Blackberry blackout blasts iPhone forward
A strong third quarter had BlackBerry-maker Research In Motion believing it would survive competition from the iPhone.
But the RIM smart phone’s resurgence is in doubt after two outages had Blackberry users without messaging service twice in the last two weeks.
Research in Motion blames the problem on a recent messenger update, but customers aren’t likely to care about the particulars. In reality, the Christmas-season debacle is likely to cost Blackberry dearly in its battle with the iPhone.
Don’t be surprised if Apple plays up the incident much like its advertising campaign depicting PC’s as an old-fashioned, often problem-rattled option. You know the one. Where Mac has a hip, slick style compared to the plump, confused PC representative.
This comes at a time when competition between all mobile phone providers is getting bitter. A recent Nielsen’s report shows the top 10 phones account for only around 20 percent of the market. The Apple 3G iPhone comes in first with 4 percent of the market and RIM’s BlackBerry is right behind with 3.7 percent. The rivalry is so steamy, someone dedicated a blog to the single subject with the subtitle, “The Battle Continues …”
A major part of that competition is trying to come up with the most environmentally friendly phone, a high priority for both company’s target markets. They’re coming up with things like solar sleeves and using more and more recycled materials. This site highlights phone applications for the green at heart. It will be interesting to see how greenies react to the Blackberry blackouts, especially since the outages are actually saving electricity.
The year 2010 is just around the corner, and the battle for the world’s greenest, smartest smart phone is already in full swing. Who will win? I’ll call you when I find out.
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Comments
There is a bit of misrepresenting of the facts. The BlackBerry Curve
accounts for 3.7%. Not the entire BlackBerry line.
Wow - what a lame and ridiculous post. The Blackberry
is more reliable than all its competitors. It's just
that its more noticeable when Blackberry goes down
because they own over half the US market. By the way,
my internet service goes down at home way more than
Blackberry's service.
The BB is a thing of the past.
If it weren't for the past six to nine months of buy one get one free, RIM would have sold close to only half the number of phones they're reporting. The BB is good for email and texting. RIM is only hurting itself in the long run by selling half-baked little BB's to people who listen to parents and how they use it for work.
In the long run, few developers will continue to develop for a crippled platform- you'll see in the coming months. Actually, even now it's race between Andriod & the iPhone- with RIM no where to be found.
A friend of mine just switched to sprint from ATT due to service plan costs. Her ATT connection was fine in FL, and she was with them for almost a decade. But Sprint offered a cheaper plan and she switched. She never had a smartphone, and really wanted an iPhone as she's an Apple fan, but just couldn't afford it in this economy. Sprint threw in 2 Blackberries for free with her new service and up to 3 more for the family at $20 a piece extra if she ever needs to. She's sold. I don't know what to make of this story other than it would be a different ball game indeed should Apple ever exits the ATT exclusivity deal.
I had a Blackberry once with T-Mobile, it was alright for email, but web browsing or anything online was such a poor experience that I canceled my data plan. It was simply frustrating. A laundry list of features does little when they are poorly executed. I bought my first iPhone when it came out, and haven't seen anything that can match the experience even after 2 years of competition by the word of copycats. And thank you Apple, for keeping my original iPhone updated and relevant with the newer versions and most of the newer features. Very impressive this.
In a news article last week, someone opined as to what is the main difference between Apple and Google. Well, for starters, Apple doesn't look at the market leader-board success stories and say, hey maybe we too can copy that innovation as well the business model.
Instead, Apple relentlessly looks for gaps in technology and user experience, and innovates their way into giving the users a better experience. They strive for that, and it shows over the decades of its impressive run. Hit or miss, it's a company that is different from that rest, with a strong commitment to innovation first and then profit. That is the difference between Apple and Berkshire Hathaways of this world.
Thank you, Mr. Jobs.
I'm a loyal AT&T customer. Have been for years. I'm on my third Blackberry - a Bold. My husband just switched from a Blackberry to an iPhone 3Gs. During the last outage, my daughter had email, data, etc. Husband did too. I had nothing. I do 90% of my surfing and email on my phone. I've checked out my husband's 3Gs. Apple has fixed everything I didn't like about the 3G, everything that made me choose the Bold. If RIM wants to keep me, there better not be another outage like the last one, and the better get busy developing some apps for things like Quicken.
Typical needy consumer. You better not or else. Do you have any idea of how RIM operates? They rarely have issues and they transmit more data worldwide than fricken NASA. They recognized a problem and fixed it, and you are now giving them altamatums? Screw off you ignoramus. Wireless consumers are fing retarted. I want an I phone and it should cost me nothing wa wa, and I shouldnt have to pay to use it either, wa wa. The wireless carriers are greedy... wa wa, People, Starbucks is greedy they have you sucked in at 3.00 a coffee per day. Thats $90.00 a month on a consumable resource that provides absolutely no return. Seriously, thats capitalism and the american dream and ignorant comsumers need to educate themselves on the intricate workings that is the american economy.
I like iPhone more....
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