BlackBerry CEO says iPhone is outdated
TORONTO (AP) — Apple's iPhone is outdated, according to the chief executive of BlackBerry-maker Research In Motion Ltd.
Thorsten Heins made the comment Thursday on the eve of the much-delayed launch of the new touchscreen BlackBerry in the United States. AT&T begins selling the Z10 touchscreen BlackBerry on Friday, more than six weeks after RIM launched the devices elsewhere.
Heins also told The Associated Press that a new keyboard version of the BlackBerry won't be released in the U.S. until two or three months from now. He previously said it would be eight to 10 weeks, but now he's saying it could be delayed an additional two weeks.
Both the touchscreen and keyboard models are part of RIM's attempt at a comeback after the pioneering brand lost its cachet not long after Apple's 2007 release of the iPhone.
Heins said a lack of innovation at Apple has left iPhone's user interface outdated. He noted iPhone users have to go in and out of applications and the device doesn't allow for multitasking like the new BlackBerry Z10 does.
"It's still the same," Heins said of the iPhone. "It is a sequential way to work and that's not what people want today anymore. They want multitasking."
RIM's new software allows users to have multiple applications open like on a desktop, he said, noting that with BlackBerry you don't have to close an application to check an email.
"We're changing it for the better because we're allowing people to peak in the hub," Heins said.
Heins said the iPhone was revolutionary five years ago, but he said it's now "just kind of sitting there."
Apple spokeswoman Natalie Kerris declined comment.
But the delay in selling the new keypad BlackBerry, called the Q10, complicates RIM's efforts to hang on to customers tempted by the iPhone and a range of devices running Google Inc.'s Android operating system. Even as the BlackBerry has fallen behind rivals in recent years, many BlackBerry users have stayed loyal because they prefer a physical keyboard over the touch screen found on the iPhone and most Android devices. But the temptations to switch grow with each additional delay, despite favorable reviews for new system.
Heins said the Q10 keyboard version BlackBerry is just not ready yet and said part of the reason is out of his control.
"It's our job to deliver the right software package and the right software quality to the carriers," he said. "Then it is on the carriers to decide how intense they want their testing cycle to be and that really can range from a few weeks to three months."
U.S. carriers reportedly haven't made testing a priority because RIM, which is based in Based in Waterloo, Ontario, has dramatically lost market share. The U.S. has been one market in which RIM has been particularly hurting, even as the company is doing well overseas. According to research firm IDC, shipments of BlackBerry phones plummeted from 46 percent of the U.S. market in 2008 to 2 percent in 2012. The iPhone and Android now dominate.
Heins said the company has to regain market share in the U.S. for BlackBerry to be successful.
"You got to win here to win everywhere else," he said. "That's just the way it is. We've lost market share quite a bit, to put it mildly, and we absolutely need BlackBerry 10 to turn us around."
Heins said initial sales in other countries are encouraging, but he could not release numbers ahead of RIM's earnings report next Thursday.
"I get more and more excited every day," he said. "I really have to make sure I stay grounded and I don't lose my sense for reality. But for the whole company this is so important to finally be here, and to see people buying it, after we were told 30 months ago when we started that two quarters down the road we would be bankrupt, we would be out of business."
Thorsten Heins made the comment Thursday on the eve of the much-delayed launch of the new touchscreen BlackBerry in the United States. AT&T begins selling the Z10 touchscreen BlackBerry on Friday, more than six weeks after RIM launched the devices elsewhere.
Heins also told The Associated Press that a new keyboard version of the BlackBerry won't be released in the U.S. until two or three months from now. He previously said it would be eight to 10 weeks, but now he's saying it could be delayed an additional two weeks.
Both the touchscreen and keyboard models are part of RIM's attempt at a comeback after the pioneering brand lost its cachet not long after Apple's 2007 release of the iPhone.
Heins said a lack of innovation at Apple has left iPhone's user interface outdated. He noted iPhone users have to go in and out of applications and the device doesn't allow for multitasking like the new BlackBerry Z10 does.
"It's still the same," Heins said of the iPhone. "It is a sequential way to work and that's not what people want today anymore. They want multitasking."
RIM's new software allows users to have multiple applications open like on a desktop, he said, noting that with BlackBerry you don't have to close an application to check an email.
"We're changing it for the better because we're allowing people to peak in the hub," Heins said.
Heins said the iPhone was revolutionary five years ago, but he said it's now "just kind of sitting there."
Apple spokeswoman Natalie Kerris declined comment.
But the delay in selling the new keypad BlackBerry, called the Q10, complicates RIM's efforts to hang on to customers tempted by the iPhone and a range of devices running Google Inc.'s Android operating system. Even as the BlackBerry has fallen behind rivals in recent years, many BlackBerry users have stayed loyal because they prefer a physical keyboard over the touch screen found on the iPhone and most Android devices. But the temptations to switch grow with each additional delay, despite favorable reviews for new system.
