How important is BlackBerry 10 to the future of Research In Motion? It's a crucial turning point for the company, say a vast majority of the Globe and Mail readers who responded to a recent poll.
Asked whether BlackBerry 10 would be a "game changer" for RIM, an overwhelming 92 per cent of more than 850 respondents said yes. Even among respondents from outside of Canada, 91 per cent agreed.
"BlackBerry 10 is a game changer," one respondent said. "Everyone who has used the product has come away impressed, even the vast majority of the tech blogosphere that was all too quick to write RIM's epitaph."
Not everyone was confident that BlackBerry 10 would be enough to turn things around, however. Four per cent said the new device, which is being released this week after several lengthy delays, would hurt RIM's chances at recovery, and 5 per cent were neutral.
"Unfortunately BB10 is too little and too late in the game for RIM," said one respondent. "The competition has grown from Apple to Samsung. Even Apple is feeling the heat."
Asked how they felt about RIM's future in general, 82 per cent of respondents were optimistic, 10 per cent were pessimistic and 8 per cent were neutral.
"As a shareholder in RIM, I sure hope the BB10 improves its future," said a respondent. "I still believe they are one of the best instruments in the market today."
Dianne Nice