According to a the second semi-annual smartphone brand loyalty survey by Crowd Science, 40% of BlackBerry users want their next smartphone to be an iPhone. The BlackBerry may be on top when it comes smartphone market share, but, when 2 of 5 BlackBerry users want to switch to Research in Motion’s primary competition’s device, the question becomes, how long can they stay there.
What is equally alarming is that the survey says that almost a third of BlackBerry users want to switch to the Google Nexus One. I think story being told isn’t so much about BlackBerry users wanting an iPhone or a Nexus one, but, how they want something more than what the BlackBerry offers.
The BlackBerry OS is, and, has been for some time, in need of a significant overhaul, if not a complete redo. Most rumors indicate that OS 6 isn’t due out until next year and the next major update, 5.2, may just be a bridge to OS 6. Can another update to the current OS and a WebKit BlackBerry Browser stem the tide of BlackBerry defections this survey indicates?
With the Nexus One soon to be released on Verizon, the number of BlackBerry users that move to Android could be quite telling…
Not one of the 40 0/0 here. Until Apple makes some basic design and business model changes there is not an Apple in my future.
First, whats up with the lack of a user removable battery? This alone is a deal killer for me. With my current phone I can go into any ATT store and walk out with a new battery in 5 minutes if my current battery starts to die.
Second, no insurance?
Third, unless you jail break your phone you can only use apps from Apple. Every other phones OS is pretty much open to outside sales and development.
Steve you can keep your iPhone.
I am not on of the 40% either. Not until they allow me to use a provider other than AT&T… and maybe not even then.
Wake up call for CEO Laztarded. While you may have a handful of faithful, your lead will not last, especially while Apple, Google and now finally Microsoft are putting out devices that quite frankly, kick your ass. RIM is doomed to suffer the fate of Palm unless they wake up and smell the coffee.
I don’t see Microsoft being a strong competitor. Version 7 cannot multi-task. Go figure.
Palm is an interesting story because they did “reinvent” their OS and still hurt. IMO, webOS is the best of them all, yet they still can’t crack the market. I agree with your statement, and would like to add that RIM needs to do more than just an overhaul of the OS and browser. They need to make some drastic changes on the HW as well and offer a “variety” of different form factors than the incremental changes that they offer from year to year. A good example is the Tour2. Touchpad and a small increase in memory. Wow. And WiFi should have been in there to begin with. Storm2 clicks easier. How about a touch device without having to click? Slide out keyboard from the side? A build like the Devour would be a nice piece of hardware, just a bigger screen.
RIM needs to be creative, otherwise the market share they enjoy today will evaporate tomorrow.
Palm waited too long to do it. And I agree with everything you said.
Apple probably put up this fake Blackberry website.
I am inclined to agree
“I think story being told isn’t so much about BlackBerry users wanting an iPhone or a Nexus one, but, how they want something more than what the BlackBerry offers.” – I know what you meant by your statement Robb, but isn’t that the intent of purchasing an iPhone or N1 “because” it’s something better than what BB offers?
I am one of the 40% that will be trading in my Storm2 for a N1. However, I have two phones, so the other will remain a BB…for now.
IMO, all the BB has going for it is the strong communication center it provides. Email, texting and the keyboard on select models are second to none. Corporations will still continue to remain with RIM for ease of use, security, and email. However, if RIM doesn’t improve on the browsing capability, application offerings, and improved OS, others will pass them by, and eventually the corporations will do so as well. I find myself looking for a phone that offers a solid web browsing experience for work more and more…this is where the N1 comes in (iPhone is nice, but AT&T kills me).
Ultimately, the 40% mentioned may be a real number in time, but hard to go with now. If that statistic is real, then my follow up question would be “how come they haven’t already?” The iPhone has been out longer than those “2 year” commitment reasons, and folks who received their BB via their employer may not have a choice, although they’d “like” to move over to the iPhone.
I for one attempted to use the iPhone for work, but AT&T’s coverage/service and email just prevented me form committing to the device overall. Even on a personal scale, AT&T’s network doesn’t cover a busy traveler looking for the strong connection. And this is coming from someone who used their device where headquarters was located.
