BlackBerry vs. iPhone: Who wins?

[Alienware_51]

Consider it a battle less for hearts and minds than for thumbs and ears. That's what may ensue between Apple (AAPL, news, msgs) and Research In Motion (RIMM, news, msgs), judging from recent Wall Street analyses and the performance of the companies' shares and marquee products.

Apple is expected to sell 10 million iPhones by the end of 2008. Meanwhile, Research In Motion has 12 million subscribers, and its iconic BlackBerry is selling at a clip of about 4 million units a quarter.

Shares in Apple have been trading near a record $200, while Research In Motion reached a split-adjusted record of $137 a share in November.

MSN Tech & Gadgets: Biggest tech trends of 2007

Target markets for the iPhone and BlackBerry are starting to overlap as well. The iPhone is a media consumer's dream, playing movies and music with ease. But it's not as finely tuned for the corporate user; large companies have resisted letting employees use iPhones on corporate networks, and information-technology consultant Gartner has advised its corporate clients to avoid the iPhone for now.

Still, analysts speculate that Apple is working on a corporate-friendly version of its e-mail software or that Apple will announce it's working with a third party to handle the job.

Meanwhile, BlackBerrys are taking on more iPhone-like trappings all the time.

The BlackBerry has long been the staple of corporate users who focused mostly on e-mail and calendar features, but Research In Motion has recently been aiming for high-end consumers who might buy the device for play as much as for work.

BlackBerrys now boast cameras that shoot both still and video images. They also play music. Now, Research In Motion is rumored by analysts and gadget blogs to be working on a new device, the BlackBerry 9000, that sports a touch-sensitive screen –- making it look an awful lot like an iPhone. The company declines to comment on future products.

So are Apple and Research In Motion on a collision course? Opinions vary.

------BusinessWeek

[TelcomJunkie]

I love my Blackberries, I'll take one over an iPhone any day. There's nothing faster for emails than an actual keyboard.

[q5ypdg9]

Check out this link
BlackBerry 9000 series spy shot revealed? - Engadget Mobile

Although the device in this shot does not have a touchscreen, it is very sleek looking.

The iPhone is a nice phone, however, I like the functionality of a BlackBerry. (And I have tried Windows Mobile - nice interface, however, having to close the programs in the task manager is a pain sometimes)
I liked the curve, but I could no longer compromise on the AT&T GSM voice quality. So, I switched back to Verzion and got the Pearl.

Some things I like about the 8130

• Bluetooth 2.0
  2.0 Camera w/ video capabilites
  Functional device - good for email and texting
  Good voice quality
  Runs java - runs Google Applications
  OTA sync with Google Calendar

[Analog man]

give me the black berry any day. aint no way im using a touch screen with big finger

[Mobile Mike]

I would pick the Blackberry because of its stronger and more useful functionality. The iPhone, IMO, in its current form is nowhere near being a Blackberry killer. In time it could be if Apple adds features business people need. Until then, we'll have to wait and see what happens...

[RadioFoneGuy]

Apple does have the brain washing TV commericial in their favor versus the Blackberry which is only advertised by the carriers themselves.

I would take a blackberry any day over the current iPhone.

Blackberry just needs more 3G devices for UMTS and a touch screen with a full QWERTY keyboard would be sweet. Blackberry should be more interested in competing with devices like the Tilt.

The iPhone to me in its current form is nothing more than a highly Hyped FAD riding on the band wagon of sucess that the iPOD has acheived. The iPhone is a cool device but IMO itunes and the way it works blows, pound for pound and dollar for dollar I would rather have a Tilt, Palm or blackberry device running on EDGE over an iPhone.

[Alienware_51]

I would deffinitly take a BlackBerry over an iPhone also, the QWERTY keyboard is awesome and is just like a regular computer keyboard but just mini. I can type at blazing speeds with my Curve, and it never ever crashes. I have an iPod touch (which is basically an iPhone minus the phone part) and the only thing that I really don't like about it, is the touch keypad, I always press 3 letters at a time because my fingers are too big for the keypad.

Just my 2 cents.
Alien.

[Eric47]

Originally Posted by q5ypdg9

Check out this link
BlackBerry 9000 series spy shot revealed? - Engadget Mobile

Although the device in this shot does not have a touchscreen, it is very sleek looking.

The iPhone is a nice phone, however, I like the functionality of a BlackBerry. (And I have tried Windows Mobile - nice interface, however, having to close the programs in the task manager is a pain sometimes)
I liked the curve, but I could no longer compromise on the AT&T GSM voice quality. So, I switched back to Verzion and got the Pearl.

Some things I like about the 8130

• Bluetooth 2.0
  2.0 Camera w/ video capabilites
  Functional device - good for email and texting
  Good voice quality
  Runs java - runs Google Applications
  OTA sync with Google Calendar

i still to this day do not get the difference in "voice quality" between CDMA and GSM..i have yet to notice much of a difference IMO. in fact if its a 3G device, the UMTS sound quality is crystal clear, much more so then what ive seen from any device CDMA or GSM

[Eric47]

oh and yea i love my 8310

id like an Iphone that had the easy to use email/calendar/message structure of the blackberrys. thats my only iphone beef. i do to much picture messaging to have to use some linked page. but i have heard other people that like that design.

to me its just like how macs dont have a cd drive eject button. apple always seems to leave off at least one important feature, like a true MMS capability.

[Jay2TheRescue]

Originally Posted by EricN4707

oh and yea i love my 8310

id like an Iphone that had the easy to use email/calendar/message structure of the blackberrys. thats my only iphone beef. i do to much picture messaging to have to use some linked page. but i have heard other people that like that design.

to me its just like how macs dont have a cd drive eject button. apple always seems to leave off at least one important feature, like a true MMS capability.

My mother asked me once to install a new printer on a Mac (A blue one) for a little old lady from her church. I said sure, how hard can that be? It took me 3 hours, and I never did figure out how to get the installation disk out of the drive afterwards. She just used it to get email from her grandkids and print pictures. That was 3 years ago and I'd be willing to bet that installation disk is still in that computer.

-Jay

[Eric47]

i did however hear that the iphone new update fw 1.1.3 or whatever is pretty sweet

[clock3687]

Originally Posted by EricN4707

i did however hear that the iphone new update fw 1.1.3 or whatever is pretty sweet

I'd pick the blackberry as well. My meaty fingers are too big for the iphone keypad. Non-removable battery and no mms are also features that id want to see implemented.

The new update adds the google location finder, the ability to move your icons around on the springboard, the ability to send SMS to multiple ppl (still no mms), and some other features. The entire list is here if your interested.

The skinny on iPhone and iPod touch firmware 1.1.3 - Engadget

[RadioFoneGuy]

i like Blackberries but I miss the side scroll wheel and back button.

[Bugwart]

The Blackberry wins over the iPhone because it is available unlocked. The iPhone is the only phone which is hardware and software locked.

I played with an iPhone in an Apple store and it is NOT as intuitive as I expected.