RIM is getting Scared of Windows Mobile and tries some Marketing Spin

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Sat, 08 Dec 2007 04:41:04 GMT

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re: RIM is getting Scared of Windows Mobile and tries some Marketing Spin

JD — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 01:21:12 GMT

You forget that TCO also incorporates the cost of SUPPORTING the users.

Your one case study aside (which I didn't read, but I doubt covers the long-term support costs), BlackBerry TCO is much lower than WinMo TCO because the devices actually work and are not flaky, the solution works and is not flaky, and IT can actually control the aspects of the device that cause costs to increase the most. There are more studies showing BlackBerry's higher ROI and lower TCO. Carriers have nightmares from supporting WinMo devices which get returned like crazy, and IT departments have to follow a lot more devices to support WinMo than with Blackberries to stay on top of their quirks.

I like WinMo (no, really. I have a Blackjack and though I have switched to a Curve there are some aspects I miss) and I have a vested interest in the success of Windows Mobile (and BlackBerry for that matter) in the enterprise space. But you are just not credible.

Look. You bring Windows stigma to this fight (unreliable, crashes, driver/OEM issues, 'bloated' UI) so pointing at RIM's stigma (pager company, one NOC of failure) isn't a real strength on your part. You're just throwing dirt to illustrate that it's a wash, like how George Bush's non-Vietnam record was a wash because Kerry's boatmates thought he was a drama king when he actually fought in battle and was awarded medals? The trouble is that actual user experience bears out RIM's story of lower costs and higher reliability.

re: RIM is getting Scared of Windows Mobile and tries some Marketing Spin

gdada — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 21:02:20 GMT

JD, thanks for your comment. I get your point, but let me make a few counterpoints:

- I will acknowledge some WinMo devices have quality issues. Especially a few ones from two years ago. However, most newer phones like the Q9, Dash and Blackjack II are rock solid. I have not had to reset my phone in the last three months.

- There are many case studies and analyst reports that support the TCO story.To cite an independent Aberdeen research report on 700 organiztions "- Organizations deploying Windows Mobile users on average 14% of their workforce regularly calls for help desk support compared to 25% for other smart phone users."

- We have deployed WinMo in various deployments with tens of thousands of users. These deployments go smoothly when a minimal level of training is done. Especially for Blackberry users who need to get familiar with a new user interface.