Even with RIM's recent efforts, there are too many BlackBerrys around whose operating systems and processors are too old and slow to make it worthwhile to spend scarce team time on them, says Mr. Stein.
At the current rate of decline it will slow to a trickle within the next two to three years--right around the time Armstrong says operating income will start growing.
The device's novel tablet controller stayed judgment for a short time, but it didn't last long -- a weak launch lineup, a slowoperating system and software delays soured an already judgmental community.