We’ve heard rumors that Research in Motion would license BlackBerry Messenger for use on non-BlackBerry platforms for some time.

A big part of former RIM co-CEO and board member, Jim Balsillie’s, plan for turning things around including licensing BBM and other proprietary services currently available only to BlackBerry users.

Even though RIM CEO Thorsten Heins is open to certain types of licensing deals with other hardware manufactures, it doesn’t look like BlackBerry Messenger is going cross platform anytime soon.

Even with BlackBerry market share sliding off of a cliff in recent times, BBM users have increased from 5.3 to 55 million users over the past three years.

BlackBerry Messenger is insanely popular and would do well on other platforms, however, it is one of the BlackBerry’s key differentiators from other platforms.

Thorsten Heins, for now, has decided to keep BlackBerry Messenger exclusive to BlackBerry users, but, I can easily see his stance changing depending on the adoption of BlackBerry 10…

[Via Venture Beat]

It Doesn’t Look Like Any BBM Licensing Deals Are Coming Any Time Soon is a post from: RIMarkable, the Unofficial BlackBerry Weblog...

Research in Motion, for years has enjoyed extremely good brand value when it comes to the BlackBerry brand.

As a matter of fact, the BlackBerry Brand has been on the BrandZ Top 100 Most Valuable Brands list for years, reaching as high as #14 in 2010.

Last year the BlackBerry brand came in at #25 on the list, but, with all of RIM’s recent troubles, BlackBerry didn’t even make the top 100 in 2012.  BlackBerry is ranked #20 in the Technology category, however, BrandZ estimates that the BlackBerry brand had a 75% decline in value from 2011 to 2012.

There is no question that the name BlackBerry is still pretty popular and most people immediately know what you are talking about when you say the name BlackBerry.  The connotation associated with the name BlackBerry, however,  is becoming bit more negative and this is something that Research in Motion really needs to be concerned about.

It will be interesting to see if BlackBerry 10 and the wave of next-generation BlackBerry 10 Superphones coming at the end of this year will help push the BlackBerry brand back onto the top 100 list?

BlackBerry No Longer On The BrandZ Top 100 Most Valuable Brands List is a post from: RIMarkable, the Unofficial BlackBerry Weblog...

The BlackBerry PlayBook is seen here being used in a board room on USA Network’s show, Fairly Legal.

This image is taken from episode 204 at the 14:29 mark.

I wouldn’t necessarily call this a Celebrity BlackBerry Sighting, however, it is kind of cool to see a PlayBook on T.V. in something other than an ad…

[Thanks Chris]

BlackBerry PlayBook seen being used on USA’s Fairly Legal is a post from: RIMarkable, the Unofficial BlackBerry Weblog...

Another episode of the SMRpodcast, #118, World’s Worst Camper, is online and ready for download.  We’ve got a full crew this week, as, Rod is back from his “sick” day.

This week we talk about Chris’ annual camping trip, the Facebook IPO, Googles anti-trust woes, and the next iPhone.  We also talk a lot of Windows 8 and different tablet use cases.

We got all this, and handfull of awesome picks, and more…

Check us out!

Download the MP3, subscribe via RSS, or, check us out on iTunes…

Show Details

• Recorded: May 22nd, 2012
• Published: May 23rd, 2012
• Duration: 01hr 23min 00sec

SHOW TOPICS

Opening Thoughts

• Rod is back after being sick last week
• Chris talks about his annual camping trip that he is back from

Rod and Robb wonder about the future of the Facebook Stock

• Robb says he might have to find Marc in a dark ally
• Rod is not panicking and said he may buy more
• Chris feels that they just need to find a new way to make more money
• Rod feels that they need to make money on mobile

Is Google Chrome the #1 browser in the World

• Chris says that if the numbers say so then yes
• Rod reports that Microsoft does not agree with the Method of counting
• Rod also feels this is good new for Microsoft and any anti-trust suits
• Robb feels that anti-trust is still a sticky point for Microsoft

