[dgrolem]

Many trying to defend the Storm as opposed to the iPhone are not giving enough priority in the discussion to the realities of the marketplace.

The Storm will never be an iPhone Killer for several basic reasons, none of which are related to features or technology:

Apple is the media darling. Apple is popular because it has become the "in thing". It doesn't matter if it has issues. If you admit it has issues, then the "in thing" you spent your money on is NO LONGER "in". This is why you see such intense defending of the iPhone. Many Storm owners bought their's as a tool -- not a toy. Tools generally don't make huge market impacts, toys do.

RIM is boring. Blackberry is designed for stodgy old business and that holds no interest for the the media. RIM will never be able to "catch up" with the iPhone in the fun department. There is NO WAY that the Storm could be an iPhone Killer. No matter how well done, the Storm could never generate enough "bling". They came out two year too late and they don't have the iTunes/iPod media awareness to leverage off.

Apple has more resources. Just look at the difference in revenues: Apple = $35B and RIM = $6B; and employees: Apple ~35,000 and RIM ~8,000.This all goes to the resources that they can throw at the problems. Apple will do anything to hold onto the excitement that they have generated. I'd be willing to bet that Apple's advertising budget is $500 M+. RIM's is probably in the neighborhood of $50-80 M. It is unfortunate that RIM has handed them the golden goose by releasing a device with so many problems. Now Apple doesn't have to work so hard to keep its lead.

RIM stores in every mall? There are Apple stores everywhere with technical specialist to hold your hands and fix your issues. Where do we have to go? Verizon tech support on the phone. They do a GREAT job, but nothing soothes the consumer's heart as being able to walk into a store and get your problem fixed. And by the way, can we sell you an iPod or Bluetooth headset???

The media bling of the iPhone covers its defects. The success of the Storm relative to the iPhone is no longer dependent on technical issues. It is about marketing, and Apple won. Is this a bad thing? NO. Don't be grudge Apple their success.

The Storm is wildly successful device, even with its problems. It will continue to make a huge impact in the market, but it is probably too far behind the iPhone in media coverage, resources and time to ever overtake the iPhone. Marketing will win everytime over similar technologies in consumer products.

People on this forum may view the Storm and iPhone as VASTLY different, but the average consumer doesn't. They say, "If they are approimately the same, then why not go with the LEADER". It is just the reality of the marketplace.

[NickyParsons]

That's a lot of text to read through. I opted not to and boiled it down to this: As long as the iPhone is not available on Verizon, there will be a significant market for the Storm.

[fecurtis]

RIM never declared the Storm to be an iPhone killer, the media did. The iPhone is a great phone and the two phones are in fact, very different.

As I've said many times before, its not about which phone is better its about which phone is better for YOU. For me its the Storm...despite its bugs.

Another advantage of the iPhone is that there's virtually no learning curve. A Blackberry is for someone who is either:

1. Stuck with Verizon
2. Or are computer savvy people who like to tinker with settings and options.

The Storm could also further its appeal once its app store opens in March. Lack of apps is a big negative for this phone if RIM wants to push this thing as a phone that does more than just "work stuff".

[dylanbb]

I love the fact that the Storm isn't as big as an iPhone. I don't know about you all, but I'm fairly pretentious about my "things" and frankly don't want something that alot of other people have. RIM is kind of a niche, you have to enjoy the community to enjoy the device. The iPhone you just buy in a store, go home, get in the app store and spend just as much as you just did on the phone. For some strange reason I enjoyed setting up Storm up for a few days to get it just how I wanted!

[frankiw]

I got to agree...it's never mention that storm is the iphone killer. Plus what is this about the revenue comparision, who is to say that rim is not goinvg to do well in the future. Don't forgot apple had the same prob a couple years back. Look what happen now. Alll thing need time to develope and your comment has become a bias and not a logical comparison. I like both phones but ultimately change to storm because of the features I personally use (business) not multimedia. As "buggy" as it is now....it's multimedia is also excellent if not the same as the iphone. Finally....PLEASE NO COMPARISON OF THE STORM AND IPHONE NO MORE. Its so damn irrelevant
Gge
Aldso

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[808StormGuy]

I'll wait for the movie.....

[podawk]

I agree with most of your post. no doubt Apple has a head start in the handheld device / phone market.

Apple has more resources. Just look at the difference in revenues: Apple = $35B and RIM = $6B; and employees: Apple ~35,000 and RIM ~8,000.This all goes to the resources that they can throw at the problems. Apple will do anything to hold onto the excitement that they have generated. I'd be willing to bet that Apple's advertising budget is $500 M+. RIM's is probably in the neighborhood of $50-80 M. It is unfortunate that RIM has handed them the golden goose by releasing a device with so many problems. Now Apple doesn't have to work so hard to keep its lead.

Revenue was 32.4b at apple during their 2008 fiscal year. The problem with looking at revenue is that the apple's figure is spread out over the whole product line macs, itunes, iphone, ipod, ect.... I would argue that when you break it apart RIM has more resources (to) devoted to the phone market.

