Research in Motion Looking Strong

Two firms out positive on Research in Motion (NASDAQ:RIMM) this AM:

- RBC Capital is raising their target to $150 from $140, saying they are expecting inline Q4, with Q1 guidance expected materially above street on strong momentum.

Global checks indicate strong Q1 momentum, suggesting guidance for $2.1-2.2B revenue (up 12-18% Q/Q) and $0.81- 0.86 EPS, above street at $1.98B and $0.74 EPS, with 2.2-2.4M sub adds (up 1%- 11% Q/Q). Pending Q1 product launches/announcements include EV-DO Curve and 3G/HSDPA 'Comet'.

March data from RBC's Technology Adoption Panel (3,600 Respondents) sees RIM posting strong share gains against Motorola and Palm, with 15% respondents planning to purchase BlackBerry (up from 12% Oct and 7% Jan/07). Motorola's recent struggles are expected to further assist RIM share gains.

F09 estimates become $10.3B (up 72% Y/Y), $4.05 EPS (prior $9.8B, $3.74) and F10 estimates become $14.5B (up 41%) and $5.83 (prior $13.0B, $5.10).

- Piper Jaffray notes they believe BlackBerry continues to gain share from Motorola and overall RIM fundamentals remain strong. March checks indicated strong sell-through of the BlackBerry Curve at AT&T, Pearl and Curve at T-Mobile, and BlackBerry Pearl and 8830 at Verizon and Sprint.

Given RIM management raised its February quarter subscriber forecast 15-20% above its previous 1.82M guidance and only reiterated its February quarter guidance, they anticipate RIM will report at the high end of its guidance or in line with PJ estimates of $1.87B and $0.70.

Firm is also increasing their device sell-in estimates for the May quarter from 4.6M to 4.9M units.

Based on increased BlackBerry unit estimates, they are increasing their FY09 EPS estimate from $3.40 to $3.59 and FY10 estimate from $4.49 to $4.67.

Notablecalls: These are powerful calls - epecially the RBC one, as the firm has been pretty much the axe in the stock. I expect nothing less than $115 level in pre market, with the stock taking out the recent $118 high by Tuesday.

I think the bears were pressing their shorts in RIMM yesterday and will be proven wrong today. But it's not just short covering that's taking RIMM higher here. The death (!) of Motorola is also a strong contributor. Sorry Carl.

Comments

[Lisa]

In the long run, there's no way that RIM can compete with Apple, because handheld phones/email devices are converging with computer platforms. Apple has expertise in browsers, operating systems and everything else this platform will require, and RIM doesn't. That's why the iPhone is a "Wow!", whereas RIMM's products aren't.

[DOUGLUVS]

Where were these firms in Jan 08 after the blowout third quarter perfomance and guidance of RIMM??? Nowhere, but the hedgeys and shorts took RIMM down into the low 80s for no reason- fundamental, managerial or involving its space or otherwise.

[Proud Canadian]

Lisa is a perfect exemple of an apple's fan having lost touch with the reality. AAPL is a good product (I own shares) but I have 100 times more shares of RIMM, because RIMM is the dominance and will remain.

[J Lazerow]

Lisa isn't wrong about the difference in the power of the iPhone vs Blackberry, but it is the classic example of getting a little ahead of oneself. The "long run" is always easy to fall back on instead of seeing what the near term trends are that will drive franchise value and stock price. I think if this was 2012, she might be right. Until then, watch RIM and Apple dominate the smartphone business.

[Proud Canadian]

Sorry to disagree J Lazerow about the "power", but RIMM has a better technology, security, infrastructure,business model,etc. and they are years in advance.

[Ken Singh]

PURE SCAM PUMP BY ANALYST CROOKS, NO ONE HAS MENTIONED INDIA MAJOR EVENT STORY UNFOLDING AND PUTTING "RIMM" BUSINESS MODEL IN JEOPARDY. HERE IS THE STORY:

DoT wants BlackBerry plan in a week
Rishi Raj
Posted online: Saturday , March 29, 2008 at 0015 hrs IST

New Delhi, Mar 28 The department of telecommunications (DoT) on Friday gave Research in Motion (RIM) of Canada a week to come up with a plan that permits legal interception of BlackBerry services.

