A friend just asked me an interesting question and I thought that I would pose the question to you. What would it take to get you to switch to the iPhone from your BlackBerry.
I say that this is an interesting question because if it were being asked about any other device I probably would have quickly dismissed the question and said nothing. I, however, thought about this question for a second and shockingly, even come up with a scenario where I would switch.
There are three things that I would need in order to switch to the iPhone.
- An incredibly responsive touch screen — I recently had the opportunity to toy around with a mobile device that only has a touch screen for input and I have to say, that after about 5 minutes of getting used to the interface, it really wasn’t all that bad. I was able to thumb out messages almost as effectively as I can on my BlackBerry 7130e. It’s kind of strange typing without the tactile feel of buttons, but so long as the screen is responsive, is absolutely something I could get used to
- Push email, contacts, and calendar — I started to say a Windows Mobile 6-like BlackBerry Virtual Machine, however, email is the killer BlackBerry app for me and as long as I can get it, send, it, and keep my calendar and contacts up to date like I can on my BlackBerry, I think that I would be OK.
- The ability to switch back — There is an incredible amount of hype surrounding the iPhone and, although I am probably getting caught up in much of it, don’t see any harm in giving the iPhone an shot so long as I can switch back if it doesn’t work for me.
Before I became a die-hard BlackBerry user I was a die-hard Windows Mobile (Pocket PC at the time) user. I couldn’t imagine that I would ever be interested in a device like the BlackBerry, yet, RIMarkable is about to enter into its third year of existence. Truth be told, I will more than likely get an iPhone shortly after it comes out but it will be in addition to my BlackBerry. If I remember correctly, however, my first BlackBerry was in addition to my Windows Mobile device.
Lets see if history repeats itself…
It is more of an OS issue for me, I recently made the decision (as apparently many others are as well) that my current laptop is the last windows machine I will own – I just can’t take the myriad of issues anymore. I had the opportunity to test drive a Mac for a week, and quite frankly it is just better. The only way I would give up my BB is if the iPhone works seamlessly with the rest of my overall digital life, and I will only know that after I rid myself of windows and am on Mac full time.
Simply a device that I like more than the BlackBerry.
I currently have an 8700. I’m going to take a look at the iPhone and if I like it I will keep it, if not, I will return it and get a Curve.
I will eventually get an iPhone, but only in addition to a BB.
The BB is not just a device; it is an entire platform. While the iPhone seems to be an amazing, groundbreaking device, even Apple will not be able to duplicate the BB platform for email so quickly or easily. Indeed, they may not even want to. Their initial attempt at email seems to be partnering with Yahoo!, which of course, is pretty lame compared to a BB.
For me, the iPhone offers an a fantastic iPod experience along with what looks to be easily the best mobile browser on a phone. Indeed, it’s that mobile browser that really intrigues me. That’s why I’ll probably wait until Apple releases a true 3G iPhone. But the point is that I don’t even think of the iPhone as so much of a phone as a multimedia and web device. That’s what I will buy it for.
After having tasted 3G I can’t imagine switching to anything that’s stuck on EDGE. And as far as watching movies and the rest of the iPod media experience, Apple is going to have to offer more than 4 or 8GB of storage. So maybe I’ll think about the iPhone 2, but for now I’m happy to sit on the sidelines while the early adopters iron out some inevitable first-generation kinks.
put it on t-mobile or sell it unlocked
In order for me to switch it would have to do everything my pearl does and work seemlessly with everything I have now. As of right now my pearl does everything I want it to. Its easy to get music and videos on (a lot easier that my iPod), never once had a single crash or time which my phone didn’t perform exactly the way I wanted it to. My Blackberrys have worked so well over the years that I haven’t even considered another device in the last 3 years. I doubt I would switch to the iPhone because its major apeal is that its the “it” phone right now. Not that it does anything better than any other phone, but simply because its the phone that everyone’s talking about. I see a lot of “young and hip” celebrities getting the iPhone and making a lot of young teenagers and young adults wanting to get it even though their pockets are not deep enough to afford it. It will be hard for parents to justify buying their child a new phone when they just got a phone and already have an iPod as well.
Basically the iPhone seems like a “nice to have” device but I doubt I would actually switch from my pearl. Why should I? My pearl does everything I want it to do already and many more apps are being developed every day.
i love the browser but the cost is to much for a touch screen to me how long will that screen last and still look pretty? if it costs that much it shoud last about two to three years at least but i cant see it lasting more than a year with regular use. I think the concept is great and would like to have it as a back up go out on the town bling phone but to change over? not while bbs have push email, durability, style etc.
Good points fr all. According to the releases as I’ve seen and I’m a bb dealer, 1) it’s a huge market to blatantly ignore corp sector. Like said, apple shows NO interest in refused partnerships already. So if they have no BES, it’s ridiculous. I sell apple servers and I know they have resources and relationships with Gates America to give it a shot. The price to me isn’t anything not justifiable if they did that.2) responsive screen PLUS an apple made Bluetooth mini QWERTY keyboard emulating the bb. That would be smart, there are too many like me I’d think, that can type on the pearl and 8700 etc keyboard in their sleep or while driving. I don’t need a screen to 100% know I’m typing correctly. 3) exactly as said …. I have 4 phones I can pop my sim into, 3 ipod variations with video etc…. Many need an all in one but can’t figure it out, so a seamless integration or partnership with our buddies up in Canada at RIM would be smart…since they rely on the carriers to sell non mobitex units it would be smart for apple to let RIM just run with it. iPhone2…like said…I’ll get the hot pink. LOL.
I don’t thing anything would make me switch from a BB to an iphone! Couple of notes, no removable battery, no push email (terrible), no keyboard,
Unproven platform, and let’s not forget the extremely sky high price! To much $$$ for something that is missing all of the above. Not to mention, it looks like it’s going to be a finger print smudge nightmare! At first I said I was going to get one, just loving new gadgets and what not. But at this point, I see no reason! Maybe when they drop Round #2 of the iphone I’ll reconsider, but it’s going to be bug city for Round #1 when it drops later this month!
anything to prevent them from adding improved email to existing phones down the line via a software update?
b/c i agree with the mentioned shortcomings, especially email, but wonder if they just want to get it out, then improve on all these aspects marginally. probably was just too much to target consumer and corporate market right out of the gate. i know some updates will probably take until the next version (i.e. gps, 3G), but can’t they improve on some of the offerings to existing phones after the launch?
anyway, if that’s possible with this thing (including an email improvement), i’ll likely get one immediately in addition to the bb. then depending on how it goes, it could become my only phone.
otherwise, i’ll wait for the 2nd edition to do try it and consider switching.
I have been at the high end of supporting both Prosuma and Enterprise Solutions for 4 years now…… The I-Phone has now really become the biggest headache I get day by day………. I recently did a video on how great the I-Phone is…… to skim across a lake. It performed very well…. I’ll be posting the clip on YouTube very shortly. A very funny movie. but seriously anybody considering buying an IPhone, simply, don’t…. watch out for better “Sharp” models being released
iphone is not the ultimate answer for the 3G capabilities yet to be unleashed