I can't pretend to be well informed on this kind of business strategy, but wouldn't another option be to BUY Kik? Turn the iPhone and Android app into a RIM-branded, cross-platform BBM, and incorporated it into the BlackBerry client. Maybe risky, but it might help their platform more than a lawsuit... If it was a really solid app maybe iPhone or Android users would think of getting a BB for their next phone, and it might keep current BB users where they are.
I dunno, this whole affair definitely seems poorly thought out. BlackBerry app development is horrible enough as it is, and there are more and more things making it unappealing. (one of the CEOs said mobile apps are a fad a few weeks ago)
They don't under any circumstances WANT a cross-platform BBM.
BBM is the one killer-app keeping people using blackberries due to the network effect.
The only reason I still have a blackberry is because friends and family in far off countries also have them, and vice-versa - we cna talk to each other freely and easily on the run. BBM is really good at this.
We would all have to switch to something new, and just as reliable, at the same time to make jumping platforms viable.
As soon as there is something that works as well as BBM that's cross platform, lots of people will jump ship as soon as they are able, as long as they can reach their BBM friends (who will eventually jump ship too)
I hear this a lot about BBM, although I've never used it. I think you're right, of course, about them not wanting a cross-platform version. I just wondered if there was something other than a lawsuit they could have done, since a lawsuit seems so ill-fated from a PR angle... Android and iOS are going to continue eating their lunch whether Kik exists or not.
I agree with you, but trying to see it from BB's perspective: they make money from selling devices, that require BB services to do push.
Push email is now a commodity, via push IMAP, push Exchange, COMET webmail, and a bucketload of other apps.
BBM is one of the last things unique to BB. Of course it will inevitably be commoditized, but BB will try and delay this as long as possible using whatever tactics it can.
If you can get a nicer quality smartphone that does instant messaging, and push email, why would you want a BB with a poor quality web browser and a paltry few shitty quality apps?
I dunno, this whole affair definitely seems poorly thought out. BlackBerry app development is horrible enough as it is, and there are more and more things making it unappealing. (one of the CEOs said mobile apps are a fad a few weeks ago)