DoT summoned the RIM representative and issued a stern warning, seeking a solution to the problem by the first week of April. According to DoT sources, the Cellular Operators’ Association of India (COAI) and Association of Unified Service Providers of India (Auspi) were also present during the meeting.

Friday’s meeting was called in response to a March 26 letter to DoT by RIM’s vice-president, global security group, Scott Totzke, highlighting the features BlackBerry services offered.

Sources said DoT officials told the RIM representative that the letter did not deal with the issues raised and that by the first week of April, a solution has to be provided by the company on how to legally intercept messages on BlackBerry.

Earlier, DoT had convened a meeting of the telecom operators on March 14 where it had in no uncertain terms told them that the BlackBerry services must have lawful interception as required by the security agencies.

DoT had then asked the service providers to outline a timeframe for implementing this service after discussions with RIM. DoT had also asked the service providers to submit a report on the global practices on interception of BlackBerry services, for which COAI had later sought more time.

BlackBerry services, which provides access to e-mail through push technology on mobile phones, is being offered by Bhart Airtel, Vodafone Essar and Reliance Communications.

Operators maintain that communications on a BlackBerry pass through a mobile network in a reformatted form and therefore the same can be intercepted on the mobile network. However, this is not possible where communication is from a BlackBerry device to another BlackBerry device.

As first reported by FE, the matter came to light recently when Tata Teleservices Ltd’s (TTSL) application for starting the BlackBerry services in India was rejected since there was no provision for lawful interceptions of the services

[User 169852]

Why is nobody talking about India giving RIMM seven days to come up with algorithms and monitory or shut down their service next week. You would think that would be mentioned by an analyst when the write a buy recommendation.
Check it out www.financialexpress.com/news/DoT-wants-... /

[Leonard]

Anonymous? Few trading sessions before earnings? Overall MKT downtrend? Couple high-fliers in a sector? Average volume going into the week? Hmmm... P&D? Selling news?

[Oracle]

Lisa you just hit the nail on the head. We have replaced all of our Blackberrys with iPhones. Much greater functionality and the effects of Apple releasing the SDK have yet to hit. The difference between the MAC OS as a basis for the phone and the Blackberry is much to large to be called "night and day."

We are running a program called Navizon which allows the Phone to pinpoint the users location and upload this to a website. The user controls it and turns it off after work.
We use netSuite as accounting and it's integration is simply wonderful. Our Bank of America accounts are controllable through the Webapp that BoA made for its online Banking.

Apollo gives us instant messaging at no cost in addition to normal email, which comes automatically to the phone. And we no longer pay a monthly fee.

I even have a guitar tuner downloaded and installed. My CFO has a HP financial calculator installed on his.

Anyone one of our "phoned" employees choose the iPhone and any of them can choose to go back, so far, no one even slightly interested.

[Oracle]

One more thing, losing the monthly fee to RIMM pays for the phones in less than a year.

[Ken Singh]

ANALYST CROOK FAIIL TO WARN INNVESTORS ABOUT INDIA DOT DEMAND: PUT UP WITH SOLTION OR SHUT OUT IN ONE WEEK

RIMM MANAGEMENT STATEMENT:RIM does not comment on confidential regulatory matters or speculation on such matters in any given country, it added.

NOW will be able to taken to task by barking above statement..........behind the scene these crooks must have shared codes with china ...if china were to let them in.

But even now china mobile is waiting to sell BB??

inventory is with ALA/LU not CHINA MOBILE.....

