow up the Surface with its own range of smartphones. So, yet again, Nokia users will have immediately out of date phones. How different to the 2+ year backwards compatibility ‘promise’ that iPhone users get. Quite why anyone would consider buying any Nokia phone now is beyond me. Whether Microsoft taking over Nokia is less or more likely now is open to debate.
RIM’s shares also fell 7% yesterday – now down 70% since Sept 11. RIM had 20% of the smartphone market in 2009. It’s now 7% with analysts forecasting 3% by 2016. RIM is now contemplating splitting itself into a software and services company (continuing its BB messenger and secure email services) and spinning off the handset bit. I still love my Blackberry but that’s mainly because I like the physical keyboard. As the next versions come only with touchscreens, I feel my Blackberry days are numbered anyway.
Conversely, Samsung is reportedly unable to build Galaxy 3 smartphones fast enough and we all know of the phenomenal and continuing success of Apple – even before the launch of the next iPhone later this year.