After Consumers, Now Government Agencies Turn Backs On BlackBerry

11.98
Trefis
RIMM: Research In Motion logo
RIMM
Research In Motion

Corporates were once considered to be Research in Motion’s (NASDAQ:RIMM) forte. Even though RIM continued to lose its presence in the consumer market, the love for BlackBerry smartphones in corporates was evident until recently. However, according to a report, General Services Administration (GSA) in the U.S. has added the Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) iPhone and Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) Android devices to its list of approved devices after National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said earlier this month that it will be ditching BlackBerry smartphones in favor of Apple’s iPhone. [1]

Our $16.50 price estimate for RIM stock is about 10% above the current market price.

See our complete analysis of RIM here

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iPhone’s Consumer Popularity Extends to Corporates

According to a study by security firm Check Point, Apple’s (NASDAQ:AAPL) iOS has overtaken RIM’s BlackBerry in terms of popularity among corporates. [2] According to the survey, Apple’s iOS accounted for 30% of mobile devices in use on corporate networks, narrowly beating RIM’s BlackBerry devices at 29%.

The rise of iOS devices among corporates is a clear sign of the consumerization of IT wherein employees want to use the same devices at work that they use at home. This trend is more notable since Apple focuses its products for retail users with little focus on the enterprise market specifically. Around 65% of companies surveyed officially allowed access to their employee’s personally owned devices in addition to the company-owned hardware.

Clearly Apple is leveraging its growing reach among retail users to corporates as well. Apple became the number one smartphone player in Q4 2011 with a market share of 23.5% overtaking Samsung at 22.8%. [3]

Understand How a Company’s Products Impact its Stock Price at Trefis

Notes:
  1. BlackBerry dealt another blow as government agency opts for iPhones, Android, BGR, February 15th, 2012 []
  2. THE IMPACT OF MOBILE DEVICES ON INFORMATION SECURITY: A SURVEY OF IT PROFESSIONALS, Check Point, January 2012 []
  3. Smartphone Market Hits All-Time Quarterly High Due To Seasonal Strength and Wider Variety of Offerings, According to IDC, February 6th, 2012 []