RIMM CROOKS AHVE BEEN SILENT ON CHINA TOO, HAVE REFUSED TO BREAK DOWN NUMBERS BY COUNTRY..................WHICH WILL EXPOSE THE RELENTLESS PUMP DUMP SCAMS..................

www.financialexpress.com/news/DoT-wants-... /

DoT summoned the RIM representative and issued a stern warning, seeking a solution to the problem by the first week of April. According to DoT sources, the Cellular Operators’ Association of India (COAI) and Association of Unified Service Providers of India (Auspi) were also present during the meeting.

Friday’s meeting was called in response to a March 26 letter to DoT by RIM’s vice-president, global security group, Scott Totzke, highlighting the features BlackBerry services offered.

Sources said DoT officials told the RIM representative that the letter did not deal with the issues raised and that by the first week of April, a solution has to be provided by the company on how to legally intercept messages on BlackBerry.

Earlier, DoT had convened a meeting

[Ken Singh]

Breaking News:Now it seems BB service will be shut in INDIA

(((Surrender the decryption codes or shut the service and take your Blackberry plastic home)))

Another meeting with RIM officials has been scheduled next week to discuss the issue further. In today’s meeting only a local sales representative of the company was present. “These are high level technical issues and hence the DoT officials today asked RIM representative to bring senior technical officials from Canada preferably by 2nd or 3rd of April for the next meeting,” said the industry representative.

The four telecom operators who are currently providing Blackberry services in India were also of the view that RIM should comply with licence conditions as soon as possible.

“All countries have different requirements regarding security issues. We are not concerned whether RIM meets security requirements in other countries or not. We want it to meet our security requirements,” said a telecom commission member.

Presently four services are possible through Blackberry handsets. These services are — voice telephony, SMS, e-mail from Blackberry to Blackberry and e-mail from Blackberry to e-mails in other ISPs or non-Blackberry phones. The problem is only with the Blackberry-to-Blackberry e-mails. In all other cases, it is possible to tap voice or message.
www.indianexpress.com/story/289686.html

[steveballmer]

RIMM cannot compete with the upcoming ZunePhone, neither can apple!

fakesteveballmer.blogspot.com

[Ken Singh]

INDIA EXPERTS: BALSILLIE/LIZARD CROOKS CAN BE NAILED WITH THIS CRIME WORLDWIDE

Here criminal action possibility coming up against these crooks:

A spokesperson from RIM – the company that offers the BlackBerry service – said: "RIM supports its carrier partners in India and we will work together with them to seek further clarity."

Security experts we spoke to were sceptical of the claim, saying that in June last year the French government had advised officials not to use BlackBerry services for precisely the opposite reasons. At that time, officals at RIM claimed that even they did not have access to the data on their servers (a questionable claim in itself), an explanation that could have them in a spot when they meet with Indian authorities.

Nevertheless, it's tense times ahead for India's crackberries!
"Only Section 69 (Sub-section 2) gives the Controller of Certifying Authority the power to order the interception of electronic communication on computer systems located in India," he points out. In RIM's case, though, decryption is not possible without RIM's consent, which is why the government is fuming.
The problem arises if the email originates from a BlackBerry device (since it goes to a server outside India where it gets encrypted). Even then, monitoring every mail that emanates from a server outside India will lead to a ridiculous state of affairs. All email services with servers in foreign lands will have to be shut down.

Google and Yahoo declined to comment on the issue and Microsoft India said the issue was not of immediate concern to them.

Microsoft laughing;Sumeet Gugnani, Director, Mobile Communication Business, Microsoft India, said: "Windows Mobile-enabled handheld devices and cellphones enable users to configure mails on their respective in-house (read in India) exchange servers if they so wish."


((CHINA PUMP & PRE EARNING RELEASE SCAM FOR PUMP AND DUMP CRIME TOO)))


RIM Mystery: Why No Revenue Guidance Increase?
Henry Blodget | February 22, 2008 8:39 AM

Okay, Research in Motion (RIMM), it's great that you raised BlackBerry subscriber guidance 15%-20%, but we have a question for you: Why didn't you also increase revenue guidance? We know you want your stock to go up--thus the mid-quarter unit update--but if business is that strong, why do you "continue to expect that revenue and EPS will be in the ranges previously forecast in December"?

