Apple Rubs RIM’s Nose in It With Waterloo Store

Apple’s retail expansion will take a dramatic step forward this weekend with the opening of five new stores, among them one in Research In Motion’s hometown of Waterloo, Ontario. Located in the Conestoga Mall, the store is about five miles away from RIM HQ.

What gall — doesn’t Apple know that RIM is the biggest technology company in Canada!?!

Now Waterloo is one of Canada’s leading tech centers and home to some big universities, so it makes perfect sense for Apple to open a store there. Still, it’s hard not to view this particular opening as a twist of the knife given RIM’s deteriorating position in the consumer smartphone market and Apple’s ascendancy.