I’ve been a fan of Blackberry for many years now.  The first BlackBerry I was infatuated with was a gold colored Curve with a roller ball and the ability to make calls over wifi.  Once I reviewed that phone I new I’d always need to keep a BB handy, especially once I started using touchscreen phones as my primary devices.  The BlackBerry batteries are known to go on for days, well at least more then one day.  Plus I always felt like I could crank through email like it was nobodies business on a BB and responding was just so easy.

BlackBerry has had it’s ups and downs, unfortunately more downs then ups lately, at least in the news.  But they have 2 things going for them, BlackBerry 10 which is supposed to revitalize the platform.  I hear people making wildly realistic claims about BB10 and I truly hope it does lift BB from the doldrums.  The other thing going for them is their developer program.  It seems like BB has been going nonstop for months now, charging forward with events in every part of the world every week or 2.  Developers are being created and others are being reenergized.  BB developer program led by Alec Saunders is charting new territory and creating new paths along the way.  No other platform to my knowledge has such an active leader of developer relations.  Alec is out giving speeches, I saw one of his talks in Barcelona at MWC this last February.  Alec is also out shaking hands and meeting people at all the different BB10 developer days or conferences.  I personally know Alec and seeing what he’s doing with BB I get the feeling there’s actually a fighting chance for the platform.  Additionally over the summer BB made a very smart move and hired another friend Luca Filigheddu.  Luca has been very active on Twitter and Facebook putting the word out that BB is in the fight, clawing to keep or achieve (it’s up for discussion) the 3rd spot in the platform race.

BB is super popular in many parts of the world for many reasons, 2 of them being their QWERTY keyboard and BlackBerry Messenger.  I hope BB10 supported by Alec and Luca as well as many other individuals RIM will step back into diminance.  Sadly a lot of it has to do with pure perception of the media.  Bloggers, press and some analysts have a huge influence on companies long term viability, Nokia is a perfect example of this.  Either way, I think RIM and their BlackBerry 10 platform could very likely survive now with the push that Alec and Luca are giving.

Good Luck BlackBerry!!!