Comments on: Study: BlackBerry has twice failure rate of iPhone

The most prominent malfunctions for iPhone users appear to be touchscreen-related. The Apple device also is prone to accidental damage, users report.

[peterbayrealty]

The stats depends on the source of the data. The oldest cliche is: Garbage In Garbage Out. I don't own either one, so I'm not biased in either direction.

How was the data collected? Asking iPhone/BB users, asking repair centers to "voluntarily" give out company secret data, bribing support personel, etc. etc.

What type of questions were asked by the researchers? The phrasing of the question, or the choice of answers can skew the results in either phone's favor.

The favorite survey question: "when did you stop beating your wife" shows this as an example. The question itself implies that you have beat your wife, and the three choices are: 1.yesterday, 2. last week 3.last month. The answer "I never beat my wife" is not offered, and it's not one of the choices.

[bigtom4prez]

Let's just say, that most blackberries are paid for by businesses.

When a new Blackberry comes out, everyone in the office seems to have a malfunction with their old blackberry. Yep, we replace them with the new model.

[kenergyonline]

I think this is a crock! I have owned all 3 phones and the most reliable has always been the Blackberry! Who hasn't lost data on a iPhone? if you own an iPhone you accept it as a growing pain, this doesn't happen to a Blackberry user.

As for my experience well lets say I used to work at a BAR that doesn't serve drinks, but does fix computers! You figure it out!

[tnut13]

I have 10 iphone 3Gs in the office. 5 have gone back to Apple / ATT for various issues.

I have 30 BB's of various models, only 2 have gone back for any reason.

Looks like too many fanbois are impacting the test results.

[Vegaman_Dan]

Ironically, when all is said and done, my cell contract is up this spring and I will be looking very strongly at an Android or iPhone. I have my Touch and that gave me a sample taste of having the Internet in my pocket in a very usable form. I had a hard time justifying the cost of the data plans, but now that I've tried it, I have to say I'm very likely going to get one of the two. I like the Android OS, but you have to admit that Apple does drop dead sexy hardware and for a hand held portable device, that holds a lot of sway with me.

Blackberries don't have anything I am interested in at this time.

Failure rates of any portable electronic are hard to predict when you can take a wonderfully designed unit and give it to end users who will abuse it in ways the designers had never even dreamed of.

"What do you mean it wasn't meant to open beer cans with?"

[USDecliningDollar]

Just recently introduced the iPhone into our company, with no issues so far.

Regarding Blackberries - I have dropped mine a number of times, earlier in the year after the 365th drop the display finally broke. I had dropped it, inadvertently kicked it, sending it sliding across the parking lot, etc. Our CEO lost his BB in deep snow, found it during the spring thaw - to our surprise, it powered up and "kinda" worked. It didn't appreciate the dirt which had found it's way into every nook and cranny.

The Pearl, since it was so small, always ended up in pockets, collecting lint in the "pearl" mechanism, sometimes causing the scroller to be inoperable.

[orphu]

I question this study for multiple reasons.

1) Data gathered from mobile phone warranty company? I suspect most BBs are purchased by companies. Companies don't buy warranties; they return devices to the vendor and tell them to replace it or they'll take their business elsewhere

2) Anyone else notice that, in the third graph, there are no 'other' problems reported for the iPhone? I find this hard to believe. Bad data in, bad data out

3) I have ~ 60 BBs in the field. We're a heavy construction company and our guys dig trenches, build substations, climb telephones, etc. The biggest issue we've had with the hardware (one user only) is worn out PTT button. I've seen a couple of 7520s that have been run over by 3/4 ton pickups and still work. Hardware aside, it's easy to control software issues when you control the software that can be installed on the device like Apple does

4) Call quality issue #s. Unless they can tell me what percentage is related to the device and what percentage is related to the network, don't bother including them

5) 'touchpad/screen/keypad' area. That's the most important area, because if there's a problem here, the device is nearly unusable, and the iPhone, by far, is the worst

[jgristwood]

I think this article is skewed. (most iPhone articles are) Should you pick a particular model of Blackberry and compare that to the iPhone? They have a whole range of handsets from value to top of the line. You can't lump the Bold in with the Pearl and compare all Blackberry's to the ONE model of iPhone. The same goes for the Treo, they have a few different Palm and Windows mobile versions. Until Apple brings out a line of iPhone from value (haha Apple making a "value" product!) to top of the line, this is like comparing Apples to oranges!