Google needs to respond to the EU anti-trust concerns

• Rod is wondering if Google will address the issues without being forced
• Robb feels they will
• Chris doesn’t like the fact they are being treated with kid gloves

Will the iPhone have a 4 inch display

• Rod wants to know if they have to make a bigger screen
• Chris says no but they will
• Robb agrees with Chris

Picks of the Week

• AirDroid Robb Dunewood (RIMarkable)
• Klik Rod Simmons (SimpleMobileReview)
• Energizer Xpal 18000 (Portable Charger) Chris Ashley (SimpleMobileReview)

SMRpodcast #118: World’s Worst Camper is a post from: RIMarkable, the Unofficial BlackBerry Weblog...

BlackBerry developers recently received an email letting them know that significant changes are being made to BlackBerry App World categories including the elimination of the Beta category.

Key category changes include:

• News: The News category has been expanded to include magazines. This category is now called News and Magazines and includes Blogs as a subcategory.
• Beta: The Beta category is discontinued. The apps located the Beta category have been moved to relevant categories.
• Reference and eBooks & Education: The Books and Reference category has been divided in to separate categories so that these are now individual categories respectively. The Reference category includes Education. This new category is Education & Reference.
• Shopping: The Shopping category has been renamed Lifestyle.
• Maps & Navigation: The Maps & Navigation category now includes Travel and has been renamed Navigation and Travel.
• Music Creation (*NEW*): There is a new subcategory Music Creation available under the Music and Audio category.
• Children’s Categories (*NEW*): There are two new children’s focused categories:
• New Children’s Games category within the Games Channel
• New Children’s Books subcategory within the Books category

BlackBerry App World Drops Beta Category And Adds New Ones is a post from: RIMarkable, the Unofficial BlackBerry Weblog...

In case you haven’t already heard, Research in Motion is running a promotion where the company is giving away $77 worth of premium BlackBerry apps to U.S. based BlackBerry users with BlackBerry 7 devices.

The promotion ends May 31st, so, you’ve got two weeks to get in on the promotion.  There are over 20 premium BlackBerry 7 apps to which you can get for free and all you have to do to get them is head over to BlackBerry App World and download them.

This is definitely a promotion that you won’t want to miss…

You’ve got two weeks left to get $77 worth of BlackBerry 7 apps for FREE!!! is a post from: RIMarkable, the Unofficial BlackBerry Weblog...

I once saw a holster for a phone that doubled as battery charger and remember thinking that it was a pretty cool idea.

Research in Motion must think that it is a cool idea as well seeing how the company has recently patented a battery charging BlackBerry holster complete with speakers to make sure you hear your notifications.

[Via Engadget]

Research In Motion Files Patent For A Battery Charging BlackBerry Holster is a post from: RIMarkable, the Unofficial BlackBerry Weblog...

An unscheduled two-man taping of the SMRpodcast episode #117, Chicken Wings and Ribs, is now online and ready for download.  This week the Big Fella and I hold it down while @RodSimmons was out ill.

There wasn’t a lot of wireless news over the last week, but, Chris and I do touch on some pretty unbelievable mobile market share stats, Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8, and we are trademarking Chris’ phrase from last week…  Cloudifying Your Phone…  We’ve also got a great hardware pick and a great tip for easily accessing various cloud storage folders on your PC.

Check us out!

Download the MP3, subscribe via RSS, or, check us out on iTunes…

SMRpodcast #117: Chicken Wings And Ribs is a post from: RIMarkable, the Unofficial BlackBerry Weblog...

I will admit that BlackBerry Sightings of everyday consumers in the United States are becoming fewer and farther in between, however, Rueters is reporting that, according to research from Kantar WorldPanel, BlackBerry market share in the United States has dropped to just 3%…

I am going to assume that this number represents the number of smartphones being purchased as compared to the number that are currently activated.  Even still, 3% seems awfully low.

[Read]

Rueters Is Reporting That BlackBerry Market Share In The U.S. Is Down To Just 3% is a post from: RIMarkable, the Unofficial BlackBerry Weblog...