BlackBerry: Sell the News, or Just Sell? – Research In Motion Limited (RIMM)

The market reacted with a cold shoulder to Research In Motion Limited (USA) (NASDAQ:RIMM)‘s rollout of its two new devices, the Z10 touchscreen model and the Q10 with the signature RIM QWERTY keyboard, which will run on the BlackBerry 10 operating system. The company also announced it would be changing its name to BlackBerry. The stock closed Wednesday’s session essentially at the low of the day, down over 12%. The question that must now be answered is whether this was a case of selling the news or if the device is sufficiently underwhelming to warrant the sell-off. While it may be premature to fully judge the latest offering from BlackBerry, the announcement that the Z10 will not go on sale in the U.S. until Marchis cause for concern.

Mixed messages
While we all like to form our own opinions, the insights of the “experts” have a tendency to play a fairly significant role in the attitude with which we evaluate anything new. If you check out the new Z10 expecting to like it, you’re more likely to at least give it a fair shake than if you assume the device will be a disappointment. From an investment perspective, then, the quality of the reviews that the device receives is very important. Two of the most important voices in the industry are Walt Mossberg of The Wall Street Journal and David Pogue of The New York Times.

On the lower end of the spectrum, Mossberg gives the new device a lukewarm review, generally praising the Z10 overall, but finding issues with some functionality and the lack of certain apps. Despite the shortcomings, his conclusion is a qualified endorsement:

The Z10 and BB10 represent a radical reinvention of the BlackBerry. The hardware is decent and the user interface is logical and generally easy to use. I believe it has a chance of getting RIM back into the game, if the company can attract a lot more apps.

Mossberg did not speak directly on the probability of BlackBerry’s imminent return to relevance — “a chance” is not the type of investment most of us are seeking.

In a much more positive review, Pogue begins by apologizing for the negativity he had expressed in past pieces written on the new devices’ prospects. In the place of his previous prediction of doom, he refers to the new Z10 as “lovely, fast and efficient, bristling with fresh, useful ideas.” Perhaps his most positive observation is that the device is complete, containing of the features and functionality you would want in a cutting-edge smartphone. While the review is generally more positive, he ultimately concedes that there is no certainty that the new smartphones will be enough to save the company.

New name, same delay
While CEO Thorsten Heins announced that moving forward the company was officially changing its name to BlackBerry, the market was more focused on the fact that the U.S. release will not take place until March. With reference to the name change, Heins said, “From this point forward, RIM becomes BlackBerry. It is one brand; it is one promise.” Unfortunately, that promise seems to be that consumers will have to wait to actually buy the new product for over a month.