[Seaspray0]

"SquareTrade's study did not take into account software issues handled directly by the retailer or fixed by firmware updates. "

Does this survey include the connectivity issue on 3G? The second generation of iphone wouldn't show up for more than half of this survey, and from what I see above, it was probably ignored all together since apple claimed to fix it with a patch. From my friends who have the second generation, the connectivity is certainly not the stellar review given by this survey.

[iNNoVaSioN]

This study isn't entirely comparing apples to apples nor does it contain enough information to call it a study. For one, it doesn't take into account that for "Call Issues" that the iPhone is only available through one vendor while the Blackberry's various models are available through various vendors.

[jadarukus]

half of my friends have iphones. i have a blackberry. more often then not, when i call my iphone friends (yes, i actually do use that wacky "call" feature) the calls drop. so much so that its a running joke that we have about 3 minutes to get the conversation in. just saying.

[tomg4255]

Flawed Study:

"SquareTrade's study did not take into account software issues handled directly by the retailer or fixed by firmware updates."

Which basically means that the iPhone's problem get a pass since AAPL is the retailer and manufacturer. Also means that all the call problems reported with the iPhone3G were ignored.

Wonder who paid for this?

[ferretboy88]

43% of iphone users make over $100,000 a year. The media is so in the tank for Apple its not funny. I would rather not have a phone instead of having an iphone.

[pebird]

Take a look at the "study" - clearly a bought piece.

The money quote is:

"SquareTrade has made efforts to ensure that the data we present is correct. SquareTrade
makes no warranty, express or implied, about the accuracy of the data."

No discussion about the sample data being statistically significant and to what degree. They surveyed owners who signed up for SquareTrade Care Plans. For NEW equipment !!!

Not that there would be any correlation between people who sign up for extended warranties for new equipment and then subsequent failures - like there is an incentive or anything like that.

What a PR piece bought for by Apple.

[whogoesthere]

I've taken my iPhone to the top of a 10,000' mountain (climbing - crampons/ice axes) in a winter blizzard (~15 degrees) pulling it out and taking pictures all the while. Kept it inside my bib while climbing, but it was ***cold*** nonetheless and it got snow all over it when I pulled it out to snap a shot.

Kinda dumb to do that, I know, but it worked perfectly and has ever since. They're more durable than you might think.

[BlitzBoy1120]

You guys should seriously update the news more often on the weekends.

Otherwise, the iPhone isn't as bad as everyone says. It depends on how well you take care of it. If you're gonna fill it with a buncha songs from limewire, or if you jailbreak it and download apps without precaution, no duh you're iPhone is gonna mess up.

Though, despite the charts, BlackBerry's are very reliable.

[strykernyc]

let see. I had an iPhone and trash it because the phone would die ramdon numbers in the middle of the night. At&T wouldnt help unless i pay more $$$$ so I had a blackberry and it work flawless but lack of free app (like windows) and $40 just for data suck big time but the phone was reliable. At the end I went back to my treo and to be honest I drop this phone more than anything I even got drunk and threw the phone at the F train lol sprint send me a free battery.... the phone still work excellent

[ejeon1989]

Did CNet, when they posted this article, take into account the number of people that own a BlackBerry to the number of people who own an iPhone? Even though the iPhone is gaining market share, there are still more BlackBerry's out in the world. If this is true, then their numbers are skewed in favor of the iPhone. This is why in statistics we set sample sizes and randomize the sample group when we can in order to get more accurate results. Tip to the people that came up with this survey: HIRE SOME ACUTAL STATISTICIANS!!!

[jaime9386]

I have a blackberry and I have dropped it a million times, even in beer, it shattered the glass but it worked like it was brand new. I love my blackberry and never had a problem. I think this article is bull because blackberry has a bunch of different devices out there while the iphone doesnt. if this was to be fair it they should specify a certain device i.e. the curve, it just makes more sense. So of course blackberry is going to have a higher failure rate because they have a bunch of different kinds of phones out on the market.

[blainedamaged]

Blackberry does not honor their warranty. If you must get one, buy insurance. The USB connection breaks because of poor design. I have had two fail. One had insurance, the other did not. Blackberry claims that this does not happen and WILL charge you $180. There is no escalation. I got the device back with a broken screen and no battery (new one too). Poor design, poor software, and the worst customer support.

Just say NO