A Look At Where The Smartphone Industry Is Headed In 2010

The smartphone industry is mainly driven bythe in-between extras of other higher priced phones
Apple’s market share growth that has been 10xsuch as web browsing and Bluetooth, and a unique 3.5"
higher than its competitors within the last year. On thetouch screen that packs the device’s exceptional
other hand, Apple has faced tough competition by keytechnology. The latest model of the iPhone, the iPhone
smartphone manufacturers. For instance, Nokia sold3GS, runs twice as fast as any 3G model, from
approximately 18,441,000 units in the Q2 of 2009, andswitching apps to opening attachments and sending
RIM (Blackberry) sold approximately 7,680,000 units.text messages, and has a longer battery life although
During the same period, Apple sold approximatelyhigh-speed networks need more power.
6,900,000 units. Other key players in the smartphoneAndroid OS or iPhone?
industry are HTC, Fujitsu, Sony and Motorola.One of the reasons that the iPhone will continue
Android OSprevailing in 2010 is because the iPhone features the
For many consumers, the main competition is betweentouch screen. The Android OS comes with a
the iPhone and the Android OS that was launched inQWERTY slider keyboard that, no matter how good it
the market in 2008. According to a survey conductedis, it cannot have the same on demand, streamlined,
by ChangeWave, 4,068 consumers believe thatglossy feel of the iPhone.
Motorola Droid is a direct threat to the iPhone and alsoAnother plus for the iPhone is that its advanced
one of the best smartphones available on the markettechnology and high quality parts allow anyone to
today due to the native support for Exchange, thecreate and publish games and apps to the Internet for
unified contact list and the exceptional new mappingdownload, thus offering the ability to create a huge
and navigation application from Google. Besides, 21%variety of apps specialized for the iPhone alone. This
of respondents who plan to buy a smartphone withinmeans that as the iPhone’s popularity increases,
the next 3 months they would prefer a smartphonethe developers of an application will enjoy greater
that features the Android OS.earnings.iPhone or any other competitor?
However, in the Q4 of 2009 the Android OS wasFor its fiscal Q3, RIM reported $3.9 billion revenues, up
ranked second in consumer preferences among the11% from fiscal Q2 and 41% from the Q3 of 2008. Net
key mobile operating systems, after iPhone OS whichincome for Q3 was $1.10 per share versus 69 cents in
remains the number one choice for operatingthe Q3 of 2008. Research In Motion (RIM), the
systems.iPhonecompany behind the BlackBerry, delivered more than
If one needed to put a hierarchy in the needs of10 million mobile communication devices during the Q3
consumers that are targeted by smartphones, then thealone. Besides, the company estimates an increase of
most important would be (1) handling phone calls6.8% to its subscribers from 4.4 million to 4.7 million.
including battery life and call quality; (2) sending textOn the other hand, for many consumers and telecom
messages; (3) handling email; (4) navigating phoneanalysts, RIM delivers short. If they do not rewrite their
numbers; (5) featuring web browsing; and (6) featuringOS from scratch, they are likely to be left behind in the
advanced customization. And the truth of the matter ismobile OS battle and 2010 will be a critical year for
that the iPhone performs well or even shines in all ofthem.
the above.In conclusion, the iPhone is likely to dominate the
Although competition is tough, the iPhone is currentlymarket in 2010 as well. Although competition is tough,
the landmark of the smartphone industry, for the mostthe RIM’s limitation to deliver on long-term and the
part because it features amazing technologicalfact that Android is still experimenting with Google
advancements. Without neglecting the fundamentals ofbeing on the lead for entering its own branded phone,
a phone such as calling and texting, the iPhone offersleaves iPhone on the top.