I was listening to Squawk Box this morning and they were saying that Apple stock was down due to loss of market share on of the iPhone to the BlackBerry. I thought that this was intersting so I looked a little deeper.
Research in Motion had a 44.5% of the market in Q1 compared to 35.1% in the previous quarter. The iPhone, on the other hand, is still in the number two spot, however, sits at just 19.2% market share down from 26.7% in Q4 last year.
We will have to see how all this plays out once the 3G iPhone comes out…
[Source]
RIM kicks A**!!!! Crapple S**ks!!!
I wonder how much this will change when iPhone 2.0 is released. At the same time, will many of the current iPhone owners shell out hundreds of more dollars to get another iPhone?
And maybe with the Bold on the heels of the iPhone release it will shorten and slow down the iPhone 2.0 hype
I think that the 3G iPhone will help, but it won’t be like the release of the first iPhone last year.
There will fanboys that will shell out the cash to get the 3G iPhone merely a year after the first one came out, but, the overwhelming majority of iPhone users won’t shell out that kind of cash again.
Another problem for Apple is that it’s iPhone is a one trick pony, the trick being AT&T. If the rumors are true RIM will have 3 new BlackBerrys on 3 networks being released all within a few months of each other. Just like last time, RIM should ride that iPhone wave allowing Apple to create all the hype and buzz and catch those users who initially came into the store to look at the 3G iPhone but end up walking out with a BlackBerry Bold, BlackBerry Kickstart, or BlackBerry Thunder because those devices are cheaper or avaiable on more than just AT&T.
Hmm ya that’s true. I would also imagine, RIM could get a lot of Bold sales from new potential iPhone customers who play with the iphoen and then play with the Bold and end up liking a physical keyboard better.
No question about that Patrick…
Of course, iPhones have been hard to find. Limited stock everywhere. If they were a bit easier to find in store then the market share would of been a little different.
I got a BB this Feb and just unlocked it.
I am getting ready to get my new iPhone.
I love the Curve but I will love iPhone more.
When BB makes something better, I’ll definitely come back.
The slippage in market share is normal, given that in the past quarter we’ve seen new releases by RIM on some networks whereas, of course, there hasn’t been a new iPhone release yet, on its only US network.
The fact that the iPhone is on only one network no doubt limits its market share, and especially the sales bump that any device gets from coming out on any network.
Other than that, I also think you see the fact that the impending release of the 3G iPhone is indeed eating into current sales.
Once the 3G iPhone is released, it really is game on. If ever there was a device to take advantage of 3G, it is the iPhone. I always thought we’d get the truest measure of iPhone sales potential when it was available on 3G.
Add to that the software release 2.0 with all the 3rd party apps, and you will undoubtedly see another sales bump for the iPhone. I think it will eclipse its previous high market share.
Now RIM of course is poised to fight back, with the Bold and the Thunder releases, and will enjoy the fact that their devices are going to be released on multiple networks in the US.
So the competition heats up, which is great for us consumers. I mean, do we really think RIM would ever release a device like the Bold or the Thunder without being spurred on by competition from the iPhone? Perhaps, but never this soon.
And by the same token, there is no doubt the iPhone software update and its 3rd party apps will be all the better because of the example set by RIM.
Also don’t forget how the price point affects sales of iPhones. There are so many people who will not pay up for a phone and if they want the smartphone experience, they would rather go with a free/nearly free Pearl or Curve. The mkt share will get closer in time but it is hard to compete when RIM sells on every network while iPhone only sells on 1 in the US. The good news is that regardless of mkt share %, the absolute number of devices that Apple and RIM are selling are growing dramatically so even if Apple closes the gap it will be on a much higher base of sales for each.
I love my blackberry, no matter whether Apple comes out with 3G or 4G, I will stick to my BB.