Research In Motion (RIMM) 01 (Sep 08 - Oct 11)

[winston]

Not vested.

BRIEF-Research In Motion reports preliminary Q3 results

Dec 2 (Reuters) - Research In Motion Ltd:
* Reports preliminary Q3 results
* Now sees Q3 adjusted earnings per share $0.81 to $0.83
* Now sees Q3 revenue $2.75 billion to $2.78 billion
* Previous Q3 earnings per share view was $0.89 to $0.97
* Previous Q3 revenue view was $2.95 billion to $3.10 billion
* Says number of net new blackberry subscriber accounts added in quarter to be about 2.6 million
* Reuters Estimates Q3 earnings per share view $0.91, revenue view $2,945.44 million

[kennynah]

r u not seeing lesser and lesser people are carrying breakberry? those friends who use to carry them, are now leaving them at home... it is no longer that cool to be seen working after office hours....meant for the lower level "workers" to do that....

[millionairemind]

RIM earnings climb as forecast beats estimates
Smart-phone maker still predicts strong growth in sales for year's end
By Dan Gallagher, MarketWatch
Last update: 7:25 p.m. EST Dec. 18, 2008

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Research In Motion Ltd. saw its earnings climb 7% in its fiscal third quarter, and the company surprised investors with a better-than-expected forecast for the current period stemming from strong demand for new BlackBerry devices, such as the touch-screen Storm.

RIM shares rallied briefly on the news in after-hours trading Thursday, rising more than 10% at one point. The stock has lost more than half its value over the last three months.

Before the report, investors were nervous that the global recession and heavy competition from smart phones such as the 3G iPhone would hurt demand for the company's products. A heavy launch schedule during the third quarter also had hurt profit margins for the period, and analysts were worried that the pressure would continue into the new year.
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/R ... 8F4FD3F%7D

[iam802]

Now, just about every major smartphone maker will have an 'app store' to compete.
---
RIM Launches BlackBerry App World

http://press.rim.com/release.jsp?id=2223

[iam802]

The importance of having a market beyond US (or for any other business, beyond the local shore).

So, having the right channels is important.

----
RIM Earnings Surge On Strong Overseas Sales >RIMM

http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-200 ... 15152.html

TORONTO (Dow Jones) -- Research In Motion Ltd. said strong sales overseas were a key driver of better-than-expected earnings and forecasts, as smartphones like the Blackberry become increasingly mainstream in international markets.

RIM chief executive Jim Balsillie said the fiscal third quarter ended Nov. 28 was the "strongest quarter ever for growth outside of North America," with 37% of revenue and 35% of RIM's subscriber base now coming from those markets. In an earnings conference call, Balsillie cited strong growth in Asia, and even better growth in Latin America and Europe, although the company doesn't break out results by geography.

(802: Sounds like everywhere but US)

Balsillie also said the company announced an agreement with China Telecom Corp. on Thursday to offer Blackberry products and services to customers of the Chinese telecommunications giant.

"The international stuff is going very, very well," said Balsillie.

Among RIM's big sellers was the 8520, a low-cost version of the Blackberry Curve, which the company launched during the quarter in 40 countries. Analysts say the 8520 may do particularly well with consumers who want smartphones but can't pony up the money for more expensive Blackberrys or rival high-end devices like the iPhone from Apple Inc.

"People in large parts of the world cannot afford $600 devices," said Deepak Chopra, an analyst at Genuity Capital in Toronto.

RIM's strong earnings also calmed fears that Blackberrys could lose ground against rival handsets like the iPhone and the Motorola Inc.'s Droid smartphone, which operates on software designed by Google Inc. Balsillie acknowledged that "there's a lot of turbulence in the ecosystem right now." But he also said that RIM is buoyed by growth in the overall market for smartphones. "We have a very important place to play in that," he said.

Waterloo, Ont.-based RIM said net income for the quarter ended Nov. 28 rose 59% versus the previous year to $628.4 million, or $1.10 per share, on sales of $3.92 billion. Analysts were predicting earnings per share of $1.04 and revenue of $3.8 billion. The company said it shipped 10.1 million handsets -- far more than the 9.6 million analysts expected.

RIM is expecting even better performance in the current quarter, ending Feb. 27, 2010, forecasting revenue of between $4.2 billion and $4.4 billion, and earnings per share in the range of $1.23 to $1.31. The company expects to ship between 10.6 million and 11.2 million handsets, and forecasts a rise in gross margins to 43.5% from 42.7% in the third quarter.

Shares soared 12% to $71.01 in after-hours trading on the news, which was released after the markets closed. RIM closed down 1.87% Thursday at $63.41 on the Nasdaq stock market.

[Musicwhiz]

I have yet to own a smartphone. Are they really so "smart"?

[millionairemind]

I have yet to own a smartphone. Are they really so "smart"?

To make the owner look smart

What better way to convey that you are important than to have a "smart"phone that beeps all the time, checking your sms, emails etc... every 2 mins from the office

I refused to have one when I was back in corporate, cos' I don't want to be checking emails when I am in the toilet

[Musicwhiz]

Ya, spot on! I don't want to remain contactable 24/7. Geeez, I need my peace and quiet - time to reflect on life and also time for quiet reading.

But I have friends who extol the virtues of smartphones to say that friends can always remain in touch.

I said - to stay in touch, you need to MEET UP. It's more than just Facebooking, MSN or Email.

[winston]

I had my first black-berry about 5 years ago.

It's very useful when you are stuck in the airports due to delays.

[kennynah]

I have yet to own a smartphone. Are they really so "smart"?

well...if its free and subscription paid for by the company...why not have one.... just becos emails come in, doesn't mean you have to answer them.... people will learn to respect your private rest time, if you set their expectations correctly....that includes your supervisor and co-workers...so, that if they should email you at your 10pm, they wont be expecting any reply until next morning...

it has the added advantage of having friends reach you thru another medium....

but most advantageous is that such smartphones free people from being deskbounded... you can be having a coffee at 3pm without worrying that you are missing your boss' latest email instruction.... or that you might have a customer order come in thru email that needs immediate actions...with a smartphone, you get all of the proverbial icing and still have the cake..

on this sense, yes, it is "smart" to have such phones...but only if you really require one for work..