RIM: Canada’s New Flagship High-Tech Company

By Mark Evans | Published: August 18, 2009

If there’s was any doubt, it is obvious that Research in Motion has replaced Nortel as Canada’s flagship high-tech company. With thousands of employees in Canada, growing industry and political clout, and two of the country’s leading CEOs, RIM has, in the process, become a global success story.

RIM’s stature received a further boost this week when it was ranked at the top of Fortune magazine’s list of 100 fastest-growing companies this year.

That said, it wasn’t that long ago when Nortel ruled the roost. In mid-2000 at the height of the telecom boom, Nortel had a market cap of $300-billion and was celebrated for being one of the telecom industry titans. Nortel CEO John Roth was boasting about 40% revenue growth, and the world seemed to be Nortel’s oyster.

More: Here’s a Fortune story about RIM and its plans to conquer the smartphone world.

It’s amazing – and sad – to see how quickly things have changed.


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  • Moose_Chaser

    OK.

    So – when is the “All About RIM” blog launching ?

    MC

  • borissss

    Who cares? :) If I am recruited by RIM one day,I will be interested in it.

  • rimsucks

    It's really a shame to see how RIM behaves like a clown when Nortel sinks.

    They just don't realize it's not too far from their own sinking days.

    I am sure the RIM bubble will burst soon.
    Just can not wait to see the http://www.allaboutrim.com to be online.

  • smokeemout

    Polls:
    Quality of the articles on AAN?
    http://www.learnmyself.com/personality.asp?p=ta…

    Quality of the reader comentary:
    http://www.learnmyself.com/personality.asp?p=ta…

  • horace_grimswold

    RIMM is the new Top Dawg for technology in Canada.

    RIMM bullies Nortel's LTE patents around because it has earned the Top Dawg spot. RIMM calls the shots and earned its bragging rights. Meanwhile, Mike Zee had to leave the playground…

  • scalppeeler

    Who cares.
    Good for you if work at RIM.
    Is this another short at nortel employees?
    Another slam here at Nortel, its history, its people and its current employees.
    This blog does not believe in keeping your mouth shut if you've nothing good
    to say so I've indulged in that thinking.

  • NortelTragedy

    “It’s amazing – and sad – to see how quickly things have changed.”

    Nothing sad about it. It's been coming for a long time. I guess the “sad” aspect is that it was allowed to happen under the “watchful” eye of a Board of Directors across many CEOs, board members, and opportunities to correct the problems that brought Nortel down. And that

    But don't be sad. Stronger companies will emerge and talents will find their place at other companies – simple supply and demand.

  • zeroman

    RIMM will go down over time for sure. they are a single product company and competition is just beginning to heat up. Apple iPhone, Samsung, LG, Google Android, Palm Pre and now Dell is entering the fray. There are some good reviews of these products, so it is a matter of time.

    This is why RIMM wants the patents so they can squeeze every competitor.

    I'd say this space is going to be very interesting to watch. As a consumer, these phones will go down in price. Would be amazing to pick up a Crackberry or an iPhone for $49 retail. Thats what the entry of Dell and Google is going to do.

  • asdf

    What does this have to do about Nortel? Feel free to change the name of your blog to…All about Network technology….

  • horace_grimswold

    Smoke'em while you got'em.

    Enjoy the RIMM ride while the times -r- good. Nothing lasts forever. To the Top Dawg goes the spoils.

  • horace_grimswold

    That's an EZ question to answer:

    Nortel was the 'old' Top Dawg.

    RIMM is the NEW Top Dawg.

    Nortel is now a fire hydrant and the new Top Dawg is marking his territory.

  • HMS_U

    'Behaving like a clown' is a bit strong, however Rim's leadership has clearly missed an opportunity to capitalize on an once in a lifetime opportunity.

    The arrogance they have exhibited reminds me of us during the Roth era.

    Live and learn…

  • gone2moro

    In the end, and Nortel is at the end, RIM is the future. It is about the subscriber experience, NOT the plumbing.

    100 years ago Nortel got that. The helped hundreds of millions of people talk to each other which was THE subscriber experience.

    There were a couple people who got this in the executive cloud. But there was nothing they could do about it. In order to pay for your crimes you have to have revenue so you do what you know.. sell plumbing.

  • Asset_Number_XXX

    How true! The strongest memory I have of Roth is from a teleconferenced GIS from Richardson. It was the beginning of Lucent's accounting scandal and the man started mocking them onstage, much to the peons delight. Smuggest thing ever. All I could think was “this can't be good karma, making fun of someone in trouble. That could be us soon”. And it was.

  • Teleguy

    Saying RIM is a one product company is like saying Microsoft is a one product company. They make variations of what made them number 1 and they are and will remain number 1.

    And your negative confidence in everything is very inspiring.

  • Friend007

    RIM is at the right spot and at the right time. They have good business relationships with their customers. However, in a year or so, the mobile terminal platform will become a commodity and it will be the applications that will drive the future. RIM is up for huge competition there with Apple, Google Android and symbian. Don't know whether they will win. They sure are extremely good when it comes to the Email application (esp. with track ball and hard keyboard) and its connectivity with the enterprise. However, they aren't a leader in the consumer space.

    In the telecom world, the revenue shift happened on the services front rather than equipment. … something that could have saved Nortel, but Nortel never capitalized on it. Having seen the R&D #s, there is no way for NA Telecom companies to compete with HUawei and ZTE on equipment alone. They should have leveraged their relationships with customers and built services business. RIM has done a good job with business relationships so far. Hope they don't screw up!

