When one thinks about iPhone owners, many adjectives might come to mind. Is “promiscuous” one of them? Well, according to a recent survey conducted by Rubicon Consulting, it should be.
The survey found that 28% of iPhone users carry a second phone, despite the fact that users expressed high satisfaction with the Apple product. Nearly half of the 460 respondents switched carriers just to be able to own an iPhone.
The beneficiary seems to be RIM and their Blackberrys. The reasons for this are fairly clear, since Blackberrys offer compatibility functions that iPhones do not (Microsoft Exchange), as well as a tactile keyboard.
This seems to present issues for both Apple and RIM. Should Apple at least consider making a version of its iPhone that comes with a tangible keyboard in order to appeal to the market that would prefer one? Should RIM create a Blackberry that uses a more aesthetically pleasing touchscreen interface to compete with the iPhone?
While the concrete details of iPhone 2.0 are not yet clear, there are sure signs of a Blackberry that will have a touchscreen. Blackberry Thunder, as it is presently called, is slated for an exclusive release on Verizon Wireless.
It will be interesting to see whether or not either company (or another) can peg down the allegiances of these promiscuous iPhone users. If no one does, can mobile users straddle the fence between two devices for much longer?
Sources:
http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2008/05/survey-iphone-h.html
http://rubiconconsulting.com/insight/whitepapers/2008/04/
the-apple-iphone-is-easily.html
http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2008/05/13/
blackberry-thunder-the-touchscreen-blackberry-weve-all-been-waiting-for/
Jason Hahn
e: jhahn221@gmail.com
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