RIM to Bid Farewell to Enterprise Dominance in the Face of Windows Phone 7?

[Jason Dunn]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.businessinsider.com/rim-smart-phone-market-share-rip-2010-8' target='_blank'>http://www.businessinsider.com/rim-...hare-rip-2010-8</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"Last week I stated 'After Getting a Glimpse of the New Windows Phone 7 Functionality, RIMM is Looking More Like a Short Play'. I meant it, for the Windows Mobile offering looks to be quite compelling from a usability and capability perspective. This is an optimal time to be a smart phone consumer/user, for the competition in this field is red hot and the technology is available to make the competition into something that increases the productivity of the enterprise and consumer alike, not to mention transforming the entertainment and media landscapes, yet again."</em></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/wpt/auto/1281630611.usr1.jpg" style="border: 1px solid #d2d2bb;" /></p><p>It's never a good start to an article when the headline (<em>"Windows Mobile 7 Spells The End Of The BlackBerry's Enterprise Dominance"</em>) doesn't even get the product name right - It's "Windows Phone 7." But, let's give author&nbsp;Reggie Middleton the benefit of the doubt. Microsoft has changed mobile brand names more than a few times over the past decade, and it can get confusing.</p><p>What I find a bit harder to believe, though, are some of his concepts; while it's true that Windows Phone 7 has some interesting advantages with SharePointe integration, and I believe still the best Exchange ActiveSync solution today, its unique user interface and highly consumer-centric approach don't really tend to lend themselves to the business world. And let's not forget that Microsoft has its own enterprise-specific slant on Windows Phone that will take shape over the next year. I also tend to think that the author discounts RIM's consumer appeal; I know people who I'd never guess would own a Blackberry, but because of aggressive wireless carrier advertising and discounts, bought one. Sometimes it's less about the phone and more about how it's promoted and positioned.</p><p>What do you think? Will Windows Phone 7 eat into RIM's market in the Enterprise?</p>

[vangrieg]

I cannot call WP7's Exchange support "the best" when it doesn't support Tasks.

Also, there's something about Blackberry that will keep it afloat no matter what - $30/mo unlimited email worldwide. Top-level execs will get what they want, but regular employees will still be forced to use Blackberries to be online wherever they are.

[tjl129]

The iPhone has proven to be fairly popular with executives despite it's focus on the customer market. Give then I think the Windows phone 7's additional office products and integrations could make it a strong player in the enterprise once again.

[V-iPAQ]

Windows Mobile 7 is NOT an Enterprise product.
In fact it REMOVES all the things good in WM6.5 for an Enterprise product to get an iPhone 1.0 like dumbed down consumer product.

The iPhone started getting some enterprise features after 'hip' execs started forcing IT dep's to support apps on it. Now it can do both.

WM7 is coming into a market with already a perceived good 'consumer' phone (iphone) and Enterprise phone (android/blackberry/WM6.5)

It excels at none of those markets. It has no value proposition. It beats none of the above at any single task. It does fewer tasks than iphone 3/4.

No depth, no breadth. Who on earth is the market for WM7?

[Stinger]

I wouldn't take much notice any of piece that packs that many business buzzwords into so few paragraphs :)

[Fritzly]

Spending time to make an educated and cohering comment on this article is just a waste of time; the author either has no clue about the matter or he was just making a lame attempt to stir a controversy to boost visitors.
Either way...... just pathetic.

[Eriq Cook]

Windows Mobile 7 is NOT an Enterprise product.
In fact it REMOVES all the things good in WM6.5 for an Enterprise product to get an iPhone 1.0 like dumbed down consumer product.

The iPhone started getting some enterprise features after 'hip' execs started forcing IT dep's to support apps on it. Now it can do both.

WM7 is coming into a market with already a perceived good 'consumer' phone (iphone) and Enterprise phone (android/blackberry/WM6.5)

It excels at none of those markets. It has no value proposition. It beats none of the above at any single task. It does fewer tasks than iphone 3/4.

No depth, no breadth. Who on earth is the market for WM7?

Well said. I too agree that WP7 is too different of an interface and dumbs things down too much to be an enterprise contender, at all. WM6.5 works better for the enterprise market, but WM6.5 will never trump BB.

I also agree that spending 5 minutes for me to type this reply about such a silly article was a waste of time LOL

[Craig Horlacher]

I think RIM will keep loosing market share no matter what WinPhone 7 does. I think Android 2.2 devices are best positioned to overtake RIM.

As stated in other posts, I agree it would be odd for WinPhone to make any dent in RIM at all since Microsoft has said WinPhone will be for consumers, not businesses.

I was stunned at how unimpressive the Torch and new OS 6 are. RIM really needed something amazing to have a chance. At least WinPhone has a slick new interface that makes you want to use the device. I thought the Torch looked just like another Blackberry. I have a Bb Curve for work. I don't like anything about it except the battery life. I really don't mind charging my Droid X at night for the outstanding usability it gives me all day.