Although 40% sounds a bit high, I am not all that surprised. I love my BlackBerry for what it is, but, let’s face it… The BlackBerry OS is well beyond its prime. I don’ want to switch for switching’s sake, but, email isn’t the killer app that it used to be.
Contract is up in September… I’ll probably hang around until the new devices come out before Christmas but if RIM doesn’t have a touchscreen Blackberry that can hold its own against the coolest Android device on Verizon, I’ll probably make the move.
Hey robb,
Where is all that smack about the lackberry being number one. Not for long… I give the lackberry 2 years before they fold up shop.
Dont you get tired of TROLLING these posts with your chat designed only to get a reaction? and you might want to learn to spell before you post.
When November hits and my contract is up so goes my Storm and in comes a Nexus 1 or better. Blackberry lost a customer when they didn’t deliver what the commercials promised in the Storm 1. I got a half baked phone & OS…the Storm 2 would’ve at least kept me from being pissed off.
4 years as a Berry user & I did nothing but tout it until the Storm 1 showed it’s first major flaws (I’m on my third Storm in my 2 year contract).
Im not in the 40 % pie. I want the slider bb.
Until someone can come up with anything that is remotely close to what a BlackBerry Enterprise Server can do, RIM has nothing to worry about.
How wrong you are.
I’m thinking about all the past year as a Storm and now Storm2 user, and wachting the development of other platforms, seeing this RIM must put their efforts not only in OS but in better and more atractive apps. Clearly, there are a lot of productivity apps, but RIM laks for more user friendly apps, and a more quicknees to put apps for their app world for the major brands… I’m tired of seeing other brands talking about his greats apps for other platforms (clearly iPhone) and forgotten Blackberry… Rim must “push” this!
Actually the businees is in the apps, and games (although I am not a great fan of games)
BlackBerry has a big problem with branding. Check this out. Yesterday, a co-worker of mine was using her phone. I could tell it was a smartphone. I asked her what kind of smartphone she was using. She replied that it was not a smartphone but a BlackBerry Curve. BlackBerry needs to brand its phones as smartphones. Many consumers out there think the iPhone is the only smartphone on the market. Many more consumers don’t know what a smartphone is and think a BlackBerry is not a smartphone and therefore inferior to other smartphones like the iPhone.
My mother still doesn’t realize that her iPhone is a smartphone either. I think the issue applies to many of those who are not technically savy or just not interested in the details regarding the “labeling.”
Did you know that the 40% of BlackBerry users means an amazing crowd of 63 users.
Are you serious?
See the entire research here: http://storage.pardot.com/1742/19507/Android_Study.pdf
It´s a shame a manipulated Headline like this.
I am a BB user/fan and my contract is up in December. My #1 and only reason for contemplating a switch are the APPS.
Let’s be honest here, apps are where it’s at. And as restrictive as Apple is when approving apps, they still SMASH in the sheer amount of apps they offer. Devs can complain, but they know if they can successfully pull off a mere decent app that gets through Apple’s gatekeepers…money in the bank. Android is a DISTANT second, and you can forget about RIM and WebOS.
IMO, people want accessibility, and to literally have an app (not a mobile site, like BlackBerry loves to tout) for just about EVERYTHING is what keeps and ATTRACTS folks over to Apple….even if they can’t multitask (for now)
I’m not surprised. I recently switched from a 8707 to a 9700 and found the keyboard a big step backwards, the network connection less stable and the browser pathetic (the old done was bad, but at least rendered pages readable).
BES is the advantage and the Achilles heel. Of everything works its magic. My BB admin, while trying to be helpful, wasn’t able to sort out various connection issues and as a user I just sit on the sidelines waiting for things to happen. If that’s the experience most people have I’m not surprised they want a device with (perceived – in Apple’s case) more control power.
“want the next phone ….. but bb user stay with the blackberry…..
I use Operamini browser for my BlackBerry.You can download it at http://www.opera.com/mobile/
It is hard to say that. There are many Blackberry funs will still use Blackberry, because it is very hard to change their way of using Blackberry. Big difference between Blackberry and iphone.
i like black berry