Thread: Android and iPhone battle for Blackberry Users

Crowd Science, a company that generates analytics based on demographic surveys of website visitors, has published their semi-annual study that shows that nearly 40% of Blackberry users continue to prefer Apple's iPhone as their next smartphone purchase, but a third of them would also switch to the Android operating system. The study also found Android users rivaling iPhone users in loyalty, with about 90% of each user group planning to stick with their current brand when buying their next phone.

Asked if they'd swap their present phone for Google's new Android-based Nexus One, 32% of Blackberry users said "yes," compared with just 9% of iPhone users. This figure zoomed to 60% for users of smartphones not made by Blackberry or Apple.

Other survey results include:

• Android users are younger and less affluent than iPhone and Blackberry users.
• Users of all types of smartphones had downloaded more free applications than paid ones, with iPhone users more likely to pay for apps, Android users leading in free apps, and Blackbery users far behind on both.
• Both Android users and iPhone users were found much more likely than Blackberry users to use their phones only for personal use (32%, 28% and 16% respectively).
• 7% of Blackberry users use their phone only for business, with only 1% of iPhone users making that claim, and non-existent in the Android base.
• For the survey, the Crowd Scientists used 1,140 respondents from websites. 44% of these used a regular cellphone, not a smartphone. iPhone users composed 17% of respondents, followed by Blackberry users at 15%,Nokia at 10%, Windows Mobile user were 4%, Android 3% and Palm 2%.

For more details of the study click here Crowd Science Study

We would really like to know our members feelings on this issue. Would you be willing to swap for an iPhone ? Would you switch to an Android ? Would you answer be "No way I'd trade my Blackberry!! " This could have very interesting results. Personally, I am very comfortable and happy with my Blackberry Storm2. It's not perfect, but I doubt the others are either. It fits my needs...so I would NOT swap mine for either.

Please share your thoughts here.

I have had a blackberry now for the past 10 years and use it for both business and personal. In that time, I have had company "smartphones' because blackberry was not supported, so I have been exposed to quite a few. Here's what i think and these are my thoughts alone...

For Iphone or Android to replace the blackberry, they need to scrap their current product and start from scratch. I have said this before here at BBOS and will say it again, RIM has designed their product for the professional user. Although sales to teenagers who have fallen in love with the mystique of owning a blackberry or the current yuppy who uses it a a status symbol have probably surpassed the professional user, business use still remains RIM's core vision. That is why they have been so successful IMO as opposed to any other smartphone. They have come out with a product with a principle and dedicated purpose and have remained true to it. They have not pandered to the mainstay, but have worked around that idea in order to capture that market, and quite successfully i might add.

So, in a nutshell, my next smartphone will most likely be the Storm 3

Originally Posted by joshjamie

I have had a blackberry now for the past 10 years and use it for both business and personal. In that time, I have had company "smartphones' because blackberry was not supported, so I have been exposed to quite a few. Here's what i think and these are my thoughts alone...

For Iphone or Android to replace the blackberry, they need to scrap their current product and start from scratch. I have said this before here at BBOS and will say it again, RIM has designed their product for the professional user. Although sales to teenagers who have fallen in love with the mystique of owning a blackberry or the current yuppy who uses it a a status symbol have probably surpassed the professional user, business use still remains RIM's core vision. That is why they have been so successful IMO as opposed to any other smartphone. They have come out with a product with a principle and dedicated purpose and have remained true to it. They have not pandered to the mainstay, but have worked around that idea in order to capture that market, and quite successfully i might add.

So, in a nutshell, my next smartphone will most likely be the Storm 3

I,for one, look forward to the nexus one releasing on Verizon. The android operating system is not looking to compete with blackberry's as a business phone, but rather is one that is aimed for those people who develop, for those who are younger and for those who want an open source operating system.

Blackberry will keep die hards, such as your self, but will loose out to many who insist on having the new and better features that are possible with the smarter smart phones on the android o.s.

I was a loyal BB user from the day the S1 came out. That was when I first signed up with VZW too. I could've went with At&t that day and got an iPhone, but I didn't want one for many reasons - and I still don't care for it. Then the S2 came out and I was stoked. It was a nice upgrade.

