Losing The Signal is a book that delves into the rise and fall of Research In Motion (RIM), the company that created the iconic BlackBerry smartphone. The book is written by Jacquie McNish and Sean Silcoff, two journalists who covered RIM for many years. The book provides an in-depth look at the company’s history, its founders, and the events that led to its eventual downfall.
Chapter 1: The Beginning
The book begins with the story of Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie, the two co-founders of RIM. Lazaridis was a scientist who had a passion for technology, while Balsillie was a successful businessman. Together, they created a company that would change the way people communicated. The early years of RIM were filled with innovation and success, as the company created the first two-way pager and then the first BlackBerry smartphone.
Chapter 2: The Rise of RIM
As RIM continued to innovate, its popularity grew. The BlackBerry became the device of choice for businesspeople and professionals who needed to stay connected on-the-go. The company’s stock price soared, and RIM became a household name. Lazaridis and Balsillie were hailed as visionaries, and the future looked bright for the company.
Chapter 3: The Fall of RIM
However, as the smartphone market became more competitive, RIM began to struggle. The company was slow to adapt to changing technology, and its devices became outdated. Additionally, the company faced internal turmoil, as Lazaridis and Balsillie clashed over the direction of the company. The once-dominant RIM began to lose market share to competitors like Apple and Google.
Chapter 4: The Death of BlackBerry
As RIM continued to struggle, it became clear that the company needed to make drastic changes. In 2013, Lazaridis and Balsillie stepped down from their roles as co-CEOs, and the company was renamed BlackBerry. Despite these changes, the company continued to struggle, and in 2016, BlackBerry announced that it would no longer manufacture its own smartphones.
Chapter 5: The Legacy of RIM
Despite its eventual downfall, RIM/BlackBerry left a lasting impact on the technology industry. The company’s innovations paved the way for modern smartphones, and its influence can still be seen in today’s devices. The book ends with a look at the legacy of RIM and the lessons that can be learned from its rise and fall.
Conclusion
Losing The Signal is a compelling look at the rise and fall of RIM, a company that once dominated the smartphone market. The book provides an in-depth look at the company’s history, its founders, and the events that led to its eventual downfall. While the story of RIM is a cautionary tale of what can happen when a company fails to adapt to changing technology, it is also a testament to the impact that one company can have on an entire industry. Overall, Losing The Signal is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of technology or the inner workings of a successful (and not-so-successful) company.
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