Why RIM Has Nothing To Worry About . . .
July 11th is the launch of Apple’s new 3G iPhone.
For all the hype that Apple and AT&T has generated for the new 3G iPhone, RIM, the makers of BlackBerry devices have no reason to fear.
To reach Steve Jobs’ goal of selling 10 million iPhones in fiscal 2008, Apple had to slash the price by $200.
Some analysts are even saying that Apple is poised to surpass RIM in market share. How these doomsayers arrived at that conclusion is at least suspect.
In the fourth quarter of 2007 Apple claimed 27 percent of the U.S. Smartphone shares. In the first quarter of 2008 Apple had fallen to 20 percent. In contrast RIM and even Palm saw significant gains.
IDC analyst Ramon Llamas said the BlackBerry is now strong in the “prosumer” segment, as RIM has successfully widened the appeal of the device beyond professionals who have been its core customer group.
Mr. Llamas statement illustrates RIM’s recipe for success . . .
RIM in the past has been accused for its unwillingness to change and develop devices that would appeal to business professionals as well as mainstream consumers.
The company responded with devices that are consumer friendly: the BlackBerry Pearl, the BlackBerry Curve, and the upcoming BlackBerry Bold, while at the same time retaining the architecture demanded by busy business professionals.
For all the prowess of Apple’s new 3G iPhone . . . why did the company need to slash $200 to appeal to mainstream consumers?
Perhaps it was the fact that RIM saw significant first quarter gains and its own “iPhone killer,” the BlackBerry Bold has yet to be released.
Which phone is better?
To answer that question wisely, it depends on what you need your Smartphone to do.
Blackberry Features: iPhone Features:
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The ability to type on a fixed keyboard as opposed to a virtual one is one of the truly gratifying experiences in using a BlackBerry. Add to that the various multimedia features that BlackBerry’s can now perform, makes RIM’s devices very appealing for the mainstream consumer as well.
Given these facts can Apple truly overtake RIM’s dominance in the marketplace?
The debate rages on . . .
Bradley Booth/Freelance Commercial Writer
Website: www.BBoothAssociates.com
