COMMENTARY | Currently, I cannot access or send e-mails and text messages on my BlackBerry Torch. I found out during the early hours of October 12 exactly why that is. The BlackBerry service outage that had been affecting other countries finally hit the United States and Canada. I am not too happy about the situation, and there is a lot of talk about users like me switching to a more preferable device like the Apple iPhone 4S. Nevertheless, I will not be switching phones anytime soon.
I have owned a few Android devices in the last few years and have tested out a few iPhones, but they just do not suit my needs. Plus, I prefer Research in Motion’s BlackBerry because I am comfortable with the operating system and how the devices are set up. I find them to be unique in comparison to the Androids and iPhones, most of which look identical to each other. I guess you could say that I am loyal to RIM, but these smartphones have a lot going for them.
For starters, the user interface on these devices is great and easy to deal with. I prefer the touchscreen and associated virtual keyboard on my device to all others. E-mail is much more simple and manageable through these smartphones, too. Also, I absolutely love using BlackBerry Messenger (BBM), which does have its issues, but I can cope with them. I could probably list the features I love about my Torch all day, but I will not.
Regardless of how I feel, RIM does have a lot of work to do to fix its strained relationship with its fan base. Most of the fellow users that I know are not as loyal to the brand as I happen to be. They want the iPhone 4S with its new iOS 5 and iMessage feature that my friends (and analysts) tell me beats BBM. Otherwise, some friends want the newest Droid or Samsung Galaxy S device.
For starters, the company needs to up the ante by creating an operating system that can actually challenge the Android OS and the iOS rather than just barely rival it. The overall user interface and BBM could do with some overhauling too. Perhaps the next best thing the company could do is start pumping out more advanced smartphones that break the mold of its current options. Finally, BlackBerry apps sometimes seem to lack in comparison to Android and Apple options. They need to be upgraded, too.
In reality, I think Research in Motion can make all the necessary changes to bring some credibility back to its name and the brand. That is why I am enduring this service outage and all the other issues facing the company without much of a revolt like everyone else. For now, I will not be changing phones or companies anytime soon, but that does not mean I will not consider something else should RIM fail to start making some changes.