Kik Messenger is a popular cross platform messaging client (2.5 million users in one month!) that was recently removed from RIM’s App World. It caught on like wildfire for Blackberry users because it was free–and it would enable users to chat with Kik contacts on iPhones and Android devices. Why was Kik removed suddenly? Rationale would explain that the app was in direct competition with RIM’s BBM (Blackberry Messaging) service.
RIM Sues KIK for Patent Infringement in Canada
Looks like Co-CEO Jim Basillie (he doesn’t like apps) is taking things up to another level and suing Kik for patent infringement. But it doesn’t stop there. New court documents allege that Kik CEO, Ted Livingston, a former RIM employee used his position (Technical Management Product Coordinator) within the BBM group (2007-2008) to his benefit. It is alleged that Livingston had access to proprietary BBM info and violated his confidentiality agreements.
The statement of claim also alleges that:
The following Canadian Patents are being infringed upon: 2353161, 2485791, 2472474. You can read the statement of claim here.
The issue here is that Livingston was a former employee of RIM, and had insider access to proprietary BBM info, and allegedly used that to his benefit in the creating of Kik.
What do you think? Is Kik just a BBM knockoff? RIM needs to start innovating here. BBM is on its way out out the door as other competitors such as WhatsApp blow it out of the water.
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RIM is just scared of losing the only blackberries are good for. Bbm
It’s true. RIM needs to innovate beyond BBM and their spectacular keyboard.
Other than bbm and their keyboards being easy to type on, their dinosaur phones and shouldn’t be called a smartphone.
whats kik and bbm, i couldnt find them in the appstore
Kik: http://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/kik-messenger/id357218860?mt=8
BBM is RIM’s proprietary messaging service.
Widen your horizon
Kik was crap anyways.
Much better programs out there.
okay, but when iphone come into play?
Bubye kik. Good thing I use PingChat lol
First they take Kik off the BB marketplace and now they sue them. Poor Kik. Poor poor Kik
Until Apple, Google, and Microsoft start paying more attention to corporations… RIM will continue to dominate there. And thus not innovate much, why change what works right.
hahahaha. Whatsapp is garbage.
WhatsApp is a brilliant app. What do you not like about it, YOU PIG?
WAKE UP!
RIM needs to TRY HARDER and WAKE UP. Their ‘smartphones’ are a friggin JOKE. They release new models that are the EXACT same every single time. 98xx, 89xx…an absolute disaster. GET OUT, RIM!
One of the main reasons I will not give them any of my business.
WHO WAS PHONE??
Yes I will agree whatsapp is great. It is far better then KIK was anyways. I do find it so frustrating that they have server problems quite frequently (however, its been quite good lately). What I dont understand…. Android = Free, iPhone = $0.99, Blackberry = $1.99 per year. Anyways, I agree Whatsapp is the best cross platform app I have used.
KIK is a type of Messenger App for iphone, droid and BB..
BBM is literally the only thing preventing me from switching to an iPhone… I hope apple develops a native app similar to BB messenger, apps like kik or ping are just not the same.
I’ve had quite a few friends switch from a Blackberry to an iPhone. When I
asked them how they managed to live without BBM, their answer was: WhatsApp.
The benefits of iOS outweigh any BB.
RIM is scared that their only selling point to non corporate smartphone users (i.e. BBM) will soon be replaced leaving them with a major gap in market share. what they should be worrying about is the fact that their average user market share is drastically depleting, not wasting effort on suing people who come up with a cross platform messaging service. thats stupid. and it makes them look bad. they should be selling the fact that their device is basically idiot-proof and simple to use.
test
The smartphone market now is not all about “specs” anymore. It’s about user
experience. RIM needs to learn that.
Blackberrys are not easy to use for the average person, as the GUI is not
user friendly. The Curve is a disaster. The tiny keyboard is pure punishment
for users.
RIM’s acquisition of two major companies shows the world they are incapable
of innovating and had to reach for help. At least RIM is aware of what they
need to improve on.