The handset might've been surpassed in functionality and looks by its
Curve 8900 successor, but nothing's got an edge on the
BlackBerry Curve 83XX series in smartphone sales. According to NPD, the handset overtook the
erstwhile champ iPhone 3G in the category for the first quarter of 2009, while BlackBerry's own Storm and Pearl handsets took the third and fourth slots, with the T-Mobile G1 rounding out the ranks in fifth place. Overall the smartphone market has grown from 17 percent of handset sales in Q1 2008 to 23 percent in Q1 2009. Compared to the previous quarter, RIM's gained a whopping 15 percent share of the US market -- owning nearly half of the entire scene -- while Apple and Palm both dropped 10 percent as they prep for their heroic mid-year launches.
posted May 4th 2009 10:34AM
As a college student at Auburn University i can vouch for this story personally... EVERYONE has this phone.. It seems to hit all demos pretty well
As a college student at Duquesne University, I see more iPhone 3Gs than this phone. I do notice that a lot of the girls seem to have the thinner blackberry offered by Verizon.
As a European, I can say that NOBODY uses BlackBerrys. Everyone's using Nokia smartphones.
Hmmm, Apple has sold 20 million iPhones and they still only have one phone. They also sold 17 million iPod touches and crossed the 40 thousand apps, 1 Billion downloads threshold. Apple must be crying all the way to the bank.
As an IT professional, I can say that I see a lot of Windows Mobile devices, because they integrate well with Exchange server out of the box, and as a computer geek, I see them a lot because some of us like tinkering with our phones just as much as using them.
Wow, imagine that, 4 different posts saying 4 different things. Is it possible that maybe no device is better, and demographics and other factors determine which is the best device for each individual's needs/wants?! Astounding!
As a bureaucrat I can say that no one in my office uses an iPhone, everyone uses blackberrys.
as someone who doesnt give a shit about what phone you use....
The only reason Curve is #1 is because it's offered on all 4 major carriers.
Also, Verizon really needs to update their smartphone product line. Right now this is their best BB offering (Storm is for suckers)
I've been waiting to upgrade my Curve on Verizon but they like to punish their customers with obsolete phones.
I'm actually pretty surprised how many young people have BlackBberrys.
Even my sorta tech-illiterate sister just got one.
a lot of young people have blackberries cause they are perfect for texting
they are not too big, not too small, especially the Pearl.
i can easily text and not even look at the kb. try doing that with other phones
As an astronaut, we can't use BlackBerry's in space.. crap..
I went to Penn State and it seemed the phone of choice around campus was either an iPhone or BlackBerry.
Both great phones.
I think it matters where your are, over at Western Michigan Universities business college there are so many blackberries (some through their internships). Everywhere else on campus it's a ton of random other phones. Very few iPhones tbh. I think the contract is just too high for most college students. And most that use the blackberries get addicted to the quick interface.
Although there's a guy in my accounting class popped collar pink polo, spiked over gelled hair, shell necklace, sitting in the front row on his iPhone all through class, we were trying to figure out if it was a joke or not.
@Soobin
The Storm isn't too bad when you upgrade the firmware and get use to it.
When I got mine I was ready to return in within hours, but after upgrading to a beta firmware, it was great.
Around here I see all sorts of phones. People buy what they like, not what they see everyone else with.
What is sad about this story (I own one BTW) is that everyone who bought one recently on Verizon is going to be bummed out when the long-anticipated replacement called the 9630 "Tour" aka "Niagara" comes out in a month or so...
As an elderly care provider, I have to disagree with this story. Everyone around here has the Jitterbug.
@soobin27
Have you every used a Storm? I suppose not since they are for 'suckers'. The device is great, yeah going away from other BlackBerry models it was hard to give up my trackwheel or trackball, but now, 6 months later I love it. I'm still running the stock OS .75 and could not be happier.
As a Brazilian, all I can see here is the PRE...
...-historical smartphones
It's Verizon, plain and simple. AT&T sucks too much. I mean if AT&T sucks as much as it does in the SF bay area, then I shudder to think how bad it is in other less densely populated areas.
I kind of enjoy this news because I hope that that will push Apple to make a CDMA version for Vz... competition, it works in many ways... ;)
Um, tyler, "both great phones" ???
