iPhone To Encroach on Blackberry
What do you think about the iPhone? Is it what it is all cracked up to be? Would you prefer an iPhone or a Blackberry? Those are a few questions I think about when I look at the current trend and the intentions of both Research in Motion and Apple’s iPhone. Apple is trying to bust in on Blackberry lovers, but do you think they will be successful? Maybe.
I currently own an iPhone, and honestly because I love Apple products. They are well made, easy to use, and a joy to have. The iPhone is not the most functional phone when you think about it, but it does what I need it to do, and does it well. Beforehand, I owned a Blackberry. Quite functional if you ask me, but Blackberrys’ just don’t give me that wow-factor that the iPhone has and that is what I like in addition to functionality for my needs/wants.
Make no mistake that the iPhone has shaken up the industry. In just the last three months of 2007, smartphone shipments shot up 60 percent from a year ago, according to industry research firm IDC. And RIM doubled sales of the Blackberry, adding 6.5 million subscribers in its last fiscal year, double the previous year. As the market has grown, the Blackberry’s market share has dropped from 45 percent to 40 percent while the iPhone took 17.5 percent in the second half of 2007.
To compete, RIM is working on a so-called “Apple killer” — a device with a touchscreen and lines suggestive of the iPhone. But AT&T is said to have delayed its introduction of the new phone because of problems with call quality — and delays hurt RIM as a new 3G iPhone is rumored for release this year.
I think it is not so much if it is a better phone, but the fact of the matter remains who offers more. I think RIM will have to offer applications and other things to stay in the game. Apple’s appeal to third-party developers could easily overwhelm RIM. Apple has said it will launch a new version of the iPhone software to enable third-party applications on the iPhone and the iPod touch. Apple also says more than 200,000 developers are working on applications for the iPhone.
It is still clear that the Blackberry wins the hearts of many, but RIM is shaking in their boots and they know their comfortable position is about to be compromised unless the step up. Regardless, both phones are amazing and I think each one will have their chance to be at the top. Take a look all over the web, and you’ll noticed the issue of which is best is highly prevalent. Don’t get too worked up about the issue because, inevitably, the competition is here to stay - at least for a little while.
