I just read a post on ITWire.com titled “More iPhone rumours but BlackBerry killer? Hardly” and even though I don’t think that Apple’s, yet to be officially announced but we know it’s coming out, iPhone will be a BlackBerry Killer, it will provide more competition to the BlackBerry, specifically the BlackBerry Pearl, than a lot of folks think.
There is no question that the BlackBerry dominates in the corporate smartphone world and Research in Motion isn’t even seriously being challenged by their competitors in this space. The iPhone, however, will play in the consumer smartphone sandbox and although RIM has seen incredible success with the launch of it’s first consumer device, the BlackBerry Pearl, they may only enjoy a four to six month headstart on Apple with the release of the iPhone.
Like I’ve said before, to the first time consumer smartphone buyer, the Apple iPhone will be an attractive alternative to the BlackBerry. To be honest, many of the consumers looking at the iPhone will want one simply because they will perceive it as an upgrade to the iPod, something they are used to upgrading every year or two already.
There is no doubt that BlackBerry users are the cream of the crop when it comes to brand loyalty, however, make no mistake, RIM execs would trade the BlackBerry’s brand awareness and loyalty for that which Apple enjoys with the iPod in a heartbeat.
Just to be clear, I don’t think that Apple will spell the demise of the BlackBerry when they release the iPhone. I do think, however, that the BlackBerry will face competition unlike anything it’s every seen. The way I see it, that’s a good thing. We are bound to see some pretty good innovation in the coming months.
Hahaha, How come it can be a BB killer? It would just be another multimedia phone. Are BBs multimedia phones? Or maybe there is something more to it that makes BB so special? I think that they are far from competing with any BB when it comes to E-mail and security, and that is what BBs are all about.
Just to be clear, I don’t think that I will be a BlackBerry Killer. I think that it will compete for the same consumer dollar, however. Many consumers who would consider a Pearl would also consider an iPhone and that is in addition to all the iPod users who weren’t really thinking about a Pearl.
Apple is already working on the second version of the iPhone which will be more than just a multimedia phone. It will be much closer to a smartphone in function and the consumer who already owns an iPod or even the first gen iPhone would more than likely upgrade with Apple based on passed experience.
My whole point is that Apple will have an opportunity to get big in the consumer market space very quickly and RIM will really start to see some real competition.