Is there a mobile phone that we can say is a Blackberry killer? I doubt about that. The variety of smart phones that Blackberry released successfully competed with some good smart phones that came out and people thought were Blackberry killers. Blackberry Storm, Curve, Pearl and Bold stayed in top 10 best selling smart phones this year. The fact of the matter is that Blackberry still holds number one spot when it comes to smart phones industry but who is the biggest threat for Blackberry Smart phones? Apple’s iPhone in my opinion is the only competitor for Blackberry and there are many reasons, let us have a look.
IDC report says it all
According to a recent IDC report Blackberry Curve outsold the iPhone and stood at number one in the best selling smart phone chart. RIM claimed 4 from top 6 spots which is amazing. But the fact that Apple claimed two spots in top 6 with two versions (models) of one phone is alarming. There are many reasons why iPhone was not a winner and I will share some in this article but what if Apple releases more variations of iPhone and even more phones other than iPhone? They have already made a big name in smart phone industry after introducing iPhone, their only shot so far.
The reasons iPhone is not top seller smart phone in 2009
There are many reasons of Curve being top seller and iPhone being on number two. Two reasons that Rose Rubbin, an analyst for researchers at The NPD Group came up were that “Verzion’s buy one, get one free offer on Curve” and “Curve is available through four major carriers while you could get iPhone on AT&T only” . There is a big market for iPhone in future to go on many more carriers and come up with exciting offers. Apple can work on both of these things in future and may come up with great deals and offers.
iPhone is here to stay
Among Blackberry competitors, iPhone is the only phone that is here to stay. Apple will come up with more models of iPhone where as other phones like N97 from Nokia, Palm Pre etc has not that charm and will go down in chart in future. Some people think the touch only feature of iPhone is a weakness of iPhone and Apple may come up with another design or even another phone to target people who think QWERTY thumb board is stylish on a smart phone.
This is challenging for Blackberry that iPhone is improving with every model and Apple has done it in the past when people were claiming that iPod can not get any better and they came up with iPod touch.
iPhone Applications rock
iPhone is the only competitor of Blackberry phones with so many great apps that convert iPhone in a gaming machine and much more. The great apps will continue to come out as Apple has a big market for Apps because of iPod touch to target. Some free amazing applications are another reason for people to go for an iPhone. Blackberry can be more productive in this sector.
BUT Blackberry has the edge
RIM has an edge in Smart phone industry with variety of smart phones to target people with different tastes and opinions. Blackberry will continue to stay in top spots unless Apple comes up with other variations of iPhone or even other phones based on new ideas.
Apple has it all to give Blackberry a tough time including style, ease of use and putting many things along with a phone (good music player, great gaming machine and variety of apps). so the competition is about to get tougher for RIM.
What do you preffer?
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{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
I am a proud owner of a blackberry curve 8900, will soon grab bold 2!
The thought which has hit my mind is… If all the praises are for Apple’s iphone then how come blackberry is on the top? Just because it is selling the most?
The graphics, gaming, music..applications—iphone takes the lead like everyone says then how??
Everyone mentions the above qualities in an iphone when debating on the blackberry vs apple topic!
Really nice sharing.
I like iphones and blackberrys, and although its not a ‘phone brand’ i’m a huge android fan.
So I really believe that android based phones (like the ones from HTC or the new Droid) are serious competitors for the iphone and blackberry market.
Blackberrys are cool though…
I had a blackberry for years and I would go on at people to get one all the time. When the iPhone first came out I didn’t even buy it as I didn’t think it would top the blackberry but I eventually did and there is no looking back. They really are a thousand miles apart in quality and Blackberry are going to have to up their game big time!
Awesome insights! I’ve never been using a BB or iPhone but both are certainly players in segmented markets. Not all people want to get online or exchanging emails frequently and for non-businessmen group they don’t really have to. Not to mention the price level. Both are no affordable goods to buy. Instead of purchasing iPhone and BB, we can get more or less the same functionalities with less bucks. But well…what can I say when people are much too preoccupied with prestige?