Where’s My Camera???

This week I was posed with a question from my cousin that I found quite interesting. Why don’t all BlackBerries have cameras built into them? Interestingly enough, I found out that, in fact, all BlackBerries don’t have cameras built into them. The other odd thing that I discovered from a Verizon rep was the reason for this seeming oddity in today’s cell phone offerings. I was told that business owners and corporations that provide the BlackBerry to their employees don’t want the liability of the user taking pictures that could potentially be used against them in the future.

Even though a lot of consumers really find the use in a cell phone that takes pictures, the business world evidently has a totally different viewpoint on the issue. The issue is that many organizations such as financial institutions, medical facilities and government agencies actually ban digital cameras from their premises. This equals the necessity of the business owner of a BlackBerry to hand it over at time of entry or risk violating the rules of the institution it seeks to do business with. This is also a compromising position for the business person if valuable or even confidential information is stored on their phone.

I think one reason this might actually be a real issue is that if your company requires you to carry a BlackBerry and you really do find the need to regularly need a camera then you would have to carry your own, second, phone. What a hassle this is to carry a seemingly unnecessary second phone just to have a camera to send photos from? However, some have tried to speculate that the reason for no camera is that it takes up too much memory space or some other space related issue on the phone. This is really not the true issue. The business world is full of liability related rules and regulations. This, apparently, just happens to be another one in the mix.

Week 3 Analysis – History Repeats Itself and Then Some

This week BlackBerry made the news by repeating history as well as making history. RIM experienced a little Déjà vu this week when it again was forced to settle a major patent lawsuit. Research In Motion (RIM), the maker of the BlackBerry, settled a lengthy patent dispute with Visto, a tiny tech company, for $267 million. This is only the most recent legal action that RIM has had to settle to avoid being potentially shut down altogether. According to the Wall Street Journal (2009), although the settlement only accounts for about 15% of their cash holdings it does pose some cause for concern as well as hope for the future. Past actions against the company were for smaller amounts but helped aid in the settlement of this case. Despite being a large cash outlay for RIM, its stock reacted positively since this was the last of the possible disputes over its technology holdings. This should mean even greater growth of the brand now that the possibility of more lawsuits has passed.

History was also made this week in a bizarre case of a young woman Twittering from her BlackBerry during a bank robbery in New York City. The 26 yr. old could not call her family members due to the fact that she had lost the trackball on her phone. So she resorted to Twittering the proceedings to let her family, friends and followers know she was alright. This, was more than likely, the first account worldwide where an individual actually used a BlackBerry to communicate during a crime. “No, i didn’t hit the floor. i didn’t even notice and he was two people in front of me.”, she Tweeted at one point, as it was reported by Noveck (2009) of the Associated Press. Although the story got lots of publicity, that the young lady got some nasty replies that she should have done more to help the situation instead of making fun of it. On the bright side it was noted that she did get an increase of 200 followers to her Twitter account by the end of the day.

While the BlackBerry continues to make history in a wide range of ways, the fact remains that it is a cultural icon that is only getting more stable in its footing and prepared for ever increasing growth. As was highlighted last week, new apps for the BlackBerry are emerging daily. This week it was also announced by Donnell at PCmag (2009), that the popular iPhone app from Slacker will give BlackBerry storm users the first version of its free internet radio service. The service will feature the ability to cache the music so listeners will enjoy uninterrupted listening even when they don’t have a signal to their phone.

Donnell, W. (2009). Like It or Not, Slacker Coming to BlackBerry Storm, 2009. Retrieved July 18th, 2009, from http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2350375,00.asp
Silver, S. (2009). RIM Settles Patent Battle With Visto, 2009. Retrieved July 18, 2009, from http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124775322296051701.html
Noveck, J. (2009). NYC Bank Heist makes for an unexpected Tweet, 2009. Retrieved July 18, 2009, from http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hmiT98vuDvnymhjsTySDIX-wDxvwD99EENDG0

Week 2 Analysis

This week I would like to expand on not just the BlackBerry but on the apps that make the device the mobile convenience that has become. An “app” is a program that has been developed by an outside source that uses the BlackBerry or other mobile device’s operating system to perform a task. The apps that are available for the BlackBerry are somewhat similar to those of the iPhone. While there have not been nearly as many apps developed for the BlackBerry as there have been for the iPhone, they do have some pretty useful tools for the mobile business professional with more coming out regularly.

One of the ones that I found most interesting is for a customer relationship management (CRM) program called Salesforce. It allows the BlackBerry user to keep up to date on all of their customer data, contact information, order history and other valuable information in their client’s file. The program will aid assisting any productive sales force in becoming second to none if they spend a lot of time in the field traveling from meeting to meeting. This application allows the user to integrate their Outlook email program to the SalesForce database for email communication on the go.

Another app that is widely popular is the MySpace app. It allows the user to keep up with their MySpace page no matter where they are traveling. Additions or updates are able to be uploaded just the same as if the user were at their regular computer. Telling customers and followers of recent developments or changes to service have never been so easy. Uploading photos is a snap and practically instantaneously viewable on your MySpace page.

