The dramatic portrayal of the downfall of BlackBerry was truly heartbreaking. It depicted the journey of Mike Lazaridis, a brilliant, hardworking, and passionate engineer who played a pivotal role in its creation. Starting with the founding of Research in Motion in 1984, Lazaridis dedicated himself to building the empire of BlackBerry. The initial release of the smartphone with wireless Internet access in 2002 was a milestone, and people quickly embraced this groundbreaking technology. Unfortunately, despite Lazaridis’ commitment and hard work, fate dealt him a cruel blow. The trust he had placed in his partners and the empire he had built came crashing down. Witnessing the downfall of his creation undoubtedly took a toll on Lazaridis’ psyche. It must have been a devastating experience to see something he had poured his heart and soul into ruined before his eyes. The portrayal of Lazaridis in Blackberry offers an opportunity to delve into the depths of his character and explore how this tumultuous journey affected him personally.
Played by Jay Baruchel, Lazaridis invented the prototype phone that offered wireless internet and email services. With the cooperation of Jim Balsillie, he expanded his endeavors and established Research in Motion on a larger scale. In 2002, the company released the first BlackBerry phones on the market. Lazaridis’s character in the film is portrayed as introverted, socially awkward, and displaying traces of nervousness in his demeanor. However, his intellectual brilliance shines through as he demonstrates a remarkable understanding of technologies and possesses visionary thinking. Lazaridis’ groundbreaking vision of putting a computer in people’s hands proved to be a pioneering accomplishment that set the stage for the future development and innovation of smartphones. To this day, he continues to be widely respected as an exceptional talent within the global wireless community.
Lazaridis had a strong desire for his invention to hold meaning and earn respect among regular people. To achieve this, he continuously updated his creation, adding innovative features. Over time, the BlackBerry became a highly coveted and expensive phone, even finding its way into the hands of celebrities. By 2007, it had become a tremendously successful enterprise. However, this success was short-lived when Apple’s touchscreen iPhone entered the market, captivating consumers and overshadowing BlackBerry. Witnessing the company’s early achievements, Lazaridis placed blind trust in Balsillie, believing he could navigate the challenging situation and find a way to outsmart the iPhone. Unfortunately, at a critical moment, Lazaridis found himself lacking the support he desperately needed. His friend and partner, Doug, who had always stood by him, became distant due to communication issues. Doug had consistently worked to protect their small enterprise, regardless of its financial success. He foresaw the disastrous consequences of Balsillie’s aggressive market expansion strategy, but Lazaridis, influenced by the initial success, failed to see the potential pitfalls.
As the business neared the brink of failure, Lazaridis, feeling helpless and confused, unleashed his frustration on Doug. Previously, Mike had been humble and grounded in his interactions with coworkers. However, his rapid success led to a sense of authority that he began to misuse. His behavior toward Doug not only showcased his carelessness toward his colleagues but also revealed his own mental vulnerability. Deeply threatened by the rise of the iPhone and the possibility of losing the entire BlackBerry consumer base, Lazaridis succumbed to denial, vehemently dismissing the iPhone as a pointless invention with no promising future. Yet the world was ready to embrace and adopt the innovative touchscreen technology. Investors grew disappointed with BlackBerry’s inability to deliver innovative products on par with the iPhone. In a desperate attempt to salvage the situation, Mike resorted to deception, falsely claiming that they were planning to introduce a touchscreen prototype soon. However, this was merely a ploy to buy time, as they had not actually planned for such a development. Ultimately, in a final effort to compete with the iPhone, Lazaridis decided to manufacture BlackBerry products in China. Mike found himself adrift, lacking any clear direction on how to innovate and differentiate his creation from the iPhone. He recognized that manufacturing the phones in China might cause a great loss, but he was not in the right state of mind to make sound decisions at the time. As he gathered all the phones on his desk, he desperately attempted to bring about change. However, the stress and fear gnawed at him, hindering his ability to generate any new ideas. Ultimately, he gave in to the notion that the phones should be manufactured in China and equipped with a touchscreen, even though he still believed it to be an invalid choice. The traditional keypad had been the signature style of BlackBerry, and its users had grown accustomed to it. The sudden shift to a touchscreen model posed a conflicting decision for Mike. Nonetheless, he felt compelled to compete with Apple in order to demonstrate BlackBerry’s worth. Regrettably, Mike’s attempts to prove BlackBerry’s value ultimately fell short. This failure stemmed from the fact that his decision to shift towards a touchscreen model was not born out of genuine innovative thinking. Instead, he was compelled to make such a choice under intense pressure. It is well known that pressure does not facilitate the best outcomes, as it hampers a person’s ability to bring forth their true potential.
Mike Lazaridis, a determined and goal-oriented individual, found himself unable to cope with the mounting pressure when the SEC raided his company and accused both him and Balsillie of stock manipulation. Nevertheless, Lazaridis remained stubborn, clinging to the belief that his innovation would eventually succeed despite clear evidence to the contrary. The decision to manufacture phones in China resulted in significant manufacturing issues, causing substantial losses in the market. Lazaridis, who had previously been a champion of innovation, failed to recognize the true potential of the iPhone. He continuously dismissed it as a joke, even when his own company and future teetered on the edge. He evaded taking responsibility for the downfall of his business and the allegations of stock manipulation, but his actions were unable to prevent the impending doom. Toward the end of the movie, we witness Lazaridis opening boxes of BlackBerrys and painstakingly fixing each one with his small screwdriver, fully aware that it might be the end of his dream. Nonetheless, he was determined to give it one last try. The film concludes by depicting the initial stages of BlackBerry’s downfall. It was heartbreaking to witness the failure of a creator who had exhibited unwavering dedication to his creation. The movie portrays the gradual destruction of a pioneering communication invention.
What Happened To Mike Lazaridis And Blackberry?
The film concluded by depicting the gradual decline of BlackBerry, starting in 2008, with Lazaridis stepping down from his position in 2012, marking the beginning of the company’s end. However, this did not mark the end of Lazaridis’ success story. He and his friend Doug joined forces once again to co-found Quantum Valley Investment. Besides, Lazaridis’s philanthropic endeavors brought him recognition and fulfillment in his life. He and his wife engaged in various charitable initiatives, including funding for technology-based institutions and donations to Wilfrid Laurier University. Nevertheless, his connection with BlackBerry was permanently severed. The BlackBerry, which had once been the brainchild of Mike Lazaridis, evolved into a business focused on serving government agencies and providing cybersecurity solutions for other enterprises. The company no longer produces BlackBerry mobile phones.
