In my last . . . → Read More: RIM future: Where are they heading to?]]> Via twitter I have just received from Geomobile a link to Alec Saunders’ Blog where he makes an analysis of the risk RIM would take if they finally made the PlayBook run Android app’s as rumors say. He makes an analogy to the IBM OS2 case, which I find very appropriate.

In my last article, I explained (in Spanish though), why I think there are some very important obstacles for Android apps to run on RIM hardware.

To summarize, the first one is the economic agreements they have with carriers and the dataplans that most of them have for BlackBerry users, which exclude normal traffic outside RIM BIS servers. The second one are RIM partners, which have a strong and deep relationship with RIM, pay a fee for being partners and using RIM BIS servers, and invest a lot of money and time training developers on BlackBerry tools and operating systems.

But I think they have to take whatever decision they take as soon as possible, because time goes by very quickly, and always against you.

My company is a RIM Alliance Partner, and I develop applications for BlackBerry. I truly believe it is the best device for the enterprise (SME included), not just for the keyboard and push capabilities, but because they have always kept compatibility from one OS to the next, giving more value and safety to the investment a company makes when purchasing smartphones. They have many unique features and advantages.

However, they are now risking their future because:

Uncertainty about OS and development tools/sdk path

The launch of QNX by itself has been a surprise to many RIM partners. Even if we can truly understand that BlackBerryOS is behind iOS or Android in some features (because it’s based on JavaME), and that means time is coming for a revolutionary step instead of an evolutionary one, we expected to know that before it was public.

Now we have BlackBerry OS 6, with the main development environment being Java because it’s the one that let’s you deeply integrate with device features (like grabbing calls, or email, storing persistent information, and many more). But it seems that QNX will replace BlackBerry OS in near future smartphones, not just tablets. Should we keep investing in it?

QNX arrives, but initially just with Adobe Air and then WebWorks, which let you build beautiful consumer apps, but no serious business apps. It is published that a native C/C++ sdk and a Java one will be released. But will it be Java SE based? Will it have backward compatibility with BB OS? Will it run virtualized BB OS 6 apps? We can’t still get our hands on them, and we don’t know anything about features or release dates.

Unclear approach to the market (consumer vs. enterprise)

We all see that iOS and Android are now kings in the consumer market, and it’s very attractive to get there because numbers are huge.

Many see iOS and Android entering the enterprise segment, especially the later, and it’s only natural to have some fear.

But you need a very clear approach if you want to achieve some success, in either market.

PlayBook is precisely an exercise of unclear approach. It’s arriving late, it will hit the streets at the same time that polished, second edition devices from Apple, Motorola and Samsung, with the iPad 2 and Android 3.0 based tables like the Xoom or Galaxy Tab 2.

The hardware is ok, but it is no different from what you can find on the competition.

You can play “Need for speed” on the PlayBook and use it as a steering wheel… Guys I simply don’t care. I did this with an HTC Hero and Android 1.5 more than a year ago, and what I really want to see in the PlayBook are good business apps.

Why business apps? Because it’s the enterprise market the one that will purchase the PlayBook, since the first one is a WiFi only model it will not be subsidized by the carriers and consumers will not likely buy it. And if business can’t have business apps, they will simply not buy it.

I know, you can use the web browser to access corporate intranet applications, granted. But will that drive companies to buy a PlayBook?

Time runs against hardware and software

Time is running out.

Hardware gets obsolete if it does not reach the market at the right time.

Developers can flee to other platforms if they don’t feel confident about the development roadmap.

The later you make all these issues crystal clear, the more developers will run away.

While many companies now release their apps for iOS and Android, they are forgetting BlackBerry OS.

I really love my BlackBerry, and still believe that it’s the best enterprise smartphone platform, but please, make your decision and make it fast.