But then a week or so later the Droid came out...

I went to VZW just to check it out and was blown away. Everything from the incredible speed of the OS, to the accurate voice search and widgets - all right there on the home screen. Turn-by-turn navigation and google maps with street view... and the list gets better from there.

I had no intentions of switching that day before I got there, I liked my Storm 2 and just wanted to see what the "Droid Does" hype was all about. I did the same thing with the iPhone a year before and wasn't impressed.

Anyways, I left the store still with my S2 that day, but all I could think about after I left was how impressive that Droid was. The next day, I switched. It was kind of a tough decision because I was so dedicated to BB, but I'm so glad I did, and thinking back it should've been a no-brainer. This phone impresses me everyday. Sure there is an Android OS update on the horizon (2.1), and I could download it and install it 'illegally' if I really wanted. But I'm in no rush - and MAN that's a good feeling!

I love Blackberry still, but clearly Motorola raised the bar with this phone. If BB could step their game up with the S3 and produce something really impressive then I will come back for sure. But right now it doesn't look like thats happening any time soon. Hell, they're still trying to get their browser to be worth using at all... I hate to say it, but if BB doesn't get with it then I may just be sticking to what I got now for a long time.

Note: I'm not sure I would feel the same way with a different android phone. Like the G1 for instance - I would never trade even my S1 for that piece of dogshit!!!

Nice article Orio! Take care dudes!

Originally Posted by E-man

I,for one, look forward to the nexus one releasing on Verizon. The android operating system is not looking to compete with blackberry's as a business phone, but rather is one that is aimed for those people who develop, for those who are younger and for those who want an open source operating system.

Blackberry will keep die hards, such as your self, but will loose out to many who insist on having the new and better features that are possible with the smarter smart phones on the android o.s.

I agree in part to some of what both you are saying. A Blackberry is first and foremost a device for business professionals. And Androids are marketed, and designed, for a completely different purpose.

That being said, the results of this survey don't shock me one bit. Until RIM revamps the "Blackberry Experience" RIM will continue to lose some of users to Android devices and iPhones. I would say probably 95 out of 100 of those people would be doing would not be using the device for business purposes, mostly. RIM will continue to lead that market.

I love my Blackberry and I really like what it allows me to do. I have a Storm 9530 and have had a few Curves before that. I do plan on getting the device formally known as the Tour 2 when ever that is released. Or if and when a Storm 3 comes to VZW, than I may decide to get a device like that.

That being said, I don't think I would be opposed at all with using an Android device. My friend has a Google MyTouch and I have played around with it a little and I like the device. It is definitely a platform that is more dedicated to being able to use a lot of different applications which are more geared toward some sort of of entertainment or personal activity. It is a very interesting and unique platform. IF I had a second device, I would strongly consider it being an Android device.

I am looking to get a new device in the next 3 months, hopefully. I do plan on it being a Blackberry and can't say, right now, that I think I will change my mind. I really do love my Berry and am optimistic for an updated Experience, which we have been told is coming, and we are all anticipating.

Originally Posted by bbprintz215

I agree in part to some of what both you are saying. A Blackberry is first and foremost a device for business professionals. And Androids are marketed, and designed, for a completely different purpose.

That being said, the results of this survey don't shock me one bit. Until RIM revamps the "Blackberry Experience" RIM will continue to lose some of users to Android devices and iPhones. I would say probably 95 out of 100 of those people would be doing would not be using the device for business purposes, mostly. RIM will continue to lead that market.

I love my Blackberry and I really like what it allows me to do. I have a Storm 9530 and have had a few Curves before that. I do plan on getting the device formally known as the Tour 2 when ever that is released. Or if and when a Storm 3 comes to VZW, than I may decide to get a device like that.

That being said, I don't think I would be opposed at all with using an Android device. My friend has a Google MyTouch and I have played around with it a little and I like the device. It is definitely a platform that is more dedicated to being able to use a lot of different applications which are more geared toward some sort of of entertainment or personal activity. It is a very interesting and unique platform. IF I had a second device, I would strongly consider it being an Android device.

