While taking a few days off to ponder the future of BlackBerry, one thought crossed my mind more than others: How many BlackBerry users changed platforms since RIM announced the BlackBerry 10 delay? I find it fascinating, because given the two- or three-year contract terms most carriers require for smartphone purchases, those customers are off RIM’s radar. They likely won’t be back in play until a second round of BlackBerry 10 devices. I’m assuming, though, that most people didn’t immediately go out and switch. Perhaps they went from being big fans to being undecided. This reminds me of a quote from former New York Yankees and Mets manager Casey Stengel: “The secret of managing is to keep the guys who hate you away from the guys who are undecided.” Given RIM’s recent PR blitz, it appears they’re heeding that wisdom. The latest is a long Q&A in the Globe and Mail with CEO Thorsten Heins. He’s been on the offensive lately, publishing an editorial in the same paper and having his lieutenants speaking to various BlackBerry communities. The Q&A, which you can read in the Globe and Mail, has some impressive answers to tough questions. The whole thing is worth a read, of course, especially if you’re still undecided about the future of BlackBerry. When asked why people should wait for BlackBerry 10 rather than switch to a new platform now, Heins says, “I believe the reason you should wait is because, you’ll see that BlackBerry 10 is not just a fresh coat of paint on an old operating system. It will be the only completely new mobile platform on the market.” You know what the craziest part is? I believe him. I believe that BlackBerry 10 will be well positioned, because its foundation will better reflect the current state of technology. There are still questions of whether RIM as a company will make it to Q1 2013 and of their ability to market this new platform. But in terms of actual experience, I’m a believer.
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