The latest device from Research in Motion has more than a passing resemblance to the Apple iPhone, with the obvious addition of a QWERTY keyboard. But does it have what it takes to attack Apple’s successful iPhone?
For my money, this is RIM’s attempt at an iPhone killer. It’s not just the QWERTY keyboard that is designed to burst Apple’s smartphone bubble (the iPhone allows text entry via its touch-sensitive screen, but many business users will still prefer a proper keyboard, albeit a small one).
The BlackBerry Bold, scheduled for availability in “summer”, also features tri-band HSDPA, support for Wi-Fi networks, integrated GPS and desktop-style web pages. With the ability to talk on the phone while still sending and receiving email, accessing the web, or even editing Word, Excel or PowerPoint files, this is a serious phone aimed squarely at business users.
A recent Blackberry convert myself, I quickly realized that a Blackberry is more than the sum of its parts: it is more than a phone with email, web and other applications. As RIM co-CEO Mike Lazaridis has told me on more than one occasion, it is RIM’s integration of all the various hardware and software elements (atop RIM’s own Java operating system) that sets it apart from rival smartphone platforms.
So while consumers may still opt for the Apple iPhone, for the business market the BlackBerry Bold should be a pretty effective iPhone killer.
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