I am looking to get a new device in the next 3 months, hopefully. I do plan on it being a Blackberry and can't say, right now, that I think I will change my mind. I really do love my Berry and am optimistic for an updated Experience, which we have been told is coming, and we are all anticipating.

It won't come. Blackberry has done nothing but brand its self as business professional. The new devices on these new platforms are social oriented. You can't have both, only one trying to be similar to another. That being, a business professional phone trying to be a social oriented phone or a social oriented phone trying to be a business professional phone. In either case they are trying to be something they really aren't. One or the other, you guys pick!

There are a lot of people that will not give up their berry's and the image that they present with their device, as I previously stated, but the android o.s. along with the iphone o.s. are targeting a complete different market, a market that seems to be quickly growing.

Lets say blackberry's never were invented. Would you guys choose an android platform or and iphone?

For me Blackberry all the way.....i only use it for personal use and i wouldn't switch it for another one...coming from a HTC, Motorolas, LG,Nokias i can only say the Curve 8900 its been the phone that has been with me for a year now...with that been said if blackberry didn't existed i would go for the iphone just because its an Apple product!!!!

I have had a curve, Storm, and now Storm 2. I use my BB for personal use mainly. I had a MotoQ before my BBs. MY reasons may be just the comfort of knowing my Blackberry. I know how it works...I know where find everything I need...If something doesn't work just right, I can usually tweak it right...I don't know what an Android will do, or what an iPhone will do.

So I guess what I would not switch to an iPhone, or a Droid, is the comfort I get "knowing" my Blackberry....

I've played with other phones extensively and other than the browser and a fancier ui, what am I missing? As far as browsers go with opera mini my browser is just as fast as iphone. As far as apps I got everything I need and more. With that said the fancier ui's are cool. I like the way android works with htc's sense ui. But my phone with all its upgrades does what I want it to do. My phone also syncs with everything I want it to. What I want is a bold 9000 with a 5 megapixel camera, webkit, touch screen, track pad, snap dragon and More ram. or a storm 3 with a 3.8 in. screen, snap dragon, webkit, 5 MP camera and more ram. As far as what I would have other than a BB, it would be a hard choice between the htc desire and the htc hd2.
Posted via mobile device

I am currently awaiting the release of two Android devices that will hopefully be released with my carrier. I've been hooked on BlackBerry for 2 years now and I still love it but RIM really does need to step up to the plate and compete with these other companies. I was with Samsung for such a long time and I thought I would never go to something else but it's all in the fun of trying new things out, I'm sure I'll come back to BB once something better than Storm 2 comes out though.

P.S. I will never, ever go to iphone.

Originally Posted by jcorv58

I am currently awaiting the release of two Android devices that will hopefully be released with my carrier. I've been hooked on BlackBerry for 2 years now and I still love it but RIM really does need to step up to the plate and compete with these other companies. I was with Samsung for such a long time and I thought I would never go to something else but it's all in the fun of trying new things out, I'm sure I'll come back to BB once something better than Storm 2 comes out though.

P.S. I will never, ever go to iphone.

I became a blackberry addict, but as you stated, they just aren't stepping up to the plate. I'm waiting for the nexus one on Verizon. Are you waiting for it as well, or the incredible?

Originally Posted by E-man

I became a blackberry addict, but as you stated, they just aren't stepping up to the plate. I'm waiting for the nexus one on Verizon. Are you waiting for it as well, or the incredible?

No, I'm not on Verizon even. I'm hoping to see the HTC Desire get picked up by Tmobile USA as it was released by Tmo UK-and there are rumors going that Tmo USA managers are being trained on it now. I'm also impatiently waiting to see if the Samsung Galaxy 2 is gonna be adopted by Tmo. I will wait as long as I need to since like I said-I love my storm 2 and I'm excited to see what else is in store for us.
Posted via mobile device

I had the 8350i on Nextel (my first smart phone) until it took a swim in the kitchen sink. It was my first Blackberry and I liked it.

