BlackBerry’s future hinges on new device

As this blog has touched on in the last week, October was considered by many to be a banner month for mobile devices. Major players in the industry including Apple, Microsoft and Google unveiled new devices in both the tablet and smartphone markets and according to Consumer Reports, Samsung has the most groundbreaking tablet on the market.

Noticeably absent from this list is BlackBerry. The former industry leader has been having problems and making headlines, as the much-delayed BlackBerry 10 is at last being tested by mobile carriers. Some experts believe that the new platform could ultimately decide the fate of Research In Motion (RIM) – the company behind BlackBerry

“I’m very pleased to confirm that we have passed a critical milestone in the development of our brand new mobile computing platform, BlackBerry 10,” RIM CEO Thorsten Heins said to CNNMoney. “We made this commitment during our recent results conference call and we have delivered.”

Despite some good news – which has stocks up 9 percent, there are more challenges for RIM. In a blow to BlackBerry, the Pentagon – a former BlackBerry-only organization – announced last week they would be opening the doors for the U.S. military to use iPhones, Androids and other devices. The Defense Department invited companies to submit bids for software that can manage and enforce security requirements.

BlackBerry devices were one of the major players in the beginning of bring-your-own-device (BYOD) adoption. IT departments are sure to keep their eye on the market to see what RIM brings to the table and how it will impact BYOD practices. Companies in Ohio that are looking improve BYOD strategies would be wise to partner with an IT consulting firm.

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