Seems to us, there are two possible answers:

* You just want to "surprise" on the upside. If so, this seems a bit silly. It won't really be a surprise anymore. Also, now that you're raising unit guidance but not revenue guidance, you've created this big mystery/concern, so it if turns out that you're just gaming everyone, some folks will probably be pissed.

* Your unit growth is coming at the expense of price discounting or sales of lower-end plans. Sorry to say but this is the most likely explanation. How else can unit growth be coming in 15%-20% above your previous expectations while revenue stays the same? Is the upside coming from lower-priced, lower margin consumer plans--or are you discounting to your corporate customers? Either explanation should temper the market's jubilant response to your unit guidance increase yesterday.

The new RIM Revenue Mystery. We're on the edge of our seats

[Ken Singh]

Enter your comment hereHERE IS AT&T BOMB:"NEW TILT FOR ENTERPRISE" BETTER THAN BB * iPHONE 26 minutes ago
New "Tilt" in the enterprise phone segment

BlackBerry , iPhone and now Tilt. AT&T is launching new enterprise segment phone. This has not been one of my favorite topics, but the enthusiasm raised by iphone has forced me to look into the features of new "Tilt". We might soon have them in India (Provided DoT acts fast on new applications for licences)

The new "Tilt" phone from AT&T, that may be available in mear future may become the next enterprise phone that may also fit the bill (unlike ipone).
AT&T says the Tilt is its first Windows Mobile 6 smart device, featuring a slide-out QWERTY keypad, a 3-megapixel camera, 3G data speeds from AT&T's UMTS/HSDPA-based BroadbandConnect network and complete global connectivity.
Windows Mobile 6 Tilt users get "the familiar look and feel of their desktop computers at home or in the office," the carrier says, enabling them to view e-mail in their original rich HTML format with live links to Web and Microsoft Office SharePoint sites. All Windows Mobile 6 devices include Microsoft's Direct Push Technology for e-mail delivery and automatic synchronization of Outlook calendars, tasks and contacts through Microsoft Exchange Server. Especially important to enterprises, Windows Mobile 6 offers important device security and management features, including capability to remotely wipe all data from a device should it be lost or stolen, thus helping to ensure that confidential information remains that way.
In addition to Microsoft Direct Push, the AT&T claims its Tilt will be "the first Windows Mobile device in North America to include BlackBerry Connect v4.0 software, which provides BlackBerry e-mail service, security and device management for IT administrators and the benefit for users of wireless synchronization of e-mail, calendar, contacts, task list and memo pad information." BlackBerry Connect v4.0 supports push e-mail for Microsoft Exchange, IBM Lotus Domino and Novell GroupWise through the BlackBerry Enterprise Server and personal e-mail through the BlackBerry Internet Service.
Customers also can use the Tilt to access personal e-mail through AT&T's Xpress Mail service. By completing five steps, AT&T customers can set up their Xpress Mail accounts and begin getting personal e-mail from most major POP3/IMAP personal e-mail services pushed to their AT&T Tilt at preset intervals. They also can sync their calendars, access contact lists and view attachments.
Designed by HTC, which really has been putting itself out there this year at wireless industry shows, the AT&T Tilt also features a 2.8-inch color screen that slides back to reveal a full QWERTY keyboard, and then it "tilts" up to position the screen for reading or creating e-mail, browsing online, using applications or just playing videos and games. The Tilt supports Bluetooth 2.0, allowing as many as six Bluetooth devices to be connected simultaneously to the device; Bluetooth Stereo also is supported.

BREAKING NEWS: RIMM SCAM IS BUST=MUST READ THIS NOW
Everyone is counting the days until Microsoft's Windows Mobile 6.1 release," Levy says.

"I'll be looking for specific product announcements from hardware vendors to accompany the Microsoft announcement. Those that bring WM6.1-based products to market sooner will gain competitive advantage... Expect the changeover to Windows Mobile 6.1 to be largely complete by early 2009."

