Report: BlackBerry Curve overtakes iPhone as most popular smartphone
Mon May 4, 2009 10:23AM EDT
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Chalk it up to the fact that the Curve is available on the four biggest U.S. carriers, not to mention a two-for-one sale on Verizon Wireless. Also in the top five for the first quarter of 2009: The Storm and the T-Mobile G1.
Despite its early launch woes, the touchscreen BlackBerry Storm appears to be selling strongly, coming in a No. 3 on NPD's list behind the Curve and the iPhone 3G.Â
After the Storm comes the ever-popular BlackBerry Pearl—which, like the Curve, is available on all four major U.S. carriers—followed by the Android-powered G1 on T-Mobile.
So, how did the Curve manage to overtake the iPhone 3G? Well, as the NPD group notes, availability on all the big carriers always helps (the iPhone is, of course, still only on AT&T), as well as its $99 (with a new two-year contract) price tag. Meanwhile, Verizon Wireless probably helped boost Curve sales with its "buy one, get one free" promotion, according to NPD.
And here's a potentially worrying trend for Apple: the NPD found that RIM's share of the smartphone market rose a solid 15 percent to a full 50 percent, while both Apple and Palm (which didn't land a handset in the top 5) both saw their shares fall 10 percent.
Of course, it could be that smartphone shoppers are holding off on both iPhones (given that a new model might be announced as early as next month) and Palm handsets (seeing as the red-hot Pre will likely go on sale in a matter of weeks).
Then again, never underestimate BlackBerry, which still has some of the best smartphones in the business and has price and availability on its side, whereas the cheapest, AT&T-only iPhone 3G remains at a somewhat lofty $199 (with contract).
[Image credit: Dan Ruettimann Photography/Sprint]
Related:
RIM Unseats Apple in The NPD Group's Latest Smartphone Ranking [NPD Group]
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Comments on Report: BlackBerry Curve overtakes iPhone as most popular smartphone
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2 Posted by nboatr on Mon May 4, 2009 2:18PM EDT Report Abuse
apple needs to sell through all carriers and lower price point to $99.00 and it will make a pretty penny and stay in the top spots.
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3 Posted by gizmiron on Mon May 4, 2009 3:15PM EDT Report Abuse
It's almost not fair to call the iphone a 'smart phone'. It's more of a highly mobile handheld computer, which happens to have a 3G phone built into it.
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4 Posted by thelonevirginian on Mon May 4, 2009 3:17PM EDT Report Abuse
If you give the phones away, of course you'll end up as #1.
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5 Posted by gregorywbrady on Mon May 4, 2009 3:22PM EDT Report Abuse
How about the fact that Large Corporations are using BlackBerry versus iPhone for the pure fact of windows and outlook. That probably accounts for at least half of BlackBerry profits. If you subtract large corporate contracts from the equation, and measured strickly personal use purchases, I bet iPhone wins this race.
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1 Posted by lewinjon on Mon May 4, 2009 1:44PM EDT Report Abuse
Too bad the NPD Group didn't include any info on how the BlackBerry does in AT&T Stores where it goes toe to toe with the iPhone. It seems that the iPhone frenzy has long ended and the iPhone has taken it's place among several high quality smart phones out there. As for me, I bought a BlackBerry Curve the very moment my carrier started to offer a deal on them for contract renewal. I'm not quite into touch screens but it is my understanding that RIM will introduce a new and improved version of the BlackBerry Storm later this year.