BlackBerry Curve overtakes iPhone

[Rico]

Interesting article.  With the Blackberry, the new Palm, the Google phone, etc., what is most amazing to me is how many smart phones the market can seem to handle.  I guess people really love having a little mini computer in their pocket at all times.  Remember the days when you actually had to know things yourself?  ;)

Chalk it up to the fact that the Curve is available on the four biggest U.S. carriers, not to mention a two-for-one sale on Verizon Wireless. Also in the top five for the first quarter of 2009: The Storm and the T-Mobile G1.
The NPD Group just released its U.S. smartphone sales numbers for Q1, and according to their numbers, RIM had BlackBerrys in three of the top five positions, and managed to topple the iPhone 3G from the top of the list.

Despite its early launch woes, the touchscreen BlackBerry Storm appears to be selling strongly, coming in a No. 3 on NPD's list behind the Curve and the iPhone 3G.

After the Storm comes the ever-popular BlackBerry Pearl—which, like the Curve, is available on all four major U.S. carriers—followed by the Android-powered G1 on T-Mobile.

So, how did the Curve manage to overtake the iPhone 3G? Well, as the NPD group notes, availability on all the big carriers always helps (the iPhone is, of course, still only on AT&T), as well as its $99 (with a new two-year contract) price tag. Meanwhile, Verizon Wireless probably helped boost Curve sales with its "buy one, get one free" promotion, according to NPD.

And here's a potentially worrying trend for Apple: the NPD found that RIM's share of the smartphone market rose a solid 15 percent to a full 50 percent, while both Apple and Palm (which didn't land a handset in the top 5) both saw their shares fall 10 percent.

Of course, it could be that smartphone shoppers are holding off on both iPhones (given that a new model might be announced as early as next month) and Palm handsets (seeing as the red-hot Pre will likely go on sale in a matter of weeks).

Then again, never underestimate BlackBerry, which still has some of the best smartphones in the business and has price and availability on its side, whereas the cheapest, AT&T-only iPhone 3G remains at a somewhat lofty $199 (with contract).


source:
http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/patterson/48631;_ylt=Aqd9T2cMh.zI78WAbgZlVUUazJV4

[billybob476]

Interesting, I'm always happy when RIM does well as they are a Canadian company. That and my dad has stock!

The Blackberry definitely has the edge in availability and also adoption in the enterprise. Companies are not going to be issuing iPhones to their staff any time soon despite the fact Apple added MS Exchange support to the iPhone.

[Feathers]

True enough - I was also going to cite the Pre and (possible) new iPhone, but I see the article captured that anyway. You wonder how many people have tried the 'apple experience' and are either moving off onto other things...or just keeping the iPhone they've got and so not buying at all.

And, yeah. Some of us just love the small computer in the pocket concept. I've run through a few generations of Palm's products then swithched to Microsoft for a bit (terrible phone that was!) and am now iPhoned.

I used to be involved in web sites and stuff to do with the PDA market and got involved with a couple of developers so some of my gadgets were test devices paid for by someone else - a neat way to feed the adiction!

[Chief]

Well since January I've been using the 8130 Pearl one and I am pretty happy with it.

I never had an IPhone but I'm not sure if want one after using the Pearl. It's sleek, pretty solid and audio quality is amazing.

I also use it as a broad band modem to connect my laptop everywhere I go.

RIM put a pretty solid device here. Not sure about other BB phones, but if the small one is good, the Curve, Bold and Storm must be outstanding.