If The iPhone Is So Great, Why Do All The Celebrities Use BlackBerrys?

Neil Thompson
#1. June 16th, 2008, at 3:30 PM.

I suspect because RIM decided that it would be good publicty and gave them away and that Apple feel that they don’t need the publicity.

Ian McKenzie
#2. June 16th, 2008, at 4:12 PM.

As a BB user, I risk shooting myself in the foot with this response, but I think it’s because the BB is idiot-proof. I’m being a little tongue-in-cheek here.

Your average celebrity–and senior management type–have assistants who take care of the more challenging aspects of BB usage: configuring and programing and installing… etc. After that, using the BB is as simple as pushing a couple of buttons.

We have managers in our office who are technophobes, but live and die by their BBs. I.T. sets up the device, their assistants look after day-to-day maintenance and the manager answers mail and makes calls without breaking a sweat.

hotbari
#3. June 16th, 2008, at 6:39 PM.

Are you serious? It’s because BB gives them away at every awards show. And also, funny, with the number of different BB models out there…The above picture shows them with the exact same BB.

Thought
#4. June 16th, 2008, at 6:53 PM.

As you note as well, I think all of these celebs own iPhones as well.

I think part of the answer is simple: celebs like to email and text message a whole lot, and right now the BB is still king in that category.

Dream
#5. June 16th, 2008, at 8:31 PM.

The Iphone is great for watching youtube and surfing the net, and that’s about it. I have the BB Pearl?nd the Iphone (gift from my dad lol) I can’t live without my BB, the Iphone I use as an Ipod lol

AC
#6. June 16th, 2008, at 8:44 PM.

Here’s an infamous shot of a celeb with an iPhone: http://tinyurl.com/5vv27w

:->

Jeff
#7. June 16th, 2008, at 9:41 PM.

A few of the senior managers at my company recently switched from BB to iPhone and I think they’re all about ready to switch back. Essentially they miss their BB keyboards and haven’t gotten used to the touch keyboard.

Could it be as simple as that? If texting and email are the primary functions after voice, then BB is a clear winner.

argonnj
#8. June 16th, 2008, at 11:31 PM.

I couldn’t care less what device a celebrity carries. Especially that group of idiots you have posted.

jona
#9. June 17th, 2008, at 12:13 AM.

Does an iPhone let an assistant add/remove items to your calendar wirelessly?

Jacky C.
#10. June 17th, 2008, at 1:43 AM.

hotbari,

As far as I know, RIM doesn’t hand out BlackBerrys at award shows. They do give out phones, but it’s rare that they ever give BlackBerrys (unless it’s a BlackBerry-hosted event).
Also, the reason they all have the same phone (in the photo up top) is because they all got it customized at the Coachella after party — hence the reason they all have the same star-lasered back covers.

I think celebrities seldom use iPhones because they’re laughed at enough for being idiots who prance around without a job (Paris Hilton). And since the iPhone isn’t known as a business phone and more so as a multimedia/fun&games phone, the celebrities stay away from them.
Instead, they get a more “corporate” device to show that they’re serious people with real careers that require lots of scheduling.

argonnj
#11. June 17th, 2008, at 9:42 AM.

@Jacky C

I think celebrities seldom use iPhones because they’re laughed at enough for being idiots who prance around without a job (Paris Hilton). And since the iPhone isn’t known as a business phone and more so as a multimedia/fun&games phone, the celebrities stay away from them.
Instead, they get a more “corporate” device to show that they’re serious people with real careers that require lots of scheduling.

Right, that must be it!

REV
#12. June 17th, 2008, at 10:06 AM.

Yes, I agree that the iPhone simply isn’t “there” as far as e-mail/texting goes - partly due to the lack of Exchange support (at least, until July 11), partly due to the soft keyboard. Perhaps the tide will shift in the future, but for now, the BB is a better two-way communication device than the iPhone.

I have to rib Robb a little bit and say that lately, the phrase “the lady doth protest too much” seems to aptly describe RIMarkable vis-a-vis the iPhone.

Greg B
#13. June 17th, 2008, at 5:05 PM.

I’m not sure if the fact that a celebrity uses something should be used as an argument for or against the iPhone — but I am sure celebs get these phones for free, and probably get their voice/data plans for free too. It’s great marketing. I know for a fact that T-Mobile does this. I can only assume the others do too. Also, the iPhone sucks. Holla!

marko
#14. June 18th, 2008, at 1:34 AM.

its becuase BB is on every carrier whereas iphone is only on att (before unlocking)

New BB User
#15. June 18th, 2008, at 1:55 AM.

There aren’t enough iPhone to pass around.
BTW, who care about celebrities? hahaha

stern
#16. June 18th, 2008, at 11:52 AM.

It’s because most celebrities can’t figure out which way up to hold an iphone

rimmer
#17. June 19th, 2008, at 2:49 PM.

Because they get PAID to carry them. Duh.

claire
#18. June 25th, 2008, at 2:24 PM.

I personally adore my iPhone over my BB. I find my BB to be incredibly non-user-friendly and a pain in the butt to customize (It’s always upset me that BB has such horrible support for Macs — especially nowadays). The only thing that keeps me with my BB is because it’s the most reliable phone I have when it comes to service and email. Obviously, the BB trumps the iPhone for that simple reason alone — the iPhone is a pain when it comes to first setting up emails because you have to find a server and switch it back and forth depending on where you are or if you’re in EDGE or Wifi. All it would take is for Apple to come out with their own, reliable, outgoing mail server though and the problem would be solved. As soon as they do that I’ll probably get rid of my BB.

Don’t get me wrong, I love my BB. I have just had so many annoying problems with both BB’s that I have owned (I currently have a Curve) that I have a love / hate relationship with BB. And once I can install applications on my iPhone… The iPhone is only going to get better and better and I can’t wait for that.

Plus, celebrities don’t know crap so that’s kind of a moot point. :-p