Has RIM’s Subscriber Base Flatlined?

In recent years, there have been very few companies that have had as grim a future as Research in Motion. Time and time again, it seems like the final straw for the company lingers right around the corner, yet it continues to coast along – somehow. Now, don’t get me wrong – I don’t want to see RIM disappear. It’s becoming increasingly difficult to imagine the company turning things completely around, however, especially in a world dominated by Android and iOS.

It seems that analysts agree. In an article posted at The Globe and Mail, Kris Thompson of National Bank Financial states that with its quarterly revenue call coming up on Thursday, RIM is expected to announce absolutely no subscriber increase at all. On one hand, many have flocked over to competitor platforms, while on the other, international markets have begun to pick up – essentially offsetting each other. And while this might be “okay”, things are expected to begin going downhill next quarter.

In August of last year, RIM said that it had 70 million total subscribers, and as of this past June, that had increased to 78 million. That in itself would make it seem like things are on the up and up, but with nothing truly compelling in the pipeline – that we know of – it’s hard to imagine we’re going to see anything next year for the company but a downward spiral.

Perhaps RIM’s last best chance to capture marketshare is with the release of BlackBerry 10 and paired devices this coming January. The tech world will definitely be watching that launch with great interest.