iPhone, Blackberry battle for smartphone dominance
It’s sort of amazing how quickly the iPhone became a major player in the smartphone market. Less than three years after its introduction, the app-friendly phone now claims some 30 percent of the market, according to a new report by Changewave Research.
The folks at ReadWriteWeb suggest it won’t be long before Apple’s iPhone overtakes the Blackberry phones made by Research in Motion. The RIM-made phones now have 40 percent of the market. It’s a big deal for cell phone makers, since smartphones are slowing catching up with feature phones as the number one choice of cell users.
Interestingly, according to the data from Changewave and another report by Admob, it seems there are more Blackberry devices in use, but that iPhone users do more Internet surfing. Really not terribly surprising when you compare screensize between the iPhone and the popular Blackberry Curve. I’m a Curve user at the moment, and freely admit that I use it for surfing only as a last resort.
The biggest loser in all this, so far anyway, is Palm, which just three and a half years ago had 36 percent of the market. Palm sits at 7 percent now. But as Apple has demonstrated, this is a market that can change very rapidly.
It’s going to be interesting to see what sort of impact the new Google Android phones have on the marketplace. Will the Google name inspire anything close to the brand loyalty enjoyed by Apple?
Tim has covered a wide range of topics, including tourism, crime, aviation and gambling, since becoming a reporter in 1990. The Oklahoma native joined the Post-Dispatch in 2007 after spending nine years in Orlando. In his spare time, he's often exploring one virtual world or another. He can be reached at tbarker@post-dispatch.com. 
Have you seen the Moto Droid that releases later this week on Verizon? They are also supposed to release the HTC Droid Eris within the next week.
The Droid is now rumored to be coming to TMO as referenced on Phandroid.com from TMONews.
We are probably seeing the end of manufacturers testing the Android waters. We will start seeing in the next year phones with hardware that will, at the very least, match the iPhone. There are already several handsets rumored to be in development with the Snapdragon 1GHz processor (more than the 3GS).
I’m replacing my old Windows phone with a Droid Friday. Tired of waiting for Apple to release an iPhone with a real keyboard or for Blackberry to come up with a better browser. It doesn’t look perfect but it seems to be the best blend of features.
Just read that on Tuesday Sony Ericsson is announcing the first smartphone to run on a 1 ghz processor. The iPhone and Droid run in the 500-600mhz range so it’s a major leap in speed. It’s also an Android phone.
I just left The Apple store replacing my Iphone ( third time)… Like I tell my family and friends… ” It’s the BEST phone ever and it’s the WORST phone ever!!!!!
Go get yourself a Palm Pre. Awesome!
The only reason I’ll ever give up my Blackberry Curve is to upgrade to the Storm II.
My iphone is the greatest thing I have ever owned. I could not ask for a better smartphone. It’s a phone, ipod, camera, surfs the internet, keeps me up to date on all the scores, and plays tons of video games. Love it!! I have tried all the other smartphones and none of them even compare.
I’ve had both. Both have their plusses. The Blackberry is tougher, easier to use for typing and probably the right phone for road warriors. The iPhone is more useful, easier to use (except the keyboard) and is more like a computer away from your desktop. I struggled with the move. I loved the blackberry and I didn’t like the keyboard, but everyone said I would get used to it. I got used to it by typing messages as short as possible. The apps on iPhone are amazing. Once the premium for the iphone goes away, they will sell a lot more.
been using a blackberry 8830 for 2 years and now I am ready to switch. Its been great, contacts, phone, email, calendar, and loved the fact that I could tether it to my computer for internet access. But there are tons of things that have bugged me like the horrible browser and speed even when using opera mini browser.
Thought I had settled on an iphone, but had a few hangups about not being able to tether and I don’t like the exchange support for folders. But I was considering making the change until I saw the specs on the Droid. Can’t wait to get my hands on it this week to see if it will work. If it had itunes support I would be sold and could tether I would pick it up in a heart beat, but I think I am asking too much.
So the question is iphone or droid?
In a nutshell, here is the breakdown of the iPhone/smartphone debate: The smartphone is about status. The iPhone is for people who want to look important and the Blackberry is for people who are important. Blackberry has held a high percentage of the smartphone market-share for over a decade and will continue to do so - they will see some portions of that drain away via Android, but there are just as many BB lovers as there are iPhone lovers.
I can’t wait for the Pixi, Pre’s little brother.