Heins said the Q10 keyboard version BlackBerry is just not ready yet and said part of the reason is out of his control.
"It's our job to deliver the right software package and the right software quality to the carriers," he said. "Then it is on the carriers to decide how intense they want their testing cycle to be and that really can range from a few weeks to three months."
U.S. carriers reportedly haven't made testing a priority because RIM, which is based in Based in Waterloo, Ontario, has dramatically lost market share. The U.S. has been one market in which RIM has been particularly hurting, even as the company is doing well overseas. According to research firm IDC, shipments of BlackBerry phones plummeted from 46 percent of the U.S. market in 2008 to 2 percent in 2012. The iPhone and Android now dominate.
Heins said the company has to regain market share in the U.S. for BlackBerry to be successful.
"You got to win here to win everywhere else," he said. "That's just the way it is. We've lost market share quite a bit, to put it mildly, and we absolutely need BlackBerry 10 to turn us around."
Heins said initial sales in other countries are encouraging, but he could not release numbers ahead of RIM's earnings report next Thursday.
"I get more and more excited every day," he said. "I really have to make sure I stay grounded and I don't lose my sense for reality. But for the whole company this is so important to finally be here, and to see people buying it, after we were told 30 months ago when we started that two quarters down the road we would be bankrupt, we would be out of business."
There was only one wackberry i use to own and that was the the last it was the curve .... Stupid thing didn't last no more than 6 months and the damn track ball that was on it got stuck and fell out. Got the Iphone short after and i fell in love haven't looked back or foward on any other smart phone since.. Apple Product is best and it has also achieved 9 JD power awards with Satisfaction ranks. Bash on that wack berry.!
Blackberry is outdated...they need to close up shop and go away permanently. Â Reading these comments you all sound like little kids in school...my Dad is better than your Dad...c'mon it all depends on what you like and what you want. Â I have the iPhone and right now wouldn't change, I like it...yes I'm sure there are better phones out there but this is my preference.
I had the blackberry storm for two years. It was slow and clunky. The buttons never did work well. I switched to the Galaxy Nexus and still really like it. I will never buy a Blackberry again. Just the lack of apps will keep me away. Apple and Android have all the apps one could ever want.
I'm sure that the next headline on this will read, "Blackberry sells out to -----" insert company name of choice in place of the dashes. I would own an iPhone before I owned a Blackberry, and I wouldn't own an iPhone period because I like my android-OS phone.
Haha..He has gone from cell phone maker to comedian. Â When I read the headline I seriously thought I was reading The Onion.
Who does the fact checking? As of 1/31/2013 Research in Motion, LTD. announced it has dropped its name and is now BlackBerry; one brand. So why continue using the former name RIM? That's like calling Sean "Diddy" Combs "Puff Daddy" in an article today.
That's funny considering I multitask very easily on my iPhone 4s. Has Crackberry's CEO not learned how to use the easiest smartphone yet?
This coming from a company that was nearly on life support and sold antiquated phone's for how many years? Â I fail to see how you can effectively multi-task on a phone with limited screen real estate in the first place. Have no fear however, Apple will continue to innovate and the rest will continue to copy them.
The I-phone is becoming outdated. Not much new from the past I-phone 4 to I-phone 5. Everyone who bought into all the I-phone 5 hype got taken. There are so many better phones out there now and they're not proprietary with their charging devices either. There's nothing more annoying than having to have your propriety charger with you when all the other phones out there are using micro usb, especially if you forget your charger and your buddy has a micro usb charger but your phone wont take it. My galaxy S3 does so much more and is so much more versatile than a I-phone 5............... and its easier to use. The I-phone is just not as versatile unless you own everything Mac.Â
I just got the Samsung Galaxy S III. It was my 1st smartphone. I think it's great.
Well, what else would he say? "iPhone is way better than BlackBerry, please buy our competition." Come on! I had a BlackBerry and upgraded to the iPhone, and I like the iPhone much better, but to each its own.
@Bianca So true. Its ironic that the company that that nearly fell off the planet due to being outdated is trash talking the company whose phone division alone is bigger than all of Microsoft. He also acts like Apple isn't going to release anything new. Steve may be dead but he didn't take all of Apples creativity with him. Lets wait and see what Apple does. Also, when looking at the phone in the picture. It looks cheap. Those plastic end caps aren't doing it any favors. Lets see how it performs against the iphone, MS devices, android devices etc. In the end its the market that matters. It will either like it or not. Time will tell.
@Bianca I've never used a Blackberry, but recently tried an iPad next to a Microsoft Surface and the Apple seemed very dated.Â
@merline You use Surface? Thanks, I needed that laugh.
@cyclops @Lrry*x*K I think it's more than 1 percent who wants to be productiveÂ
Try again
@Lrry*x*KÂ Right...so the surface is for the one percent you mention. How smart is that? Â Make a device only a handful of people need.
@ur 1 pea short of a pod@merline keep laughing, meanwhile people who need stuff done and be productive keep using the surface