This book written 8 years ago tells the remarkable story of the rise and fall of Research in Motion, the company that invented the BlackBerry smart phone some 20 years ago. It is a detailed account of the partnership between Co-CEOs Mike Lazaridis the engineer, and Jim Basillie the business executive, that changed how we live and work on a global scale. A truly fascinating Canadian story!
I came across it after watching the BlackBerry movie (2023) which I highly recommend. The movie is a humorous factual and fictional account of the amazing Blackberry story based on Losing the Signal. I watched it 3 times and will likely watch it again. The movie uses a lot of foul language, so beware.
You can watch this movie in its entirety (and many others) for free on CBC Gem.
Back to the book. I found the the BlackBerry story intriguing for 3 reasons. Firstly, I have been the addicted owner of 3 BlackBerrys over the years and was absolutely hooked on them for over 15 years. I got my first one in government in 2006 or 7 (a Quark I think). In 2010 I purchased the BlackBerry Bold and in 2015 the BlackBerry Classic which I still use as a wifi machine! Secondly, I went to the University of Waterloo and graduated in chemical engineering 6 years before Mike Lazaridis started there in electrical engineering. For 2 years I lived within a few blocks of where this story was to take place. Finally, I worked for a small high tech start up firm for 3 years (SHL Controls) and experienced the personal pressure, uncertainty and excitement that working for a fragile start up IT shop entails. I identify with the story,
The most amazing aspect of the story for me is how two (Canadian) men with totally different skill sets, interests and backgrounds, could work so congruently together for over 10 years to innovate and keep the corporate sharks like Motorola, Google, Bell South, US Robotics, Palm Pilot etc. from squashing them. Where is Waterloo Ontario anyways? Things begin to unravel when Apple brings out their iPhone in 2007 and Google licenses their Android operating system in 2008 to any handset manufacturer. The future market for non IOS or Android phones was dead for all intents and purposes. But as the book describes in great detail, it took BlackBerry management another 3 to 4 years to admit this and get out of the business. The company has since morphed into a software and services company (like Balsillie was seeking to do when he was pushed out along with Lazaridis in 2012.). Lately it is really struggling.
The authors McNish and Silcoff are veteran business reporters who know how to get the facts out clearly, Based on countless interviews of staff and management including the Co-CEOs, the book won several awards. Somewhat exhausting in detail at times, a very thorough account of the Lazaridis and Balsillie years that, when the end finally comes, it almost made me cry. Note both men are billionaires and have since sponsored several scientific and leadership institutes and think tanks since “retiring.” Overall a riveting account of a great Canadian business story, 10/10.
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