(Reuters) - Online and mail-order video company Netflix has no plans to bring its streaming service to Research In Motion's PlayBook tablet. "We don't have any current plans to support BlackBerry devices, including PlayBook," the company said on Twitter late on Thursday in response to a query. Netflix has long been available for Apple's iPhone and iPad and devices running Google's Android software. RIM's library of third-party applications lags those of Apple and Android but the Canadian company has increased its focus on developers in recent months in a bid to close the gap. RIM upgraded the software of its poor-selling PlayBook on Tuesday, making it possible for app makers to easily move their existing Android apps across to the PlayBook. The upgrade also enables a BlackBerry smartphone to remotely control the tablet, which connects to a television via a standard cable. It was not immediately clear if Netflix would port its existing Android app across rather than create a specific app for PlayBook. Netflix has more than 24 million U.S. subscribers, where it offers both a mail-in service and streaming movies and TV shows. It also has also expanded its streaming-only service to Canada and parts of Latin America. (Reporting by Alastair Sharp in Toronto; editing by Rob Wilson)
Check out the slideshow (below) to see the worst BlackBerry fails of the past year.
Blackberry PlayBook Flops, Prices Slashed
The PlayBook tablet, which was the BlackBerry maker's answer to the iPad, went on sale in April 2011. Since then, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/03/blackberry-playbook-price-rim_n_1181167.html" target="_hplink">RIM has lost $485 million</a> on unsold units.
At the beginning of January, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/03/blackberry-playbook-price-rim_n_1181167.html" target="_hplink">RIM slashed the price of all models</a> of its tablet to $299. The special pricing will last until February 4.
PlayBooks, which come in 16, 32 and 64 gigabyte models, typically retail for $499, $599 and $699, respectively, <a href="http://news.cnet.com/8301-1001_3-57351162-92/blackberry-playbook-price-now-$299-for-all-models/" target="_hplink">according to CNET</a>.
In November, RIM temporarily <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/22/blackberry-playbook-price-drop_n_1107941.html" target="_hplink">slashed the price</a> of the 16GB version of the tablet to $199 at certain retail locations.
Network Outages
In October, BlackBerry <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/13/blackberry-outage-2011-rim-says-services-returning_n_1008596.html" target="_hplink">suffered an outage that affected</a> many of its then 70-million worldwide users, leaving some of its customers in Asia, Europe, Latin American and Africa without service for as many as three days.
Some users in the U.S. were affected, but not for as long a period.
Drunk Execs Disrupt International Flight
In December, two RIM executives were fired after a flight they were on was forced to be diverted because the pair's "drunken rowdiness," <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/02/two-men-face-hefty-fine-a_0_n_1125214.html" target="_hplink">the AP reports</a>.
BlackBerry 10 Platform Delayed
Research in Motion announced in December 2011 that its highly anticipated BlackBerry 10 platform won't be available until the end of 2012.
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/16/blackberry-10-phones-rim_n_1153314.html" target="_hplink">According to the AP</a>, the company claims the holdup is because the chipset needed for the phones running the platform won't be available until the middle of this year.
In less than a year, RIM's share of the U.S. smartphone market <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/23/rim-ceos-jim-balsillie-mike-lazaridis_n_1222605.html#s629929&title=Lessien" target="_hplink">dropped by almost 50 percent</a>, from <a href="http://www.comscore.com/Press_Events/Press_Releases/2011/3/comScore_Reports_January_2011_U.S._Mobile_Subscriber_Market_Share" target="_hplink">30.4 percent</a> in January 2011 to <a href="http://www.comscore.com/Press_Events/Press_Releases/2011/12/comScore_Reports_November_2011_U.S._Mobile_Subscriber_Market_Share" target="_hplink">16.6 percent</a> in November 2011.
In 2009, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/16/blackberry-10-phones-rim_n_1153314.html" target="_hplink">RIM controlled 44 percent</a> of the US smartphone market.
(Pictured above is the HTC Desire HD Android, which runs on Google's much more popular Android platform.)
Investors Urge Company Sell Itself
A nearly 75 percent drop in stock price in 2011 did not please investors. At the end of 2011, Jaguar Financial Corp, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2012/01/03/balsillie-lazaridis-rim-research-in-motion-jaguar-financial_n_1180885.html" target="_hplink">one of the largest investors</a> in RIM, called "for substantial corporate governance change and for a sale of RIM, whether as a whole or as separate parts."
Vic Alboini, the chief executive of Jaguar Financial, <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-16393180" target="_hplink">told the BBC earlier this month</a> that RIM has "lost it."
"The party is over, we believe, in terms of trying to design that cool, tech savvy smartphone," he said. "Microsoft has over $50 billion in cash, RIM has $1.5 billion. There is no way they'll be able to compete."
(Reuters) - Online and mail-order video company Netflix has no plans to bring its streaming service to Research In Motion's PlayBook tablet. "We don't have any current plans to support ...
(Reuters) - Online and mail-order video company Netflix has no plans to bring its streaming service to Research In Motion's PlayBook tablet. "We don't have any current plans to support ...