  • Asset_Number_XXX
  • happyfeets

    I already expressed your restricted questions are not “informative to many” in this lame poll but utterly misleading with intent.

    Why do you reoiterate such challenge to absurdly to twist lies. You admitting “stirring the pot” like some pinnacle of maturity.

    I am sure you remember the thousand fake IDs made up to vote critics insane on Yahoo in 2005 or the separate board for happy talk only when critics were the minority.

    Why did you remove the comments from this poll now you defend, suggesting reading and listening should be part of a curriculum? Curriculum? huh? Do you not see how utterly challenge all this is? Do you think readers can not see the fraud spin here in voting how credible ANN has proven contrary to your so called poll?

    I can not only write and comprehend but spell, contrary to suggestions and I see your claims as an unethical and slanderous. Like a sore losers poll.

    Yahoo is gone and we can not prove the endless commentary there, as many well know here but look at the long winded post here from 2005. Was this not informative to many instead?

    http://evans.blogware.com/blog/_archives/2005/9…

    The techno babble and misleading fools too few thank goodness. We had enough of this on Yahoo. They hardly merit reply unless to expose lies with intent as you reiterate this poll, again, on a blog you post in and attack.

    You remain challenged and shameless, even readers know you and your poll are a challenged a fraud to reiterate and I am not shy to exp[ose even if refraining from taking the higher road.

    Why you poll idiocy? who knows… challenged. Sore loser I figure. Next time you vent, don't take out on the most credible board or they will think you are crazy. As I do and I proved how credible AAN is from the link above. You lame poll can not discredit this claiming it is “informative to many”. It is utter horsefeathers, and the sad thing is everyone knows it but you.

  • Teleguy

    In the minds of some Canadians, they may have replaced Nortel as the tech flagship of Canada, but they have a long way to go to meet the R&D spending and revenue of Nortel. Even in bankruptcy protection, Nortel is still generating almost double the revenue that RIM is. RIM is a bright star, and continued growth seems likely, but they will want to avoid the boondoggles that Nortel got itself into with silly overpriced acquisitions and fumbling leadership. Slow and steady, with careful spending on products that sell, and acquisitions that will deliver profit, is the way forward if RIM truly wants to be the new “Nortel”.

  • less

    RIM has replaced Nortel because of Nortel. Nortel set new metrics by which to measure them, and RIMs – any companys – future successes and failures can and will be invariably compared to Nortel's, hence:

    “There ain't nortelling what that companys' stock is gonna do next.”
    “My prediction? I foretell 'Nortel'.”
    “We're norting disaster with this deal.” (Brits spell it nourting, natch)

    Mike Z sternly admonishes to never dwell on “shoulda, woulda, coulda” whilst others prefer George Santayana: “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

    RIM and its competitors would indeed be foolish to adopt any busniess pratices and ethics still etched in the minds of those burned and otherwise scorned by.Nortel.

  • Asset_Number_XXX

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtYXgo2OnAM

    (Mark: I tried to post this link last night and it didn't work. Check the difference between this topic's number of comments as seen from the home page and the current page. They are off by one – my missing comment. This happened before)

  • smokeemout

    Take a valium and chill dude. you are one of the most angry haters to post on this blog, the poll is what it is…. a poll, people call you at your house and ask you questions you have the option to answer, hang up, or answer and respond.

    Yes, folks have stated they are informative.

    It seems the pot was stirred,obviously yours.

    The good news is, if you are probably in Canada (if not, change is coming), the government will pay for your chill pill- but if you are in a hurry, perhaps there is something over the counter you can take, unless of you're already on something, then my advice is to you is to stop medicating.

    I repeat,
    “Sticks and Stones Babe…”

  • less

    RIM owes its number one position to Mike Z, alone, the former heart and soul of Nortel.

  • exnt_x_2

    Dude, your post sorta stars to make sense and then it just stops. What's your point, boy?

  • exnt_x_2

    Schadenfreude's never sexy.

  • exnt_x_2

    You don't even make sense.

  • Dan_Leonida

    To compare Nortel to RIM is the same as comparing an Olympic sharpshooter to a little kid who hit some target by accident! Well done, Canada!

    danleonida

  • yes4aapl

    Take a valium and chill dude. you are one of the most angry haters to post on this blog, the poll is what it is…
    ===
    re
    yaya
    The poll is what it is…
    What will you see from that poll?
    So many questions with duplication…
    Total nonsense!
    Let's make another poll if your polls are helpful, yes or no!?
    I say you are insane…

  • scalppeeler

    Up yours Gretel.

  • whatnext4nt

    Maybe RIM could hire Z?

    They have a few job openings in Chicago. :>

  • Dan_Leonida

    To compare Nortel to RIM is the same as comparing an Olympic sharpshooter to a little kid who hit some target by accident! Well done, Canada!

    danleonida

  • yes4aapl

    Take a valium and chill dude. you are one of the most angry haters to post on this blog, the poll is what it is…
    ===
    re
    yaya
    The poll is what it is…
    What will you see from that poll?
    So many questions with duplication…
    Total nonsense!
    Let's make another poll if your polls are helpful, yes or no!?
    I say you are insane…

  • scalppeeler

    Up yours Gretel.

  • whatnext4nt

    Maybe RIM could hire Z?

    They have a few job openings in Chicago. :>

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