Blackberry Owner Knocks iPhone Down a Notch

After Thorsten Heins’ attack on the iPhone “lacking innovation” last week, sparks flew between smartphone companies. However, the iPhone makes up of 38% of the world’s smartphone usage while the Blackberry has dwindled down to a meager 5.9% over the last four years. On campus, the choice was very clear: 46 out of 50 students answered that the iPhone was better than the Blackberry.

When asked if they even knew someone who still had a Blackberry, only seven students answered “yes”. Senior Emilee Hawkins explained, “Apple is a brand that always has something new- I’m sure we’re in for a surprise with the iPhone 6.” And who doesn’t love a good surprise as opposed to the daily grind? But Heins, the owner of Z10 that produces the Blackberry, believes the iPhone doesn’t have much to do with multi-tasking.

The iPhone, while having some exciting features, serves more as a social device than a professional one. Businessmen all over have been said to prefer the Blackberry- especially those with buttons. The Blackberry Torch with a modern touch screen is forecasted to have a lower sales rate. By Heins’ own admission, Z10 has “lost market share quite a bit” in the past few quarters.Another important thing to note is that the Blackberry was a fad; much like the iPhone is now. Five years ago, everyone had a Blackberry. Now, even your grandma has an iPhone. The truth of the matter is that Apple’s marketing strategy is much more aggressive than Z10’s.

Even if you do not have an iPhone yourself, you’re sure to have seen the commercials on a daily basis. You’re also likely to have an iPod or some other Apple device. Naturally, you’re in and out of an Apple store rather frequently. But there is no ‘Blackberry Store’ that a person can just waltz into and grab their favorite device.

Although Thorsten Hein’s scathing comment on the iPhone sounds more like a jealous dig, there could be a kernel of truth into what he’s saying. Are there many differences between the iPhone 4 and the iPhone 5 except that one is much longer than the other? Does the 5 have the capacity to do more and to do it more efficiently?

Not really, no. It has great interactive features but these same features carry on from one phone to the next. The iPhone did indeed “revolutionize” the phone industry, but it fails to continue to do so. And if Apple fails to deliver on its usual surpassing of expectations, it may fade away just like the Blackberry did.