What led to the initial success of the Storm despite its poor reviews and unreliability?

The initial success of the Storm, despite its poor reviews and unreliability, was largely due to Verizon's subsidy of the device's price. Customers were eager to try the new device, especially given RIM's strong reputation. However, this success was short-lived as users began returning their devices due to faults, leading to a strained relationship between RIM and Verizon.

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Despite the poor reviews and unreliability, Storm was initially a sales hit, as Verizon subsidized the price for customers were eager to try the new device, especially given RIM's strong reputation. Later, however, after Storm users began returning their devices in droves, Verizon had had enough. They demanded $500 million from RIM in compensation for the faulty phones and staff time spent handling angry subscribers. Since Verizon had signed a contract accepting the phones, they had little bargaining power. The negotiation ended with Verizon accepting RIM's concession of providing free repairs for Storms and funding device upgrades for unhappy customers. The more lasting damage, however was to RIM's overall relationship with Verizon. Verizon would soon start backing away from the partnership, seeking their answer to the iPhone elsewhere.

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Losing the Signal

The Kodak of smartphones, RIMs rise and fall, is an epic tale of how relationships, patents, lack of unity, and the wrong strategic plan led to the fa...

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