Blackberry on the up despite Apple iPhone
The BlackBerry has cornered 10 per cent of the American mobile phone market for the first time, a research firm said yesterday – despite concerns about its ability to give Apple’s iPhone 3G a run for its money.
Strategy Analytics said that BlackBerry maker RIM had increased its share of both the consumer and corporate markets in the US, where total mobile phone sales rose by 5.3 per cent to 41.9m, compared to 39.8m in the same period last year.
But shares in the Canada-based RIM fell in US trading yesterday, on fears that the impact of the iPhone – which is technologically superior – had not yet been felt.
RIM is hoping that the September launch of its new model, the BlackBerry Bold, will allow it to fight back against Apple. With faster internet access and a better screen, it is more advanced than previous models. But some analysts fear the lack of a touch screen will date the device, as more manufacturers opt for the technology.
City Views: Will BlackBerry’s popularity eclipse mobile use?
Ed Holder (Holder & Combes): “I already access all of my emails and applications on my phone, but am switching to an iPhone because it has better compatibility with my company network. I have consolidated all applications and my phone into one mobile device for around five years now.”
Julian Borthwick (Fountain Court): “I have my Blackberry for work and a phone for personal use, but I do think that you can end up with too many gadgets. I’m through the phase of having more than necessary, however I deliberately have not consolidated work and personal devices as I believe that you need to be able to switch off.”
Emma Harding (London Stock Exchange): “Actually, I just bought a PDA for all my work applications. I prefer to have everything packaged together on a PDA, which enables me to see it on a bigger screen, but I do not want a phone attached. That is my personal choice but I think more people will want to have everything on one device.”