Black Berry phone delayed till 2012 makes bad news for RIM

Research in Motion fell to the lowest level in almost eight years after saying a new generation of Black Berry designed to fuel a comeback will not be out until the “latter part” of 2012. The smart phone maker, which originally planned to release the new devices in the first quarter of next year, also gave a sales and profit forecast that missed analysts’ estimates.

The delay adds to the challenges at RIM, which has lost market share to iPhone and Android phones. The company also missed its entry into the tablet market, with a device that fell well short of sales forecasts. After all that, investors may not trust the new target for the upgraded phones from RIM.

Despite the delays though, company officials have made no announcement of slowing down or even of cutting the project. Some analysts say that the new device may be the last Hail Mary in RIM‘s inventory of business idea. If the new phone does not pan out, companies may have to abandon the long venerated Black Berry for a phone, which may finally be a little more user friendly.

(아주경제 앤드류 이 기자)

Park Sae-jin swatchsjp@ajunews.com