Some facts and news first and then my comment. Here is a video of RIM CEO calls a halt to BBC Click interview
Here is a link to BBC source video and info text,
“The BBC’s technology correspondent Rory Cellan-Jones spoke to Mike Lazaridis, the co-chief executive of Research In Motion (RIM), the Canadian firm behind Blackberry.
After questioning him about RIM’s new Playbook tablet, he asked a question for BBC Click about RIM’s problems in India and the Middle East, where governments want to gain greater access to the tight security system used for Blackberry’s business users.
Mr Lazaridis responded by saying the question was unfair, and that the interview was over. A more complete cut of the interview will be broadcast on the television edition of BBC Click later in April.”
Here is CBC News report of the story of Mike walking off the BBC interview, “RIM co-CEO in spotlight as PlayBook launches” (emphasis added),
“Research in Motion Ltd. faces extra attention as its BlackBerry PlayBook tablet launches, the result of a public tantrum this week by the Canadian company’s co-CEO.
Mike Lazaridis made headlines after he abruptly ended a video interview with the BBC, calling a reporter’s questions “unfair.” The video was posted on the BBC’s dot.Rory technology blog just a day before the PlayBook’s launch party Thursday in New York City.”
My comments:
* Walking off an interview can sometimes create worst reactions than to stay clam and try to address a question (whether you see it as fair or not). Sometimes walking out of a harassing interview is the only way but I don’t see the BBC interview as one of those.
* RIM’s email/messaging (potential) security issues and problems is a very complex topic. Making matter worst is that it involve users’ legitimate security needs (imagine users being human rights and democracy fighters in China) and differentiating countries’ legitimate vs made-up/illegitimate “national securities concerns”.
* Security and encryption technologies are a bit out of my expertises but I recommend reading security expert Bruce Schneier’s Aug 3, 2010 analysis “UAE to Ban BlackBerrys“ to gain some understanding of the relevant issues.
P.S. Here is a mostly positive with some negatives review by tech writer Om Malik “BlackBerry Tablet, PlayBook, a Notable Debut”. Too bad the Playbook reviews (positive or negative) will likely be overshadowed by the BBC interview.
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Kempton - ideas Revolutionary 
Don’t blame CEO, they want RIM win.
RIM has strange culture and self distruct political environment.
In RIM if a new hired person figure out major problem and introduce efficient approach, both manager and his buddy group member will proof their wrong approach works. just like someone point out driving a car is right way, pushing a car is wrong way, then both manager and his buddy group member will hate you, and proof that 3 person can also move the car by pushing it. cheating email will be sent to some vice president, saying like: see, the car moving, pushing a car is a natural part of the process, in order to deny new hired contribution of introducing skill of drive a car, they have to deny merit of driving a car.
It is very strange company culture and strange company political environment, it promote stealing and cheating skill. RIM’s management may be a typical instance in MBA course.
This culture deny or steal hardworking team members’ contribution/innovation, generate strange political environment, destroy RIM.
So don’t blame CEO, some of their VPs and VPs’ expert generate terrible culture and self destruct political environment.
@Min Zhu
While I think RIM has areas (many areas) to improve, I probably won’t go as far as you because some of your words may be considered by some people as libelous.
it looks like many areas need repaired, and so many areas that hard to fix, but actually not, only one area need to fix, but RIM just didn’t fix the culture area, they really try very hard to improve the many other areas for years, but not works.
like failure mode investigation, we need to figure out root cause of low efficient and low morale, one of the most valuable stuff for a powerful campany is its culture, the spirit of a company is most important to survive in market. if contribution, hard working and excellent job repeatedly denied, gradually company culture and evironment will be eternally damaged. and a company with this culture better fix as early as possible, and everyone will know what is encouraged and what is not. for RIM, a little bit late.