"I expect Microsoft to make announcements," confirms Ken Dulaney at Gartner Inc.
www.lightreading.com/document.asp?doc_id...

Verizon Wireless XV6900 is a stylish, compact
justamp.blogspot.com/2008/03/verizon-wir...

[Ken Singh]

DEBATE

Business Standard / New Delhi April 02, 2008

Is the Blackberry email a security threat? www.business-standard.com/common/news_ar...

RIMM Earnings Preview: Analysts Giving Mixed Signals
posted on: April 01, 2008 | about stocks: RIMM

Research In Motion (RIMM) shares are higher heading into the company’s announcement tomorrow afternoon of earnings for its fiscal fourth quarter ended February. The Street is looking for $1.85 billion in revenue and EPS of 70 cents. Also keep an eye on the outlook: the consensus for the May quarter is $2.01 billion and 75 cents. For FY 2009, the Street sees $9.23 billion and $3.48, which would be up from a forecast $5.98 billion and $2.24 for FY ‘08.

Late yesterday, Canaccord Adams analyst Peter Misek raised his estimates on the company. He writes that channel checks in North America and Europe lead him to believe that “results will be on the higher end to above guidance and Q1 is tracking ahead of consensus.” Misek says he is “hearing more chatter around a possible clamshell device, touch screen device and the much anticipated 3G handset,” and that “the impact of the aforementioned product launches, particularly the 3G device, is being underestimated” by the Street.

For Q4, he remains at $1.89 billion and 72 cents. For FY ‘09, he goes to $9.87 billion and $3.89, from $9.34 billion and $3.60. For FY 2010, he goes to $13.68 billion and $5.66, from $12.36 billion and $5. Misek maintains a Buy rating and $150 price target on the stock.

Nomura’s Richard Windsor is far more cautious; this morning he repeated his Sell rating on the stock. He thinks there is considerable downside risk in the shares if the Street is not impressed with the company’s outlook. “All around the industry, companies are catching cold as the economic slowdown impacts the high end of the market in both North America and Europe,” Windsor writes. “RIM’s target market remains less than 5% penetrated but net-adds are only half the story.

This quarter RIM will derive 50% of its shipments from replacements and it is here where we see risk to expectations. Given the high valuation we think that any cautious commentary will result in a sharp correction. The rest of the industry is already reflecting this outlook and remains a far safer place to invest in our view.” Windsor’s price target: $68.

Today, however, belongs to Misek’s camp. RIMM is up $2.62, or 2.3%, to $114.85.
seekingalpha.com/article/70770-rimm-earn...

[Ken Singh]

LOOK@RBC CAPITAL CROOKS 7 INDER CROOKS =PUMP & DUMP SCAM

SOURCE: Form 144

ISSUER: RESEARCH IN MOTION LTD
SYMBOL: RIMM


FILER: BALSILLIE JAMES
TITLE: Officer
BROKER: RBC DOMINION SECURITIES INC
RESTRICTED SHARES TO SELL: 400,000 DATE REGISTERED: 3/10/2008
APPROXIMATE DATE OF SALE: 4/16/2008

The Form 144 is filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission to
reflect the intention of any holder of restricted stock to sell those


SOURCE: Form 144

ISSUER: RESEARCH IN MOTION LTD
SYMBOL: RIMM


FILER: BAWA KARIMA
TITLE: Officer
BROKER: RBC DOMINION SECURITIES INC
RESTRICTED SHARES TO SELL: 120,250 DATE REGISTERED: 3/10/2008
APPROXIMATE DATE OF SALE: 5/26/2008

SOURCE: Form 144

ISSUER: RESEARCH IN MOTION LTD
SYMBOL: RIMM


FILER: MORRISON DON
TITLE: Officer
BROKER: RBC DOMINION SECURITIES INC
RESTRICTED SHARES TO SELL: 185,000 DATE REGISTERED: 3/10/2008
APPROXIMATE DATE OF SALE: 5/25/2008
SOURCE: Form 144

ISSUER: RESEARCH IN MOTION LTD
SYMBOL: RIMM


FILER: CONLEE LARRY
TITLE: Officer
BROKER: RBC DOMINION SECURITIES (GLOBAL) LTD
RESTRICTED SHARES TO SELL: 388,500 DATE REGISTERED: 3/10/2008
APPROXIMATE DATE OF SALE: 5/1/2008

shares. After the 144 is mailed to the S.E.C., the filer is permitted
to sell the shares, or any fraction of them, within 90 days.

