Who will win the race for mobile supremacy?
Battle of the smart phone giants?
The race for smart phone market share and the hearts of the consumer has never been this heated, with Apple and RIM recently launching new devices – iPhone 4 and Torch 9800 respectively – and Android seemingly releasing a new smart phone every day. For customers there has never been a better time, competition in Canada appears to be heading in the right direction – albeit still early times – but smart phone penetration is increasing and innovation is rampant. With the enterprise market tapped out the name of the game is consumers and we are FICKLE. Yeah, I said it. So the reason for this post and the question we have been discussing in the office today is, is there room in the cell phone market for three giants the size of Google, RIM and Apple? It’s a valid question, because yesterday’s poster child of cell phones was Motorola with the Razr V3. Remember how hot, how revolutionary that phone was in terms of design and sheer sex appeal?
So can all 3 of these giants co-exist or will someone get the boot?
In Corner #1: Apple
Unstoppable since its launch of the iPhone in 2007, Apple appeared incapable of doing anything wrong until the recent antenna issue with the iPhone 4. Despite this setback, Apple’s iPhone 4 has been impossible to keep in stock and if the number of proposal requests at mycellmyterms is any indication – there’s no stopping it. Bumper case or not, people want the iPhone 4 no matter what. With the rest of the industry busy trying to manufacturer thinner, smaller devices, Apple innovated and set a whole new trail. While the iPhone was revolutionary on its launch and the iPhone 4 continues to improve Apple’s credibility in the enterprise market the gap is certainly closing. None the less the iPad frenzy a few weeks prior is a reminder that Apple continues to innovate and trend in the right direction.
In Corner #2: Google
One major plus for Android as a whole is the fact that by being an Open Handset Alliance (OHA), several vendors are currently developing on the Android Operating System. For that reason, Android devices over the last few months have been fast and furious and innovation has been rapid. From the HTC Magic, to the HTC Hero, and more recently the first 4G phone the HTC Evo to Motorola’s Backflip or Milestone and Samsung’s Gravity S to name a few. Google entered the market this year as well with its very own device the – Nexus One – with a direct to consumer strategy. While the strategy failed and the Nexus One has been discontinued one thing for sure is that Google really put Android on the map and customers continue to anticipate the next Android offering and a growing apps market.
In Corner #3: Research In Motion (RIM)
The darling of Canada’s telecommunications space, RIM still owns the enterprise market and has more worldwide market share than Apple and RIM combined. However, with growth limited to emerging markets – Asia – and reviews of the Torch 9800 mixed, the way forward seems a little rockier for this giant. Early sales figures for the Torch are reportedly disappointing and the importance of this device for market buzz and overall BlackBerry excitement is critical. Many BlackBerry loyalist are jumping ship in favour of the iPhone and Android more recently. The release of BlackBerry OS 6 is suppose to put RIM right back in the thick of things, but only time will tell if the new OS and hopefully a host of new products can stem the tide.
So what do you think?
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