By Natasha Lomas, 30 April 2008 15:27
NEWS
The BlackBerry and the iPhone must be two of the most talked about devices in the history of mobile. But what do the people who know them best really think about them?
A survey of more than 800 US smart phone users has shed light on the most loved and least liked functions of the two phones - and shown up key fronts on which the competition between the two might play out.
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While the BlackBerry has traditionally focused on the enterprise market and the iPhone was initially marketed as a consumer device - analyst Gartner recently dubbed the latter 'ready for business', following moves by Apple to license Microsoft's ActiveSync protocol which will enable iPhone users to get corporate push email.
Unsurprisingly - considering popular anecdotes of so-called 'CrackBerry' users checking email at inappropriate moments - the runaway winner for the title of 'most loved BlackBerry feature' is its access to email. This was cited by more than half (56 per cent) of owners surveyed - and probably reflects the gadget's enterprise-dominated user-base.
ChangeWave Research, which conducted the poll, quotes a BlackBerry user saying: "I like the seamless way my BlackBerry works with corporate email and the way you can call a number from within an email by highlighting it."
The next most-loved facet - but no way near as popular; chosen by just seven per cent of users - is its size. Meanwhile, five per cent said they are in love with the BlackBerry keypad. And the same percentage has apparently been wooed by its internet access. Four per cent simply cited 'ease of use' is its best feature.
By contrast, Apple iPhone users' lust for their gadget is more wide-ranging - with the largest proportion enthusing about its ability to combine several different functions. More than a third (36 per cent) said its best feature is its integration of phone, iPod and web browser. While a substantial chunk (27 per cent) confess to being dead impressed by the touchscreen. And 16 per cent have been wooed by its 'ease of use' - aka the Apple 'it just works' philosophy.
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Comments
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1. anonymous
I have a Blackberry for work, and an iPhone that I use everywhere. The ONLY reason to use the Blackberry is because of the corporate support for it's e-mail. But if that changed, and the company I worked for allowed for iPhone use, the Blackberry would be in the trash bin immediately. I feel like I've stepped back in time about 5 years whenever I use that vs using the iPhone. There's just no comparison.
2. Richard Davies
How can you call blackberry e-mail access as seamless and easy!?!
..when blackberries were the ONLY device to have push mail, they were good. Now everyone has it...blackberries are expensive propriatory devices for magpies to show off at the golf club.
GET OVER BLACKBERRIES!
3. anonymous
Being a long time PC user, I'm predisposed to dislike Apple, and I do - iTunes topping my "most hated" list.
However, having had a brief encounter of a friend's iPhone, if they bring out a 3G version with MMS and data-enabled bluetooth (all of which I believe are currently missing?) and add ActiveSync, there's a strong chance I could change from HTC smartphones running Win-Mobile 6.
Annoyingly, it is really easy to use and provides a great user experience.
It does indeed, "just work"!
I feel so dirty.
4. Dave
Don't you love the completely nonsensical hatred of Apple. Someone begrudgingly likes the iPhone when it is perhaps one of the best pieces of technology to come out in the last 10 years. Yes, it may cut some corners in its first iteration, but let's be fair, most mobile phones from long time players cut a lot of corners. When was the last time Nokia or SE came out with anything other than a new shell on a phone? I hope Apple continues to grow its iPhone business by adding functionality that many believed should have been in the first iteration. With a couple of additions, they will own the high end phone market.
5. Anonymous
iPhones and BlackBerries are both overhyped decent appliances.
The Palm Treo is still the king of useful business tool and play item.
6. Jack Lenox
iPhones are much, much better in my opinion: