RIM suffers another BlackBerry outage as Google plans to ax Gmail app
Two new problems arose for an embattled RIM on Wednesday as the company faced another issue with its various BlackBerry services, coming after news that Google plans to stop offering support for its Gmail app and will pull it from BlackBerry App World.
BlackBerry service hit with second problem in a month
It was revealed on Wednesday that Research in Motion was investigating complaints from users seeing delays of BlackBerry Messenger chats and emails in the same region where the company saw a major outage less than a month ago, reports Reuters.
The BBM and email delivery delays are affecting the EMEIA region (Europe, Middle East, India and Africa) that suffered a nearly four day long complete outage in October due to a failed backup server in the UK. RIM technicians are unsure whether the fault lies with the same server or stems from an undiscovered technical issue.
A company spokeswoman noted that the service delays were not system-wide and that an investigation seeking the cause of the slowdown is underway.
If the problem persists, it could affect possible class action lawsuits the Canadian smartphone maker faces pertaining to the previous outage.
Google pulls BlackBerry Gmail app
In a short blog update posted on Tuesday, Google says it will stop offering the BlackBerry version of its Gmail app from Nov. 22, and will instead focus on "building a great Gmail experience in the mobile browser," reports the Wall Street Journal.
The company goes on to say that although existing users will still be able to use the app, support like the troubleshooting guide will be discontinued.
RIM responded to the development by releasing a statement saying that BlackBerry's OS incorporates native Gmail support, going on to say that a standalone app is not required.
"The large majority of users who access Gmail on their BlackBerry smart phone already rely on the native support (provided through BlackBerry Internet Service) rather than the separate Gmail app," the statement said.
Google's Gmail is one of the most popular Web-based email services in the world, with an estimated 200 million users. Recently, the Internet giant released a flawed iOS version of its Gmail app which was subsequently pulled from Apple's App Store for repairs.
The latest setbacks for RIM come at a crucial time for the company as it deals with product delays, a sliding stock price and a shrinking share of the mobile market.
16 Comments
Have we ever seen the wheels fly off an IT company quite as thoroughly and completely as they've flown off RIM in the past six months? It's like watching the Space Shuttle explode.
Wow, RIM just can't buy a break. They deserve most of the bad things happening to them. But what a bad year 2011 has been for them.
In one way, I find it sad. They USED to be a good company, with good phones, and great service. But, on the other hand, I don't expect anything other than what is currently happening to them. They have not invested in their own company long term (ex: their OS, their phones, their data network). They honestly did it to themselves. And, at this point, I give it 2 years or less before someone buys the company for the patents that they do hold. It'll either be Apple or Google. Towards the end of my blackberry service, before the VZW iPhone 4 launched, I experienced data outages (email, messenger, internet) all the time. Sometimes it was measured in hours, other times, it was in days. It got so annoying towards the end. It has been common for a very long time, it's just seeing more light now.
RIM used to be the phone of choice for business people, but the industry evolved with smartphones and left RIM in their dust. RIM refused to adapt (you need a keyboard and Flash) and now their primary market is teenagers and RIM diehards. I agree with the above that they will be gone in a few years, but I doubt Apple will buy them.
Have we ever seen the wheels fly off an IT company quite as thoroughly and completely as they've flown off RIM in the past six months? It's like watching the Space Shuttle explode.
I'd put MCI WorldCom and Global Crossing on the list. Give Nortel the dishonorable mention.
For e-tailers, nothing will probably top Pets.com or Webvan.