Whither the iPhone killer?

The iPhone has enjoyed a strong run, leapfrogging RIM to claim second place in the smartphone market with 17.3 market share, as reported in Ars Technica. But will Apple be able to hold or grow its iPhone market position in 2009?

I polled a group of 17-year old neighbors yesterday, asking them what gadgets they crave. Most would love an iPhone but, barring that (due to cost or carrier reasons), one phone that got a lot of praise is the Samsung Glyde. While CNET didn't give it much love, these teens loved the slide-out keyboard. (Giving how often some of them bathe, it's probably ideal to keep touchscreens away from them.)

Samsung and others will likely give the iPhone a run for its money, but I would guess that the primary competition to Apple in 2009 will actually be spending inertia. I've wanted the 3G iPhone for months, but I simply can't justify the purchase: my old iPhone works just fine, and this economy isn't the time to be spending on nice-to-haves.

While the iPhone is better positioned than RIM to win over both businesses and consumers, in a recession the best option may be to buy nothing at all. Even Apple can't compete with that.

[loose_screw]

iPhone killer?

Samsung + Android = maybe

Samsung + WinMo = no

[jrepenning]

I think you meant "whence": where will the iPhone killer come from?

But since you've identified the iPhone killer as "nothing," one might well ask "whither goest thou, 'nothing'"? Not very far, I suspect.

[myles taylor]

Whither works as well. I would have said whence too as it sounds better and makes a little more sense, but whither does work.

[xraydude]

I've gotten a Samsung Omnia to hold me for the 2 years before the iPhone gets a wider distribution, ie.,Verizon, although they might still not carry it out of spite. When Verizon drops the lock on GPS in the next couple of months, the Omnia could be a decent(not good) substitute. I want my iPhone, but not with AT&T.

[Heebee Jeebies]

Blackberry Bold is head and shoulders above the iPhone. Apple retains too much control, iTunes just sucks for taking care of the iTune. Having to spend money on Apple's mobile service to be able to sync things like notes and contacts from your desktop to the iPhone is just another suck. Can't listen to music through the bluetooth, it doesn't work with most iPod accessories making it less than fantastic for a music player (if all you want is head phone use then so bit, but I want to carry my music in one place and use it at home with my stereo and in the car, etc.)

The touch screen and interface are nice but that is about it. I am also deeply bothered by Apples mood swings when it comes to the App store and submission approval, it is almost like they have their time of month several times a month.

Apple is over priced, over hyped. If people want the status symbol of the Apple logo well that indicates they are stupid as a stump. I want functionaly, not a status symbol. For these reasons and many more I sold my iPhone and went Blackberry Bold and couldn't be happier. My second foray in to the world of Apple will be my last. Apple can rot for all I care and it will when Steve Jobs croaks.

Robert

[cnet.aaron]

Wow, bitter much? I have an iPhone that I put in a disguising case. I even put my own logo over the Apple logo. I'm telling you this just so you know it's not about status, it's about functionality.

Having used a Blackberry Pearl for over a year before switching to an iPhone, I can tell you that there is a huge difference in not only functionality, but ease of use. The iPhone simple trounces anything that RIM can put up against it. As an IT Director, I use my phone to control servers and workstations, as well as my home computers. I can stream music from my home collection and easily transfer a ton of different media.

Your misgivings about the app store are certainly grounded in reality, but the simple fact is that denials are few and far between, and the approval process is getting better. One of Apple's biggest strengths is how they have listened to customers and made changes quickly in most cases.

I can't believe you even bring accessories in to the equation.

It sounds like you're more offended by the people who own the products than the products themselves. Why can't people understand that people place different value on different features, and what's great for one person might suck for another? Personally, I love my iPhone and I couldn't imagine owning any other phone, but I don't begrudge you your Blackberry preference, or call you 'stupid as a stump' for picking an inferior phone.

[Heebee Jeebies]

No just find it funny that people will choose a faddy touch screen with limited features and extreme control over what you can do and put on the phone over a phone that is much more free as far as what you can do with it, the development of applications for it, etc. basically for the Apply status symbol. The iPhone's feature set is weak, the applications that come with it are weak (why can't you type in notes and contacts and appointments in iTunes to sync to the iPhone? Instead you have go with Apples $100 a year mobile me service to do that). Apple can't seem to make up their mind about what apps to allow, like with everything else apple it is going to be their way or no way.

No I am not bitter, I just don't understand the must have Apple logo mentality. The fact that you and others feel a compulsive need to defend their weaknesses shows that you clear have this must have apple logo mentality otherwise you would be taking an objective look at the iPhone and see that it is weak in many areas. As for the Blackberry I never mentioned the pearl I was talking about the new bold. Which is 1000 times better than the iPhone in just about every way but one. That one is the touch screen. Nice, but not worth the less of so many other things.

Robert

[myles taylor]

See the problem with people who think that fanboys (and fangirls) are what fuels the Apple empire is that it doesn't. If it was true, Apple would never have a failed product, and they have a lot of them. After every fanboy buys the product, you have to sell it to the rest of the world, and that is what determines a products success or failure. I'm sure that 99% of the people who have iPhones and iPods, most of whom probably have never bought an Apple product before, aren't buying them for the symbol on the back. There are tons of people who are very happy with their devices. Whenever you sell millions of something, you are going to have thousands of people who didn't like it. It's a percentage game and the game is that the larger your customer pool, the larger your pool of unhappy people gets, regardless of how great your product is or how many people don't have problems with it, and those people are the most vocal as well. So the iPhone wasn't for you. (shrugs) A lot of people disagree. I'm glad you found a phone that suits you and you don't have to call those of us who have done the same stupid just because that phone happens to be an iPhone.

[myles taylor]

I want an iPhone, but like you, I have a working phone and an iPod touch, I can't justify it right now. But I'll eventually get one and there are enough people like us to keep the ball rolling.

I didn't think the iPhone would be a big hit when it came out. I thought it would enjoy a similar popularity to the Apple TV. So I guess I'm not great at predicting trends (something a share with Steve Balmer?). Anyway, I guess we'll have to wait and see. Way too many variables to predict it right now.