Latest Podcast



Featured Articles

Ofcom helps protect customers against unexpected roaming charges

Ofcom helps protect customers against unexpected roaming charges

UK service providers must notify customers when they connect to a different network

New rules from UK telecoms regulator Ofcom will protect customers when they use their mobile phone on a foreign network. In addition, customers will be alerted if they are inadvertently roaming, perhaps because they're near an international border.
Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Global smartphone market is set for recovery, says new forecast

A new forecast from research specialists Canalys shows the smartphone market is set to recover next year. Worldwide shipments declined by 12% last year but that decline is expected to slow to 5% this year.
Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating
Vodafone and Three plan to merge their UK businesses

Vodafone and Three plan to merge their UK businesses

New Hutchison/Vodafone network would be biggest UK operator

Vodafone Group plc and CK Hutchison Group Telecom Holdings Limited have agreed to combine their UK telecommunication businesses, respectively Vodafone UK and Three UK. The merger will create a large new network operator to compete with Virgin Media O2 and EE.
Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

UK mobile payment service Paym to close in March 2023

UK mobile payment service Paym will close on 7th March 2023. The service, which allowed users to make and receive payments using their mobile phone numbers, was launched in 2014.
Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating
Qualcomm legal action moves forward in the UK

Qualcomm legal action moves forward in the UK

Which? seeks payout for Samsung and Apple smartphone owners

Consumer protection organisation Which? has been given permission by the UK's Competition Appeal Tribunal to represent Apple and Samsung smartphone buyers in a legal case against chip manufacturer Qualcomm.
Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating
RSS

Opinion Articles

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Why I'm predicting success for the BlackBerry PlayBook

Mark Bridge writes:

The RIM BlackBerry PlayBook. Embarrassment-in-waiting or soon-to-be-success in the increasingly crowded tablet market?

Just before Christmas I stuck my neck out and predicted the latter. But that’s not a position I’ve always held.

When the device was first announced I aligned myself with the cynics when it came to the tablet’s name. The US definition of ‘playbook’ as something akin to the more-familiar ‘game plan’ gets lost in translation. In fact, I’d say it detracts from the business nature of the device.

And there’s plenty more that could go wrong. Battery life will be critical. Then there’s availability of the PlayBook versus the forthcoming iPad 2. The new Android Honeycomb tablet-focussed operating system. A possible lack of applications. Pricing, too.

However, I’ve been won over. The clincher was an overheard conversation with IT support staff looking forward to the device’s arrival. This is, after all, a tablet that promises to be more than merely business-friendly. More than enterprise-friendly. It’s IT department friendly.

Positioning the RIM PlayBook as part BlackBerry accessory, part tablet computer, separates it nicely from the iPad and Galaxy Tab (and indeed the Tab 2 and iPad 2). The potential lack of native email and calendar apps – instead it’ll wirelessly connect to the information on your BlackBerry – isn’t a problem for corporate users. In fact, there’ll be a sigh of relief from IT staff. Anyway, with research suggesting that 90% of iPad buyers already own another Apple product, it wouldn’t be too surprising to find the same thing happening with BlackBerry users.

As well as all this, there’s the impressive technical stuff. An attractive new OS. A powerful processor. Multitasking. A touch-sensitive bezel around a 7-inch screen that’ll all (just about) squeeze into a suit pocket.

Of course, as I said earlier, there’s plenty that could go wrong. But there’s also plenty that could go right.

And that’s why – despite some wavering – I’m sticking with my prediction. The iPad, like the iPhone, may take the glory. But there’s more to RIM’s business than just equipment sales… and I think the PlayBook could prove itself to be a well-crafted customer retention tool.

Print
Author: The Fonecast
1 Comments
Rate this article:
No rating

1 comments on article "Why I'm predicting success for the BlackBerry PlayBook"

2
0
Avatar image

The Fonecast

1/14/2011 1:48 PM

DigiTimes reckons RIM is planning to ship a million PlayBooks in Q1. www.digitimes.com/news/a20110113PD226.html

Leave a comment

This form collects your name, email, IP address and content so that we can keep track of the comments placed on the website. For more info check our Privacy Policy and Terms Of Use where you will get more info on where, how and why we store your data.
Add comment

Recent Podcasts

Smartphone shipments, multiple messages and a Best Buy buy-out

Podcast - 1st May 2013

This week's news report begins with quarterly figures from Samsung and Apple - and a discussion about what the future may hold for iOS.

We also talk about instant messaging versus SMS, the end of Best Buy's European joint venture with Carphone Warehouse, patent wars, white spaces and connected cars.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Hanging on the Telephone

Podcast - 30th April 2013

It feels like many people are hanging on to mobile advertising as the future of mobile marketing.

Yet there's much more to mobile marketing than the banner ad. In this podcast a panel of experts considers the latest trends and innovation that could change the future of marketing.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Visiting the GSMA Connected City at Mobile World Congress 2013

Podcast - 26th April 2013

In this special feature we're looking around the GSMA Connected City at Mobile World Congress 2013.

Mark Bridge and Grant Notman discuss machine-to-machine communications and the Internet of Things, meeting people who've worked with 4G-enabled cars, port logistics, connected houses, m-health and the GSMA's own app development programme.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Music discovery, patent licensing, mobile money and app-enabled underwear

Podcast - 24th April 2013

There's a diverse collection of mobile-related news in this week's 30-minute podcast.

We start with the new Twitter music service before moving on to discuss quarterly results, patent licensing, wireless charging, advertising and mobile payments... before ending with a curious report about app-controlled underwear.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Bring Your Own Device: A Faustian Pact? (part 2)

Podcast - 18th April 2013

This is the second part of our programme recorded at the April 2013 meeting of Mobile Monday London, where a panel of experts discussed the topic 'BYOD: A Faustian Pact?'

The panel was chaired by David Rogers of Copper Horse Solutions. His panellists were Caroline Maloney from Telefonica, Charles Brookson of Azenby, David Arnold from BlackBerry and Gemma Coles from Mubaloo.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: 5.0
RSS
First1819202123252627Last

Follow thefonecast.com

Twitter @TheFonecast RSS podcast feed
Find us on Facebook Subscribe free via iTunes

Archive Calendar

«December 2024»
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
2526272829301
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
303112345

Archive

Terms Of Use | Privacy Statement