I’m not obsessed with Blackberries, but when contemplating on which company I consider “entrepreneurial”, RIM automatically came into mind. Of course.
Firstly, RIM is one of Canada’s largest, most profitable corporations. According to an article in the Globe and Mail, RIM is ranked as the 4th largest (profit-wise) institution in all of Canada. This company is a CLEAR example of a successful entrepreneurship, as there is “substantial wealth” (with profits of $2,457,144 and total revenues of $14,981,864). Those are some eye-opening numbers.
In addition, according the Schumpeter’s view of Entrepreneurship, innovation is key to defining a business from an entrepreneurship. It is undeniable that the great minds of RIM are innovators.
They were the first successful technological company to provide wireless mobiles specifically for corporate users. They invented their own instant messaging, Blackberry Messenger (BBM). Emails can now be easily viewed on phones, and for the first time, a full QWERTY keyboard (instead of the dinky nine buttons) allowed convenience and enjoyment while typing away! Blackberries created a new category for mobile phones: smartphones.
Most importantly, RIM created a product which allows their consumers to brand THEMSELVES. In other words, when someone is seen using a Blackberry, that person is viewed to be professional and ‘smart’.
RIM is clearly a result of some entrepreneur’s great mind. It has definitely come a long way, defined by the evolution of Blackberries.