One other app worth mentioning is called Viigo. With Viigo you can tell the application what you want to stay updated on such as the stock market, sports scores, flight schedules, or just news headlines. The program updates the requested information regularly without prompting it to do so. Now you can follow a friend’s Twitter account and the baseball game all while your on a blind date that you found on MySpace.

Apps aren’t the only reason to have a BlackBerry but they sure make having one much more entertaining and practical. Being mobile and still connected allows today’s busy users to get more done in less time. Just don’t do it while your driving!

BlackBerry Connection (2009). Take a Tour of BlackBerry App World. Retrieved July 12, 2009, from

http://www.blackberry.com/newsletters/connection/business/i209/app_world.shtml

Analysis of Contemporary American Icons

The three icons that I chose to represent in this segment are Oprah Winfrey, Bill Gates, and Steve Jobs. Oprah is undoubtedly most well known for her warm personality but probably more important is her ability to continually command attention. The next icon on my list is Bill Gates. Bill Gates is probably one of the most well admired entrepreneurs in the world. Finally, Steve Jobs is on the list due to his artful ability to innovate and remain competitive, as well as, relevant in the electronics world. Each of these figures are entrepreneurs in every sense of the world, but in my mind they are also American Icons due to their ability to rise above the tremendous challenges that each have faced throughout their careers.

Despite being wealthy beyond most people’s imaginations, these three people have not only shaped what it has meant to persevere through challenge, but also be extraordinarily innovative in their respective careers at the same time. Many people may not think of them as being a great leader but more so of remarkable character. Each of them commands the respect and admiration of many people throughout the world who continue to follow and seek their vision and hope for the future. Huge responsibilities are their appetizers as they continually look to feast on the opportunities of tomorrow.

I chose these three individuals as my focus, not since they are wealthy or great business minds, but because each of them embodies the philanthropic qualities necessary to be deemed truly successful. These three individuals are of particular interest to me since they are such esteemed givers. In a poll given by the Reputation Institute (2008), they were each listed in the Top 5 most admired CEOs due to their charitable giving, business success and the sense that they are truly authentic, trustworthy and sincere. It is only the right of the truly successful to claim the title of philanthropist after they give of themselves in a sincere act without the promise of material reward.
The old motto goes “Doing well by doing good”, but my thoughts are that this is a little off base. In my mind, “doing good” arises out of “doing well”. Social responsibility is an important quality and one to be admired. It is that same responsibility that makes America great in the eyes of people around the world. We would all be well served to strive to give away a million dollars instead of striving to make a million dollars. No one asks how much you have when they ask for a donation, only how much you can give. If someone can afford to give great amounts of money to charity, their wealth is counted in dollars but measured in goodwill. Philanthropic acts are a result of acquired wealth and could be stated that with great wealth comes great responsibility.

Medland, M. (2008). Philanthropic Roles Help Elevate Corporate CEO’s on Most-Admired List. The Chronicle of Philanthropy. Retrieved July 9, 2009, from http://philanthropy.com/news/updates/6067/philanthropic-roles-help-elevate-corporate-ceos-on-most-admired-list

Hello world!

The item I chose as the basis of this discussion of Pop Culture is the BlackBerry. This mobile computer/phone has revolutionized the business world. The BlackBerry has vastly improved the accessability of sales professionals and mobile professionals around the globe. The BlackBerry was introduced intially in 1999 as a two-way pager. Its popularity saved it from extinction after a nearly 6 year Patent Infringement Lawsuit where even the U.S. Dept. of Defense intervened saying the BlackBerry was critical to national defense since many there were so many government users.

Research In Motion, the developer of the Blackberry, reported on May 30, 2009 that it now has over 28.5 million users. Anytime an item has this widespread acceptability, it can garner a lot of power and attention. Even the likes of TIVO is joining forces to offer its subscribers the ability to program their TIVO units directly from their BlackBerry.

I know of many organizations such as State Farm, since my Uncle is an Agent, that require each agent to have one for unparalleled access to information in today’s mobile environment. The popularity of such devices gives rise to more demanding customers and soon come to expect instant feedback since they know you are “connected” to their information. Customer expectations can make or break a mobile professional. It all depends on their ability to meet the clients needs in an acceptable time frame. The BlackBerry helps in that task but there are limitations to its capabilities. Basically, it still can’t make the calls or send the emails for you!

Blackberrys, just the same as countless other items, garner Pop Culture status due to their immense following of consumers and businesses alike. Pop Culture is often times created simply by word of mouth and takes on a snowball effect. Even mass media can aid the progression from the conceptual idea to reality. When an item is so popular that practically every newscast, television show, radio talk-show or movie mentions it, that item is on its way to gaining what every business wants, “Top Of Mind Awareness”. It is quite important for the business world to gain TOMA for ultimate success. In that respect, the BlackBerry is and also helps create TOMA by keeping businesspeople connected to clients.