Independent of RIM status as a company, I as a Netflix CUSTOMER paying 7.99 per month happen to have a Playbook that I love and want to see movies on it. I also have a Blackberry smartphone and I don't have any plans to change to another brand. Netflix is being rude to me indirectly. Netflix is disrespecting me as a customer because I am a Blackberry user. Netflix is casting me away because I am a Blackberry user. NETFLIX: you should put an Ad on your webpage/apps saying: BLACKBERRY USERS NOT WANTED HERE.
I have just cancelled my Netflix account, and until they provide an app for the Blackberry devices I assume they don't want me as a customer.
BBUser: Independent of RIM status as a company, I as a
If Blackberries suddenly take off in sales and market share no doubt that Netflix will reconsider. Having to support multiple platforms costs money and this is one Netflix decision that makes sense for a change. Not only is RIM losing market share, customers that want the latest in apps tend to by an iPhone or a Droid http://cordcutterguide.com/
cordcutterguide: If Blackberries suddenly take off in sales and market share
Eh netflix is okay. I was lucky to use it over my break because I used a friends information, so I had it free. Other then that, don't think I'd pay for it. Also, its ways to stream FREE online now, yet hard to find premium shows..
grey234: Eh netflix is okay. I was lucky to use it
OH NO ! Blackberry users won't be able to stream Police Academy 2 and other crappy movies from the 80's. Netflix is in not much of a better situation than RIM. Bad management, bad marketing and terrible products from both companies so I think they will neutralize each other.
jprs29: OH NO ! Blackberry users won't be able to stream
what they going to do, sit and watch Hulu freeze up every 30 seconds and have to completely reboot just to watch another 5 minutes of a show? Yeah, thats going to work just great..
loki: what they going to do, sit and watch Hulu freeze
Not surprising at all. With Apple, Android, and Windows competing in the same space, we have no room for RIM. Especially after they lost corporate market share to Apple. I predict Samsung, or another Android hardware manufacturer will purchase RIM. http://cordcuttingbasics.com
cordcutting: Not surprising at all. With Apple, Android, and Windows competing
Hmmm. I guess the only problem is that a short while ago, BlackBerry was leading all of them and still leads Windows Phone and the others, in some markets. Isn't that annoying? Stupid facts.
Esot3ric: Hmmm. I guess the only problem is that a short
Most definitely annoying. RIM failed to innovate, entice developers, and meet deadlines. Subsequently losing consumer loyalty (think global outage). Who in their right mind would trust a company with two CEOs? (two CEOs at one time. http://cordcuttingbasics.com
cordcutting: Most definitely annoying. RIM failed to innovate, entice developers, and
I own a Playbook, an Ipad and I have a Netflix Account. Netflix and showing pictures to clients is about all the ipad is good for. The Playbook, now with OS2 is awesome. Browser is better, email, the linkedin and facebook streamlined into contacts...just great. and way less bulky to carry aroud for work. But yes...I am one of those people that has a job and use these things for work not Angry Birds...I have a 3DS for games....
Stormwatcher76: I own a Playbook, an Ipad and I have a
I use the new Torch at work and have never seen the need to ask for a Playbook but have co-workers that love them. I use my iPad (wireless, not with a plan) for Netflix several times a week now that the Canadian accounts are getting better content. The playbook is underrated but it is not marketed as an "elegant" solution to someone who already uses a Blackberry. If I needed my cell to have more flexibility, I would probably grab a Playbook as a logical extension. I Don't think Netflix capability would increase my desire for a playbook.
TrixieCDN: I use the new Torch at work and have never
I suppose this is another opportunity for Blackberry users to say the Blackberry is a business tool to do business and not watch movies nor do whatever the iPhone's toy-ish apps do.
Commenter-X: I suppose this is another opportunity for Blackberry users to
Yup, its for work, wish ironically is what ipad owners probably say to themselves when they spend $500+ for an oversized ipod touch...and yes I have an ipad too. Useless for anything but $99 games and Netflix.
Stormwatcher76: Yup, its for work, wish ironically is what ipad owners
Nope, I bought the iPad for leisure and have seen co-workers try to justify their iPads as work tools...For less $$ they could get a small Netbook that would require no weird emulators to do their job (windows environment, full internal wireless). I have absolutely nothing against the iPad, I love mine....just don't expect me to write a recommendation for one on the false justification that "it is essential for work".
TrixieCDN: Nope, I bought the iPad for leisure and have seen
There is now an almost infinite supply of free streaming entertainment available. I simply don't get how Blockbuster and Netflicks get people to part with their money. Netflicks not supporting Blackberry is as relevant to me as an announcement that CompuServe will no longer support Word Perfect.
impartial_observer: There is now an almost infinite supply of free streaming
There might be other alternatives but none that allows me to stream things through my wii onto my tv. I'm not going to buy a PS3 or a blue ray player or anything else. So that is why I stick with netflix, as much as they annoy me these days.
If anyone else catches up with netflix on streaming capabilities, I'll switch.
flyinghigh0905: There might be other alternatives but none that allows me
Not really. I've looked. greencine is interesting, blockbuster a total fail. Hulu, crackle, others all lack content. I'm sure I missed some. I'd love to drop netflix - their use interface sucks and shows not sign of ever being fixed - but so far no one really can compete.
satanlite: Not really. I've looked. greencine is interesting, blockbuster a total
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First Posted: 02/24/2012 11:01 am Updated: 02/24/2012 12:50 pm