App Research In Motion Sued For Using Emoticons ;(

Research In Motion Sued For Using Emoticons ;(

Another day, another patent holder looking to make a dime. Varia Holdings LLC filed a complaint in New York that accuses RIM of infringing US Patent 7167731 titled “Emoticon input method and apparatus.” The patent reads:

an input key that, when pressed by the user while in text mode, results in the display of a list of emoticons for selection by the user. By displaying a list of emoticons, a more user friendly environment is created through which users may employ emoticons in their communications.”

Varia claims that BlackBerry devices are infringing on the patent. They are asking that the court bans the sale of BlackBerry devices and be awarded damages. Here’s the official filing:

via PaidContent

App BlackBerry Continues Momentum Over Windows in Race for #3 Mobile Platform in US

BlackBerry Continues Momentum Over Windows in Race for #3 Mobile Platform in US Last week, the data analytics firm comScore released data regarding the number of smartphone subscribers in the US and how it has changed over the past three months. As expected, the Android and iOS platforms continue to dominate the smartphone industry in the US, as they remain the only mobile platforms to gain market share over the past three months.

The BlackBerry platform has lost 2 percentage points in this metric over the past three months. This is in comparison to the Windows platform, which has lost a single percentage point. On the surface, this points to RIM losing more smartphone market share than Microsoft. Although this is true, Microsoft has lost a larger percentage of their market share relative to RIM. While RIM’s market share has decreased by 2.0%/17.2% = 11.6%, Microsoft’s market share has decreased by 1.0%/5.4% = 18.5%. Keep in mind that the data is only relevant to the US market for smartphone subscribers of ages 13 and older.

Considering the US is one of RIM’s weakest markets at the moment, it’s interesting to note that it is also there that they are still besting Microsoft. If this rate of change in smartphone subscribers is to continue, Microsoft’s situation in the US is looking quite a bit worse than RIM’s. However, trends are everything in mobile. Microsoft is planning to release its new Windows 8 operating system designed to be used across the broad spectrum of devices from PCs to smartphones. Not to be outdone, RIM is also planning to release its new BlackBerry 10 operating system later on this year. Both platforms are fiercely competing for that #3 spot in mobile platforms.

The Windows 8 platform should slow down the rate of loss for Microsoft, and perhaps begin growing market share. The BlackBerry platform has much larger subscriber base at the moment, which will serve as a great base upon which to grow the new BlackBerry 10 platform. It is still too early to call, but the trends suggest RIM should stay in the lead for a while and is also in a better position to claim that #3 spot as their own.

App Samsung to Invest $1.5 Billion in RIM for BlackBerry 10 Licensing, says Analyst

Samsung to Invest $1.5 Billion in RIM for BlackBerry 10 Licensing, says Analyst Research In Motion’s stock shot up some 5% today with a new rumor from Barrons. The BGC Partners firm claims Samsung seeks to invest $1.5 Billion for the ability to license the upcoming BlackBerry 10 operating system.

Reports claim Samsung has become fearful of the long term use of Android with Google’s recent acquisition of Motorola Mobility. “Obviously new [RIM] management has been sitting down and saying, Maybe we could extend the [BlackBerry] platform and bring something new into the ecosystem” said Collin Gillis with BGC Partners.

This hasn’t been the first time we’ve heard rumors of RIM thinking about licensing out the BlackBerry 10 operating system. RIM’s new CEO, Thorsten Heins, has even come out and stated they would consider licensing BlackBerry 10, but that it isn’t a current priority.

As far as timing for an alleged licensing of BlackBerry 10, “I could give you a better answer in the fall,” says Gillis, “When we see how much the platform has deteriorated,” he says of BB10.

Would you want Samsung built “BlackBerry” devices? Or, do you think having a 3rd party manufacturer would take away from the “BlackBerry Experience”? Sound off in the comments if you think it could be good or bad if RIM licensed out BlackBerry 10 to others.