RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED-BLACKBERRY Research in motion limited was founded in the year 1984 by Mr. Michael Lazaridis, the company's President and Co-Chief Executive Officer, and Mr. Douglas Fregin (RIM-2009). The company then grew in to one of the leading designer and manufacturer of wireless solutions, the company product portfolios include the blackberry wireless solution and other software and hardware solutions. The major markets of the company include North America, Europe and Asia Pacific (RIM-2008). RIM generates most of its revenues through the blackberry wireless device with various features which provides a user friendly interface. Although the company has been growing since its inception. In early 1990’s the company was focussed on developing wireless data technology but by far the significant year for the company was 1999 when it introduces the blackberry solutions and in following years it has launched many advanced models of blackberry solutions in partnership with various service providers which includes Yahoo, AOL, MTN, Qtel etc.(RIM-2008).The company has recorded a revenue of US$14.935 million in the financial year 2010 which is an increase of 35% compared to FY 2009 with USA alone accounting for 57% of the revenue. The devices accounted for 81% of the revenue followed by service (14.4%), software (1.7%) and other (2.8%). (RIM -2010). Although the company is doing very well financially, it is not immune the pressure of external forces and following section highlights some of the external forces impact on RIM.
PESTEL ANALYSIS The pestel analysis provides an insight in to the factors which will affect the industry which in turn will also affect the companies that operate within the industry (Johnson et al 2008).
Political
• The fairly friendly political climate in North America especially in USA has helped the smart phone industry especially RIM to flourish as the recent survey by Nielsen pointed out