RIM Layoffs Begin, Report Says

TORONTO (Reuters) - BlackBerry maker Research In Motion has started to hand out layoff notices after it said on Friday it would cut an unspecified number of jobs, a local newspaper said on Tuesday.

A spokesman for the Canadian company could not be reached immediately to confirm the report in the Waterloo Region Record, which serves the Ontario city where RIM is headquartered.

The report gave no specific numbers on the layoff notices, but noted that RIM employs about 17,500 workers globally, including 9,000 in the Waterloo region.

Shares of RIM, which once dominated the business segment of the smartphone market, have dropped about 27 percent since it revealed dismal quarterly results and lowered its full-year outlook on Friday.

The stock is down more than 50 percent this year after a series of missteps as it tries to keep pace with Apple Inc and other innovators in the smartphone and tablet computer markets.

(Reporting by Frank McGurty; editing by Janet Guttsman)

Copyright 2011 Thomson Reuters. Click for Restrictions

Comments

[abuckley23]

01:37 AM on 06/22/2011

Here's a free blackberry torch...and here's your pink slip...

[mlm4420]

10:35 PM on 06/21/2011

I had a Blackberry for many years and always loved it for the purpose it served me, which was to be able to respond quickly to client emails anytime and anywhere. I was never really able to use the browser and after many years took notice that other people were able to do things with their phones that I was not able to do. I recently purchased an Android phone which I like, but the touchscreen pad is difficult to control at times, whereas the blackberry never gave me a problem.

[ccrevecoeur78]

05:19 PM on 06/21/2011

RIM have to reduce the price of their products if they want to stay competitive.

[PhillyKing]

02:20 PM on 06/21/2011

RIM was focussed on business... the others were focused on Consumers... consumers loved the others and wanted them in their business... IOS and Android started to ensure business abilities were put in... RIM still shrugged their shoulders and sat back thinking business was their domain... Rim finally took notice of consumers when Apple and Android ate into their businesses as IT depts realized that incorporating IOS/Android was easy... RIM is now laying off people but the 3 initials employees are still there... Almost sounds like GM/Ford/Chrysler doesn't it?

[bcpalma]

12:21 PM on 06/21/2011

Blackberry was my first big boy phone. I really enjoyed it and never had any performance issues. In this day and age they just can't compare with all of the iphone and droid devices, RIM is light years behind. Best of luck to the people getting laid off.

[blyan]

11:15 AM on 06/21/2011

Good riddance

[LibDisorder]

12:31 PM on 06/21/2011

Did they harm you in some way?