iCloud and iOS 5 = Big iPhone Sales

[NebulaClash]

People will always want choices. And choices are a good thing as it keeps companies competitive. Some will choose Android because they are on service providers that the iPhone isn't on. Or because they like the UI better. Or because they like certain apps or WHATEVER the reason. Just like people will always choose the iPhone because of what it offers.

There's always going to be a reason to pick another phone. It's call personal preference.

I know, and I have no problem with choice. In fact, I'm the guy who has repeatedly said that no company will ever dominate the phone market the way the PC market was dominated. So I'm well aware that there will always be two or three primary choices in smart phones.

My point is that among the reasons picked Blackberrys or Android phones up until now was because of a perceived lack of functionality in the iPhone. So while price will be an ongoing decision maker, and service provider choice will be an ongoing decision maker, and user prejudice will always be a factor, lack of iPhone functionalilty will increasingly fade away as a dominant factor.

 

[samcraig]

This isn't Kool Aid, it's the real world. RIM is in trouble.

Here's my problem with your statement. Define "trouble." Can they or will they lose marketshare - sure. Is that trouble? I guess in a way. But many companies and products can SHARE the market and still do fine. Will they be the juggernaut they used to be? Who knows. Technology changes on a dime and just like Apple reinvented itself, so could RIM. And that doesn't have to be in the cellular industry either.

Point is - Doomsayer comments like RIM is in trouble is just rhetoric.

 

[Centient]

I think this is a leg up for Apple in general. Offering Apple consumers better synchronicity among their Apple devices. Or basically enclosing Apple consumers further within the walled garden. Depends on your perspective I suppose.

 

[samcraig]

I know, and I have no problem with choice. In fact, I'm the guy who has repeatedly said that no company will ever dominate the phone market the way the PC market was dominated. So I'm well aware that there will always be two or three primary choices in smart phones.

My point is that among the reasons picked Blackberrys or Android phones up until now was because of a perceived lack of functionality in the iPhone. So while price will be an ongoing decision maker, and service provider choice will be an ongoing decision maker, and user prejudice will always be a factor, lack of iPhone functionalilty will increasingly fade away as a dominant factor.

That's your opinion and you're entitled to it. It's just not necessarily fact. What statistics are there that functionality vs price vs service provider is there on the decision making process? And even if you eliminate price and carrier - and even if functionality is the same. There will always be people that just don't want an iPhone or to support Apple just like there will always people who want to.

 

[NebulaClash]

That's your opinion and you're entitled to it. It's just not necessarily fact. What statistics are there that functionality vs price vs service provider is there on the decision making process?

Common sense should tell us that each of these factors plays a part for someone. How could it not? Are you suggesting there is no one on the planet that uses functionality as a deciding factor? Or price? Or service provider?

And even if you eliminate price and carrier - and even if functionality is the same. There will always be people that just don't want an iPhone or to support Apple just like there will always people who want to.

Which is one of the things I said too. So I fail to see why you are disputing what I'm saying.

As for RIM, yes, I'm talking about a market share erosion, and I'm deliberately being forward-looking to a future that I think is on the way but not here yet. RIM is quite profitable at the moment, but there are tipping points in the phone market where a successful company suddenly becomes an also-ran. I think RIM is rapidly reaching one of those tipping points.

 

[Nightarchaon]

Ok , so my contract is up at the end of this month on my 3GS, I watched the ios5 news , and do you know what , i am jumping ship to android, specifically the Sony arc , I love the screen size , love the feel of the phone in my hands , and love the fact I can replace the battery myself when it dies .

My 3Gs battery , with blu tooth , GPRS, push notifications and minimal use for texting , is flat before the day is out .. And I say flat . To the point of powering itself off and being unusable for 30mins when put on charge.

If it was not for the fact that apple want what I consider a fortune to essentially swap out my phone for a refurbished unit (change the battery as the call this in the apple store) I'd happily live with my 3GS longer .

My iPad has sucked up the idevice need I have, and now I find myself wanting a phone that still does emails and Facebook, but that feels better to use as a phone, and sadly , when your not using the AppStore for games and things , the apple apps kind of suck ( everyone I know uses google chat on android phones and they see updates live , I've got to keep logging into a web app because apple won't let a live chat application run)

So, so long apple phone , I only need one idevice , your iPad has lost you an iPhone sale .

 

[chiefroastbeef]

I too agree Rim is in trouble, they continue to update their line, but their phones contain no stand out hardware/software innovation. Some of their phones get pushed back on its release date, the Playbook was missing vital features when it first came out. For goodness sake a battery pull on my 9700 Bold takes 4 minutes to reboot.

I have been using blackberries the past 3 years, I am absolutely switching to iPhone whenever iPhone 5 comes out.