Research In Motion Ltd (BBRY) Next on Samsung’s and Nokia Corporation (ADR) (NOK)’s Hit List

Another BlackBerry competitor, though not quite in the same league as Samsung, has emerged in BlackBerry’s enterprise space: Nokia. With its new Lumia line and Asha smartphone alternatives, Nokia is already making inroads in both the high-end and low-end personal mobile phone markets. Now, Nokia’s a legitimate competitor to BlackBerry in the enterprise market, primarily because of the shift to BYOD, and its affiliation with Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) and Windows 8.

The Lumia recently ousted BlackBerry as Mall of America’s choice for its executives, in large part because of Nokia’s partnership with Microsoft. As BYOD picks up steam, BlackBerry will see more Mall of America-type decisions. Coordinating personal smartphones with a company’s existing business systems, many of which are running Windows, makes a lot of sense. That’s great news for Nokia, at BlackBerry’s expense.

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BlackBerry’s sweet spot, enterprise users, is quickly becoming a crowded place to try and make a living. To its credit, BlackBerry is doing its part to move beyond the commercial market. There are rumors that BlackBerry will make its secure email available to iOS and Android users, and it has unveiled a new payment solution in conjunction with Visa Inc (NYSE:V) . Suddenly, there’s a lot riding on the non-enterprise solutions that BB10 offers.

The road to relevance for BlackBerry is getting bumpier, and it was hardly smooth to begin with. When the likes of Samsung, Apple, and yes, even Nokia, slap a bullseye on your back, even the most die-hard BB10 fans need to take notice. Is it time to run for the BB10 hills? Not for raging BlackBerry bulls. But keep your eyes peeled on the horizon, and your running shoes at hand.

The article BlackBerry Next on Samsung’s and Nokia Corporation (ADR) (NOK)’s Hit List originally appeared on Fool.com and is written by Tim Brugger.

Fool contributor Tim Brugger has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Apple, Home Depot, and Visa. The Motley Fool owns shares of Apple and Microsoft.

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