If money is part of the equation, then businesses can also look at Verizon Wireless's buy-one-get-one-free promotions, which generally cater to Android phones. With BlackBerry, users are also saddled with AT&T, whose service and data plan pricing system can be problematic.

The Torch fire sales will likely boost sales, but probably only with existing BlackBerry customers undecided about jumping ship. Until RIM can come up with something truly revolutionary, it can only chase after the industry.

Barbara E. Hernandez can be reached or followed on Twitter at .