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Future of QNX?

Started by Spehro Pefhany January 11, 2012
Any thoughts? 


On Wed, 11 Jan 2012 10:07:13 -0500
Spehro Pefhany <speffSNIP@interlogDOTyou.knowwhat> wrote:

> > Any thoughts? > >
Is that being asked in the context of what sure looks like the death spiral of RIM, or for real embedded stuff? -- Rob Gaddi, Highland Technology -- www.highlandtechnology.com Email address domain is currently out of order. See above to fix.
On Wed, 11 Jan 2012 08:57:26 -0800, Rob Gaddi
<rgaddi@technologyhighland.invalid> wrote:

>On Wed, 11 Jan 2012 10:07:13 -0500 >Spehro Pefhany <speffSNIP@interlogDOTyou.knowwhat> wrote: > >> >> Any thoughts? >> >> > >Is that being asked in the context of what sure looks like the death spiral of RIM, or for real embedded stuff?
Hi, Rob:- Real embedded stuff, but obviously one might conceivably have an effect on the other.

Rob Gaddi wrote:

> On Wed, 11 Jan 2012 10:07:13 -0500 > Spehro Pefhany <speffSNIP@interlogDOTyou.knowwhat> wrote: > > > > > Any thoughts? > > Is that being asked in the context of what sure looks like the death spiral of RIM, or for real embedded stuff?
RIM is hardly dead, any company that made a $160M in a quarter no debt, cash in the bank and a ton of paid for real-estate in Waterloo area, a patent portfolio and area has a long way to spiral. It is still essentially the only secure communications device out there. Add to that a minimum use of bandwidth loved by the carriers.
On Wed, 11 Jan 2012 16:05:07 -0500, the renowned Walter Banks
<walter@bytecraft.com> wrote:

> > >Rob Gaddi wrote: > >> On Wed, 11 Jan 2012 10:07:13 -0500 >> Spehro Pefhany <speffSNIP@interlogDOTyou.knowwhat> wrote: >> >> > >> > Any thoughts? >> >> Is that being asked in the context of what sure looks like the death spiral of RIM, or for real embedded stuff? > >RIM is hardly dead, any company that made a $160M in a quarter >no debt, cash in the bank and a ton of paid for real-estate in Waterloo >area, a patent portfolio and area has a long way to spiral.
Hi, Walter:- True, but that may just slow the decline once the trajectory has been established. I was struck by how many accessory makers overseas that don't appear to be developing new products- it's all iPhone and Android. From what I understand, app development is in a similar state.
>It is still essentially the only secure communications device out there.
Useful, but a niche market.
>Add to that a minimum use of bandwidth loved by the carriers. >
Streaming movies and FaceTime probably are the future.. but what do I know- I still use an obsolete-for-generations GSM flip-phone. Think the Q*X business could be spun off as a viable independent business if RIM gets acquired? --sp Best regards, Spehro Pefhany -- "it's the network..." "The Journey is the reward" speff@interlog.com Info for manufacturers: http://www.trexon.com Embedded software/hardware/analog Info for designers: http://www.speff.com

Spehro Pefhany wrote:

> On Wed, 11 Jan 2012 16:05:07 -0500, the renowned Walter Banks > <walter@bytecraft.com> wrote: > > > > > > >Rob Gaddi wrote: > > > >> On Wed, 11 Jan 2012 10:07:13 -0500 > >> Spehro Pefhany <speffSNIP@interlogDOTyou.knowwhat> wrote: > >> > >> > > >> > Any thoughts? > >> > >> Is that being asked in the context of what sure looks like the death spiral of RIM, or for real embedded stuff? > > > >RIM is hardly dead, any company that made a $160M in a quarter > >no debt, cash in the bank and a ton of paid for real-estate in Waterloo > >area, a patent portfolio and area has a long way to spiral. > > Hi, Walter:- > > True, but that may just slow the decline once the trajectory has been > established. I was struck by how many accessory makers overseas that > don't appear to be developing new products- it's all iPhone and > Android. From what I understand, app development is in a similar > state. > > >It is still essentially the only secure communications device out there. > > Useful, but a niche market. > > >Add to that a minimum use of bandwidth loved by the carriers. > > > > Streaming movies and FaceTime probably are the future.. but what do I > know- I still use an obsolete-for-generations GSM flip-phone. > > Think the Q*X business could be spun off as a viable independent > business if RIM gets acquired?
Until very recently (last few years) RIM's only market was secure communications, a market that it dominates. I agree that it is a niche market but the market is huge and stable for business and government. It was profits from the secure communications market that funded the move to consumer products. My point is that the RIM position in an ever more competitive consumer market may not be clear they have a stable (but smaller) market that can depend on. I have no idea what is going to happen with QNX. QNX is a very nice multitasking OS that allows playbook to do many things that don't happen on iPad, android and many tablet clones. RIM has not been very good at explaining the difference in their advertising except at a level that has left the public confused. w..
> Think the Q*X business could be spun off as a viable independent > business if RIM gets acquired?
You mean like the way they were before the QNX->HK->RIM transfer? I hope so because it would be a shame if RIM buries a good thing like QNX. JJS

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