Crackberry to stay after $612.5m (£349m) settlement

[Kryten]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4773006.stm

So all those who are like me and are addicted to their BlackBerry's can be safe in the knowledge that you can continue to get RSI from typying on your tiny little keyboards :D

That's a hell of a lot of money though, ~$200/user in the US (obviously does not take into account overseas and other sales).

So the question really is, were they right to settle and was it worth the money? With Microsoft pushing their new push mail service heavily I'm worried that BB may be on the decline anyway (we all know how good MS marketing department are when they need to be). I expect to see a large push from them now with more mobiles coming out to support it and of course at that point its free compared to the specialised hardware (unless using BB Connect) and software for a BlackBerry.

I'm actually at the point of upgrading my BB and trying to decide if to get another or go MS or get an O2 XDA which can support both (but seems too big for a phone to be carried to me?).

[simonmac]

:clap:

Finally glad its settled, altough it never would've affected us over here it would've put a dent into any new products they developed.

I've been using 8700 few a months and I think its ok! The keyboard is a bit of a nightmare, but the screen is whaaaay better! Also the short cut keys are handy. Its a lot faster compared to my old 7290 and 7230, plus you can customise it a lot more. We've already got the infrastucture for the Blackberries so doubt we'd move away from BES, we've had a look at BB software on non-rim handhelds but it doesn't have the security encryption that the RIM models offer.

PS:

Have you seen the "Blackberry Helemt"?

http://www.cbc.ca/mercerreport/backissues.php took under January 10th.

[simonmac]

This always make me laugh too:


I remember the first time I used Blackberry. All my friends where doing it so I thought I'd give it a try. I remember getting a real buzz and that is when it all started. Before long I had my own Blackberry and was finding myself using it more and more. Blackberry at work, Blackberry at lunch, at the weekends, during the night, on the bog, and before long it had taken control of my life. I was having a hard time sleeping, and hard time focusing, I couldn't get Blackberry of my mind. Time stood still between my Blackberry fixes. I didn't tell my friends and family how much I used my blackberry, I didn't want anyone knowing that I had become blackberry dependent. That is when I contacted B.A.G (Blackberry Anonymous Group) who where able to help me deal with my Blackberry addiction and I have now been Blackberry free for over a year.

[welshmatt]

I actually turned one down at work after some collegues told me it became an obsession at home and people who know you have one expected you to reply there and then.