Where the hell do you think you are? This is the Engadget comments section, for goodness' sake! You are not allowed to support two devices - you must pick one to support, and then spew hatred and bile whenever another device is mentioned.
Didn't you read this in the booklet in the membership pack? It's right after the info on why "FIRST" posting is cool, and before the section outlining the Engadget commenter's motto of "Engadget is biased".
Wow. Who'da thunk that.
I figured an underpowered, cheaper phone would be able to take iPhone/3G - its so expensive. I'm paying almost $100 a month for mine - there must be cheaper options out there.
@Quantumphysics, I think this is why a lot of people are switching to Sprint shortly when their contracts are up. A few of my friends are getting the Palm Pre, they don't even realize how awesome it is, they are just are looking for a cheaper alternative. It's a nice plus that should help Sprint.
G1 for texters (G1v2 by xmas), G2 for non-texters. Cupcake updates are occurring now on G1v1 handsets.
Sure the Pre is going to be great, but Tmo's going to be in a good position with these two units. Now if someone can create an emulator so I can get my ifart apps running on a G1/2 or Pre... Now that would end the iPhone's reign.
I guess it's all about price? It just doesn't work for me. I don't really like anything about that phone. But that's just me.
I think many people here forget that corporate IT buys a LOT of devices. And inexpensive, easily-replaceable is the name of the game when you're handing them out en masse to the general public.
Waiting for Niagra ^_^
Are you getting married?
Oh, I think you mean the Niagara.
I love it, that a berry with such a small range of apps is still #1. Price/reliability wins I guess.
I would actually say that there is a fair bit of range of apps for the berrys. Not only that but it has always had themes, cut/copy/paste, ability to run multiple apps at the same time. So in some ways you could say it is more powerful. All depends on what you are looking for in a phone.
Price yes, reliability, no.
My fiance and I had the Verizon BB Curve for 3 months. In that time, we went through 4 curves (combined). On the last swap out, my keyboard was completely useless. I was unable to type or make/receive calls. Went to the Verizon store, was told that even though they had Curves in stock (for new customers), I would have to go home and call (on my fiance's working Curve) the VZW BB support line to get one delivered to me. I canceled VZW soon after, switched to AT&T, and purchased an iPhone. Not a fanboy, and maybe very lucky, but I've not had one problem with it.
AT&T isn't as good as VZW signal wise, but the customer service has been far better.
@Jason I've had my Curve for 2 years now and the only issue is that the trackball is getting to be a bit worn down. Sounds more like bad luck or user error than device issues to me.
Tell your wife to stop messing with app permissions and probably it'll last a little longer. If it breaks after that even god can't control idiocy...
It's about the network - you can get a Blackberry on Verizon, or any other network - those people who have AT&T and want an iPhone already bought one.
So when the iPhone was 'winning the race' it must have been because everyone had already bought phone 'x', right?
Since we're throwing out foolish theories, here's mine:
those people who have AT&T and [are willing to put up with Apple's horseshit] already bought one[an iphone].
Meh, It's just the RIM products are being sold buy one get one free.
It's really not that surprising. The Curve is an excellent, QWERTY, device and its price has been dropping like a rock.
As good as the iPhone is, it can't compete with the Curve as a messaging device.
whoopdedoo. i would hope the curve sells more, its the damn razr of the smartphone world being on 4 of the largest carriers and a buy one get one free promotion.
It must be the Obama effect :)
http://blogs.eweek.com/applewatch/content/iphone/barack_obamas_blackberry_effect.html
This proves the grand theory (often discussed in the 1990s) that there is a difference between left and right brained people. One lot are creative, thinking visually - and therefore adopting lifestyles, careers and of course, products that cater to such needs. In this case, the iPhone offers a mass of creative applications and an entertaining intuitive functionality. On the other hand, the Blackberry, while easy to use, is strictly a utilitarian device of interest to hard wired rational types who end up being bankers, sales people, society presidents or old school corporate execs. Having played with hundreds of mobile phones (including all Blackberries), I can testify to the fact that while the email is well integrated (albiet, not much better than the way more sexy, versatile and open Nokia E71), the Blackberry platform is one of the most boring and clunky mobile devices out there - with the Storm an example of attrocious usability, despite looking physically superb. All said, Blackberry users love their devices because they achieve their focused task admirably.
