In Jack’s April 16th post, Jack touts the upcoming iPhone 2.0 software release. In the past, I’ve written about how BlackBerries are currently the corporate messaging device of choice while the iPhone is geared more towards personal use. Undoubtedly, with the next generation of iPhones being released with features that make it more Exchange-friendly, we will start seeing more and more iPhones. However, I don’t foresee them replacing BlackBerries in the near future or even coming close to putting a significant dent into the mobile business tool market.
RIM, the manufacturers of BlackBerries, has been in existence for almost ten years. The original RIM 850, named the 14th greatest gadget of the past 50 years by PC World, was essentially a pager that provided an organizer, calendar, and wireless Internet.
It ultimately opened the door to the 857 and 957 series BlackBerries, which look much more similar to the devices that we see today.
Now, in offices everywhere, particularly with many of GURU’s clients, you see BlackBerry 8700s, 8800s, Curves, and Pearls. While AT&T is the sole carrier of the iPhone, BlackBerries have devices for every major wireless carrier, making it much easier to find a BlackBerry to fit everyone’s needs.
Furthermore, while Apple publicly announces its upcoming upgrades, consumers forget that RIM is doing their own research and development as well, albeit under the radar. RIM has been hard at work developing their new 9000 series BlackBerries, which could be released as soon as August of this year. Patent applications have already been submitted for a touchscreen-based BlackBerry, an angular keyboard, as well as a slider device that some Windows Mobile devices users prefer.
Rumor also has it that at least one of the 9000 series devices will contain a front-facing camera to be used for video conferencing. Obviously, these features won’t be found all on the same device, which means RIM is expecting a whole line of products in the near future to continue its dominance in the PDA market.
If I’m wrong about this and the iPhone takes over the market, I’ll buy a Mac and wash Jack’s car every weekend for a month.
Thats awesome, I had no clue they were developing a touchscreen/slider blackberry. Maybe now I can get rid of this Windows mobile hell-device that we call the Motorola Q!