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Research in Motion
Research In Motion is founded by University of Waterloo engineering student Mike Lazaridis and University of Windsor engineering student Douglas Fregin -
Product Development
Begins developing products for Mobitex and release products produced for the motion picture industry -
Co-CEO Appointed
Jim Balsillie joins RIM. He would become co-CEO along with Lazaridis -
First two-way messaging pager
Releases the Inter@ctivePager, AKA the RIM 900 (first keyboard-based device) -
Goes Public (SE)
RIM goes public on the Toronto Stock Exchange -
Device Improvements
The RIM 950, a dramatically slimmed down two-way pager, is released -
Government Approval (First BlackBerry)
The stock symbol RIMM is added to Nasdaq. RIM announces it has received FCC approval in the U.S. to begin selling its first BlackBerry device, the 850, with mobile email -
Blackberry 5810 Improvements
Adds voice calling capabilities to the BlackBerry 5810 releases its first BlackBerry with a colour screen -
Reached Milestones Prt1
RIM marks its 20th anniversary passes the one-million subscriber mark. two million subscribers (end of the year) using its devices -
Reached Milestones prt2
RIM hits four million subscribers, Balsillie and Lazaridis are named among Time magazine’s 100 most influential people -
BlackBerry Pearl Released (8100)
BlackBerry releases the first in a line of consumer-friendly Pearl devices, adding a digital camera and multimedia capabilities -
Market Value Surpasses $67 Billlion
RIM becomes the most valuable company on the TSX with a market capitalization surpassing $67 billion. The company has 10 million subscribers and introduces the first of its Curve BlackBerrys. -
Underestimates Apple iPhone Demand
Caught flat-footed by the overwhelming response to Apple’s new iPhone -
Share prices drops - iPhone 3G attracts Attention
Stock hits a high of $149.90 in June but the euphoria is short lived. The stock market crash in September takes its shares below $50 and its first touchscreen BlackBerry, the Storm, is critically panned as iPhone hype grows with the new 3G model -
Try to compete with Apple Store
BlackBerry launches its App World marketplace to compete with Apple’s App Store. Its selection pales in comparison, a problem that is never solved -
Announces New Playbook device
Surpasses 40 million users and announces it has shipped its 100 millionth smartphone. QNX Software Systems, to help reshape its operating system software. Announces new PlayBook tablet to compete with Apple iPad. -
Poor Reviews - Job cuts - Service Issues
PlayBook is finally released in the spring, later than expected, and reviews are not kind.
A few months later the company announces it’s cutting 2,000 jobs.
In October, users around the world suffer through a four-day service outage -
Decline in the Brand - Ceo's Replaced
Lazaridis and Balsillie step down as co-CEOs and are replaced by Thorsten Heins. .
5,000 layoffs - delay to the critical BlackBerry 10 software update, last chance to stay alive.
stocks prices drop dramatically -
Crash And Possible Sale of BlackBerry
unveils BlackBerry 10 and the first two smartphones to use the operating system, the Z10 and Q10.
officially changes its name to BlackBerry. The phones don’t sell well enough.
Vice chairman and leaves the board of directors.
In August, the company says it is open to a possible sale. lays off another 4,500 employees and plans to refocus on the enterprise market. Fairfax Financial Holdings offered to buy the company in a deal worth about US$4.7 billion.
