Research In Motion (RIM), yet again, is being replaced by the iPhone.
The National Transportation Safety Board has issued a notice of intent saying it plans to “sole source” Verizon Wireless for an iPhone 5 deal.
“These Apple devices will replace the NTSB’s existing BlackBerry
devices, which have been failing both at inopportune times and at an
unacceptable rate,” the agency says in its decision.
“The NTSB requires effective, reliable and stable communication
capabilities to carry-out its primary investigative mission and to
ensure employee safety in remote locations.”
The NTSB, which uses Verizon as its carrier for its BlackBerry
service, has an agreement to “refresh” its BlackBerry handsets on an
11-month cycle. Although Verizon has offered to replace broken
BlackBerry phones, the government agency says it has lost faith with
RIM’s range.
“Verizon Wireless, instead, is offering the NTSB a significant
discount on the price of the iPhone 5 devices to account for the
expenses incurred previously by the NTSB to purchase blackberry devices
from Verizon Wireless,” the agency says.
The NTSB has indicated the iPhone is the best way to go because the
agency already has iOS support, apps, and infrastructure set up, because
it has already adopted iPads.
The NTSB is one of several BlackBerry users — both government and corporate — to make the switch.
The Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE) last month announced it was dropping Blackberry in favor of the iPhone.
The government agency said it would end its contract with RIM and
shell out $2.1 million to buy iPhones for its more than 17,600
employees.
The ICE, who has had a contract with RIM for eight years, told
Reuters the company “can no longer meet the mobile technology needs of
the agency.”
The NTSB decision is really bad timing for RIM which is gearing up
for it global launch of its new BlackBerry 10 devices Jan. 30.
The BlackBerry 10 may be the beleaguered Ontario company’s last
chance at redemption. RIM’s devices dominated the market at one time,
but have since fallen victim to Apple’s iPhone and devices powered by
Google’s Android operating system. With a net loss of $235 million in
the last quarter, RIM desperately needs its new Smartphones to be a
success.
So far, BlackBerry 10 hype has been good for the company — that and
recent positive comments by a major analyst had RIM shares rise to the
double-digit range Nov. 20 for the first time since June.
Analyst Peter Jeffries of investment firm Jeffries & Co. said in a
note the company has a 20 to 30 per cent chance of succeeding when it
launches its BlackBerry 10 devices, a definite improvement from the 10
to 20 per cent chance of success he predicted earlier. Jeffries also
upgraded the stock’s rating from “underperform” to “hold.”
RIM earlier this month announced it had secured a key U.S. government
security clearance, paving the way the BlackBerry 10 to be the device
of choice for the feds.
RIM said its BlackBerry 10 received it U.S. Federal Information
Processing Standard (FIPS) certification. Translation: the devices can
be used to send classified data between government employees.
RIM’s one seeming advantage over the competition, however — top-notch
security — may not be enough if agencies continue to experience
problems with the products.
Details about BlackBerry 10 can be found here.
Post from: SiteProNews
