BlackBerry-maker RIM's chief execs say Apple's recent claims about BlackBerry products are "unacceptable."
BlackBerry-maker Research In Motion (RIM) just posted an official statement from its two co-CEOs, Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie, in response to Apple’s recent iPhone 4 antenna-misinformation campaign, and the two chief executives from Waterloo aren’t pulling any punches.
From RIM’s official blog, Inside BlackBerry:
“Apple’s attempt to draw RIM into Apple’s self-made debacle is unacceptable. Apple’s claims about RIM products appear to be deliberate attempts to distort the public’s understanding of an antenna design issue and to deflect attention from Apple’s difficult situation. RIM is a global leader in antenna design and has been successfully designing industry-leading wireless data products with efficient and effective radio performance for over 20 years. During that time, RIM has avoided designs like the one Apple used in the iPhone 4 and instead has used innovative designs which reduce the risk for dropped calls, especially in areas of lower coverage. One thing is for certain, RIM’s customers don’t need to use a case for their BlackBerry smartphone to maintain proper connectivity. Apple clearly made certain design decisions and it should take responsibility for these decisions rather than trying to draw RIM and others into a situation that relates specifically to Apple.”
It’s quite rare for RIM to respond to comments on its products in this fashion, as the company is typically tight-lipped, especially its co-CEOs. But it’s nice to see RIM stand up to Apple’s attempt to dissipate the negative attention surrounding the new iPhone 4 with misinformation about other handheld manufacturer’s products.
And RIM’s not the only one to respond; both HTC and Nokia have refuted Steve Jobs’ assertion that all modern smartphones suffer the same antenna-related issues as the iPhone 4.
I agree wholeheartedly with RIM’s statement, and I even performed my own iPhone-4-Death-Grip test on my BlackBerry Bold 9700, which Jobs spotlighted during an Apple press event last week, to see if I could significantly block its signal strength. Check out my findings here.
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