After it's burial I decided to go on the CDMA side of Sprint and was given a Sprint 8330 curve by a friend who had just gotten the Palm-Pre.

Not much difference other than data speeds but the Wi-Fi on the IDEN device was a nice feature.

After a few months on the Curve a friend had signed up 22 lines with his company on Sprint. The reps gave him an extra Palm-Pre and HTC Hero as spares.

I had the luxury to test drive both devices.

The Palm-Pre was just not for me. I didn't care for Web OS and was disappointed I could not have the apps that I had on the curve.

I tried the HTC hero and while I had fun with it, it was more of a toy than anything else. I'm not a big fan of touch screens, I couldn't get used to it.

I also tried an HTC Touch Pro for a few days that I bought (and quickly sold) on eBay. I'm all set with Windows Mobile.

I had a jail broken iPhone that like the hero was fun, but more of a toy.

At the end of this crazy, irrational test drive, I bought a Tour from Sprint and could not be happier. My only wish is that it had Wi-Fi. I have a lousy signal in my house (with any carrier) which the Airave takes care of but it does nothing for the data part.

The device is solid, quick and well built. I don't like the fact that I think you lose data speed going through Blackberry's proxy servers so I eagerly await the new web kit enhancements we are hearing about.

I have had a blackberry on my hip for many years. My 8330 curve contract was up and I decided to go to the Droid. Long story short, I am now running a Blackberry Storm2.

It all depends on what is important to you. I needed a device that is a good email unit and a good phone. Browsing/games etc... are nice but these two are my top criteria.

The Droid is superior on paper. FAST, beautiful screen, tons of free apps and is configurable to a degree only dreamed of in BB land. Its more like a laptop for your pocket.

Its duties as a phone, however are an afterthought. There is no dedicated button for phone. Want to make a call? Unlock the phone, find your phone app and dial. On the blackberry, I can push a green phone button and there it is. I can also tap my bluetooth and use voice dial. Want to hang up? Push the red button. On the droid its all done on the screen, which is funny if the screen is off, or if you have switched to a different app than the dialer.

Ever try to add a signature for an exchange account to the default droid mail app? It doesn't exist outside of Gmail at the moment.

Cut and Paste? Not as easy as blackberry, nor is it universal.

It also seems that I have thumbs that are evidently not the form factor Motorola designed around. The hardware keyboard is a bad joke, and the virtual ones are neat but I made far too many mistakes. I like the click through, tactile feel of the Storm 2 much better.

I am hopeful the new webkit based browser improves the Internet experience of the native browser. The current one is sub-par. I make do with Opera 5 mini.

In any mobile device it all boils down to what is important to you. Try your next device out for a while and see if it does what you need it to do, the way you want it. Everyone's experience is different.

i think that im sticking with my berry, ive tried the droid and the eris and have friends that have the nexus one and i phone, but they also have trouble with there phones a lot of them dont want to say because they have to much pride but they tell me from freezing to phone turning off randomly to signal problems. now, with that said they cant change there os to get a better signal or speed up there browser so there stuck from day one with no signal in places when BB users can go in and hit up all the great hybrid makers, and wholla problem solved. and check this out i have a storm 1 9530. so for me Blackberry all the way.

Originally Posted by mrmojr1

i think that im sticking with my berry, ive tried the droid and the eris and have friends that have the nexus one and i phone, but they also have trouble with there phones a lot of them dont want to say because they have to much pride but they tell me from freezing to phone turning off randomly to signal problems. now, with that said they cant change there os to get a better signal or speed up there browser so there stuck from day one with no signal in places when BB users can go in and hit up all the great hybrid makers, and wholla problem solved. and check this out i have a storm 1 9530. so for me Blackberry all the way.

Gather all the best hybrid makers in the world (except the ones who went Droid.. ahem... cough... BBC) and you will still have the slowest browser on the face of the planet.

The problems you mention above are problems that I only had with BB, not once with Droid. I really don't have any need to upgrade to a leaked os, even if one WAS available.

The only gripe I have (the ONLY gripe) is the email app for non-gmail is buggy and kinda sucks like your browser does.