[Ken Singh]

Enter your comment hereHERE IS AT&T BOMB:"NEW TILT FOR ENTERPRISE" BETTER THAN BB * iPHONE 26 minutes ago
New "Tilt" in the enterprise phone segment

BlackBerry , iPhone and now Tilt. AT&T is launching new enterprise segment phone. This has not been one of my favorite topics, but the enthusiasm raised by iphone has forced me to look into the features of new "Tilt". We might soon have them in India (Provided DoT acts fast on new applications for licences)

The new "Tilt" phone from AT&T, that may be available in mear future may become the next enterprise phone that may also fit the bill (unlike ipone).
AT&T says the Tilt is its first Windows Mobile 6 smart device, featuring a slide-out QWERTY keypad, a 3-megapixel camera, 3G data speeds from AT&T's UMTS/HSDPA-based BroadbandConnect network and complete global connectivity.
Windows Mobile 6 Tilt users get "the familiar look and feel of their desktop computers at home or in the office," the carrier says, enabling them to view e-mail in their original rich HTML format with live links to Web and Microsoft Office SharePoint sites. All Windows Mobile 6 devices include Microsoft's Direct Push Technology for e-mail delivery and automatic synchronization of Outlook calendars, tasks and contacts through Microsoft Exchange Server. Especially important to enterprises, Windows Mobile 6 offers important device security and management features, including capability to remotely wipe all data from a device should it be lost or stolen, thus helping to ensure that confidential information remains that way.
In addition to Microsoft Direct Push, the AT&T claims its Tilt will be "the first Windows Mobile device in North America to include BlackBerry Connect v4.0 software, which provides BlackBerry e-mail service, security and device management for IT administrators and the benefit for users of wireless synchronization of e-mail, calendar, contacts, task list and memo pad information." BlackBerry Connect v4.0 supports push e-mail for Microsoft Exchange, IBM Lotus Domino and Novell GroupWise through the BlackBerry Enterprise Server and personal e-mail through the BlackBerry Internet Service.
Customers also can use the Tilt to access personal e-mail through AT&T's Xpress Mail service. By completing five steps, AT&T customers can set up their Xpress Mail accounts and begin getting personal e-mail from most major POP3/IMAP personal e-mail services pushed to their AT&T Tilt at preset intervals. They also can sync their calendars, access contact lists and view attachments.
Designed by HTC, which really has been putting itself out there this year at wireless industry shows, the AT&T Tilt also features a 2.8-inch color screen that slides back to reveal a full QWERTY keyboard, and then it "tilts" up to position the screen for reading or creating e-mail, browsing online, using applications or just playing videos and games. The Tilt supports Bluetooth 2.0, allowing as many as six Bluetooth devices to be connected simultaneously to the device; Bluetooth Stereo also is supported.

BREAKING NEWS: RIMM SCAM IS BUST=MUST READ THIS NOW
Everyone is counting the days until Microsoft's Windows Mobile 6.1 release," Levy says.

"I'll be looking for specific product announcements from hardware vendors to accompany the Microsoft announcement. Those that bring WM6.1-based products to market sooner will gain competitive advantage... Expect the changeover to Windows Mobile 6.1 to be largely complete by early 2009."

"I expect Microsoft to make announcements," confirms Ken Dulaney at Gartner Inc.
lightreading.com/document.asp?doc_id=149... ;;site=ctia

Verizon Wireless XV6900 is a stylish, compact
justamp.blogspot.com/2008/03/verizon-wir...