This means that no matter how wonderful the new iPhone or any forthcoming Android or Symbian phones are, Blackberries will continue to sell because genetically, not everyone is 'wired' to appreciate or require such compelling devices. That's nature for you!
Do I smell fire?
I don't smell fire... but I do smell some very nasty prejudice...
Very good post. The same concept can also be applied to the early days of Apple OS versus Microsoft Windows.
This is an interesting comment. Really opens up a discussion -- if everyone could debate this idea without the conversation devolving into a flame war, that would be amazing.
Commenters: challenge!
"This proves the grand theory (often discussed in the 1990s) that there is a difference between left and right brained people. One lot are creative, thinking visually - and therefore adopting lifestyles, careers and of course, products that cater to such needs. "
So, the blackberry doesnt have a visual screen?
Having a touch screen makes you more creative?
LOL
Wonderkid is really trying hard to OVER complicate his simple iphone vs others topic. It doesnt take genius to figure it out, Wonderkid.
Lets keep it simple:
People who like touch screen (iphone, storm, etc) vs. people who don't like touch screen (all phones with qwerty keyboard)
Great comment Wonderkid.
I would understand left/right "brain-ness" for the Mac vs Windows/Linux environment - there seemed to be more Macs in the hands of liberal arts majors at school.
As far as the iphone goes, the simplicity and finesse of the UI, the eco-system (yes - there are pitfalls - data plan expense, dubious app approval, bulky itunes - not deal breakers for many people) would probably win over even the most simply wired minds. I think a bigger factor working in BB's favor is its solid reputation in the corporate world.
As a very creative person, I disagree with your argument. Just like the other poster below you said, having a touch screen and the Apple-esque factor doesn't make it creative. Apple has done a great marketing job - making people think if they use their products, they are hip, cool and creative.
I love Apple and use a macbook and multitude of iPods, but not their iPhone. The simple reason is that messaging bites. Composing email and txts, not to mention chats are much simpler and quicker on my 'berry. Its utilitarian, but great design is utilitarian first and the design second, or, "function follows form."
I don't need a devise to tell me I'm creative, instead, I need a device to help utilize the creativity. I can compose my ideas, thoughts and communicate much quicker on the 'berry and thus, for me, I find the 'berry, in itself is very creative.
People need to stop trying to categorize each phone into certain demographic. The fact is, that every person has different needs met by different phones. That's why there's the iPhone, Blackberry, Nokias and Windows Mobile phones. I bet you, in each phone, there are both creative and non-creative types.
Joshua:
You really have to set your bar to a level most Engadget commenters can actually reach.
Yea, I have to disagree too. I'm a creative person, own my own design firm, and do not and will not get an iphone. I work on and own 4 mac's and have my ipod but my use stops at that. The blackberry is a lot more suited to what I need from a phone than the iphone is.
It's an interesting idea, but I don't think that I agree with the creative/non-creative dictomy.
I think the reality is close to what DirtyVegas said, the soild reputation in the corporate world. In this sense the a task orriented v. individualaity argument makes a lot more sense. The corporate, or government, world is task oriented. Blackberry's allow good communication and the ability to triage and respond to a lot of email quickly as well as maintain schedules and access corporate address books. And they are very dependable.
While I don't own an iphone or ipod touch my experiance playing with them and attempting to write an email or two was not nearly as good an experiance as it is with my blackberry. So, yes, blackberry's allow for more task oreintation.
The iPhone does allow for individuality. Which in a coporate enviroment in not necessacrily a good thing. If I were a CIO I would not want my staff to have iphones. The entertainment function of an iphone is greater than its business function and I wouldn't be paying my employees to be entertained.
As an individual I would seriously consider an iphone if I were buying a personal smartphone. While I would consider myself a task oriented person, perhaps right brained, an iphone would let me use the functions that best suit my needs and still be task oriented. (admitedly, I would miss a real keyboard). But if what is needed is a one size fits all solution, then the BB is the leader.
That said, I think that if organizations started moving to more of a web 2.0 framework and apple, or someone else, can come out with a device like the iphone that is not percived as an "entertainment toy" and allows for lots of IT control then we might see a shift away from the traditional BB.