Can RIM Find Its Place in the Mobile Market?

By now, the plight of Research in Motion (NASDAQ:RIMM) is pretty well understood. CEO Thorsten Heins said at the recent BlackBerry Jam, “We have a clear shot at being the No. 3 platform in the market.” This isn’t modesty — it’s a target.

Barring further delays, BlackBerry 10 will be released in quarter one of 2013. The company surprised many investors with an increase in subscribers, now at 80 million, and impressed some developers with “peek” and “flow” features. New functions like BlackBerry Hub — an all-in-one message center — promise utility, but it’s still difficult to imagine Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) users switching out of their ecosystem. Google’s (NASDAQ:GOOG) Android platform, currently the most popular on the market, also commands user loyalty in the United States.

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So where is the future of the BlackBerry? The short answer is in enterprise, and overseas. BlackBerry sales in North America have collapsed dramatically, but the devices have caught on in emerging markets. According to some reports, BlackBerry Messenger claims 25 percent of the market in urban areas of places like South Africa.

There’s a lot of skepticism surrounding the future of RIM. However, to the Canadian company’s credit, they are keeping things positive. Heins seems confident in the future of the BlackBerry, but then again, the company was confident the iPhone 5 wouldn’t drive their share prices to around $7.00.

RIM is announced earnings after the bell. Don’t Miss: Research In Motion: These Results are Shocking Shorts.