(CNN) -- Research In Motion has a battle on its hands if it is to win back the hearts and minds of the smartphone-buying public. Earnings are down, sales are down, and now the company is battling rumors that it is pulling out of the consumer market altogether. The company's biggest challenge in the coming months is to prove to business and consumers alike, that they have the ability to match the Android, Apple, and even the Microsoft juggernauts that are heading off into the distance with their customers. Thirteen years ago, when I spotted my first BlackBerry in Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris, the American businessman holding the device drew a crowd. At the time we were all amazed and impressed by his ability to check and send emails on the go from a device that fitted in his pocket.
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The BlackBerry maker fights speculation that is pulling out of the consumer market
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Research In Motion has been hit by low earnings and sales amid intense competition
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Today, virtually every phone not only has email, but also apps and internet connectivity
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RIM's challenge is to show that it is still relevant and can still fight its rivals
The latest earnings seem to demonstrate that people no longer tend to buy @placeholder, they have them bought for them by work and by their parents.