RIM stores in every mall? There are Apple stores everywhere with technical specialist to hold your hands and fix your issues. Where do we have to go? Verizon tech support on the phone. They do a GREAT job, but nothing soothes the consumer's heart as being able to walk into a store and get your problem fixed. And by the way, can we sell you an iPod or Bluetooth headset???

There are TWO apple store around me and countless malls. not ripping on you I just found it funny. I know there are a ton of stores just not by me.

[anon(96573)]

All that but

Storm > iPhone

[thymaster]

Get over you iphone lovers RIM never proclaim the storm was an Iphone killer and that was not their intentions. The storm is totally different kind of beast. Its a matter of choosing what kind of phone that will suit your needs. If you're looking for a smartphone that gets business done and maintaining a large social network then go for the storm. If you're looking for a fun phone with lots of neat games then go for the iPhone. I'm sick and tire of a bunch of insecure iphone lovers coming here spoil our fun in this forum. Please take your iphone and go somewhere else because you're all annoying little pest.

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[anon(96573)]

I've also never seen an apple store anywhere. When I lived in Ohio we had about 4 malls around me and none of them had an apple store. I now live in Florida with a few malls and none of those have apple stores. I have never seen an apple store in real live. I don't believe they exist =P

[ThaScoopALoop]

I liked your points about the market, but I do have to agree that RIM did not intend upon this being an iPhone "killer." While one could argue that the storm was made to directly compete in the same market as the iPhone, the same could be said about the Voyager. Good luck comparing those two, but that's what the Voyager was for (it was Verizon's first touchscreen after all). In terms of demographics, if the storm were to be compared to anything, only the iPhone could provide a decent comparison (touch-screen based, media friendly, multiple use smartphone).

At the same time, much of the iPhone "killer" nonsense can be levied toward Verizon itself. They were the ones to present it to the media as a direct competitor to the iPhone, as opposed to just RIM's first touch-screen phone. Furthermore, that is a fair comparison, since they have many of the same features, and are entirely based around a touchscreen.

-my $0.002

[Acousticgtarist]

Could someone lead me in the right direction of an Apple store in the Philadelphia suburbs area..b/c I've never seen one..lol

Get over you iphone lovers RIM never proclaim the storm was an Iphone killer and that was not their intentions. The storm is totally different kind of beast. Its a matter of choosing what kind of phone that will suit your needs. If you're looking for a smartphone that gets business done and maintaining a large social network then go for the storm. If you're looking for a fun phone with lots of neat games then go for the iPhone. I'm sick and tire of a bunch of insecure iphone lovers coming here spoil our fun in this forum. Please take your iphone and go somewhere else because you're all annoying little pest.

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

The above post is as clear as it can get and I agree 100% with it.

[Elementary31]

i agree with the op...apple is great at marketing, its just what they do...rim does what it does and has been doing for since the beginning and thats make business oriented phones, even tho they have been trying to dive into the consumer market as of late they are still making blackberrys...i like both companies to be honest with you, i own a macbook pro and have owned 2 blackberrys so far plan on sticking with them for a while but i love all technology

just my 2 cents

[dgrolem]

Point taken by several folks over the lack of Apple stores. There are about a dozen near me. So, my view was obviously biased. Thanks for pointing that out.

The point of my post was NOT to compare the Storm and the iPhone as devices. That has been done enough! It was the marketing efforts that I was comparing and relating the iPhone's success to that marketing.

Finally, yes, the revenue @ Apple is from all operations, but that gives them the ability to shift revenues to the iPhone battle if they so desire. I have been in similar business battles against much larger foes. It is a very tough fight if they decide to focus on your market segment with the big guns.

For the record, I own a Storm, not an iPhone.

[BBSchase373]

BOOOOOOOOOOOOORRRRRRRRRRRIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNNNNNN GGGGGGGGGGGG...
/yawn
/sleep
who gives a flying duck
There is no iphone storm race, neither has a lead on anything and everyone is tired of hearing this same **** all the time

[minigts]

There are one or two at the most stores in Memphis and the surrounding area. Not to mention when you walk in, you're a target. Granted, this is the case for any phone store, but the "geniuses" at Mac truly think because they work at the Mac store they are something special. Guess what, you're not.

Tell me how the processor works, or how video is rendered based on video card technology or what Gigabit speed is. They can regurgitate Mac is the best stuff all day long, but when you start asking technical questions about ANYTHING, you'll see how a deer looks at 3am when a car is just about to hit it. Now not everyone is technical, but if you're going to try and sell something based on what you consider superiority in terms of hardware, get your sh%t together. The only thing worse than a Mac user who can't cope with reality is one of the Geek Squad from Best Buy who THINKS they know anything about the aforementioned.

The typical Mac user is someone who uses it for video editing (because it's superior, LOL oh my sides hurt from laughing at that one) or has too much money to spend or is pretentious or is a pretentious, video editing as% with too much money to spend. Let someone else explain this in better terms.

The iPhone is a piece of ****, and so is your face.

Disclaimer: The last part is more for humor as my wife has 2 Macs and would more or less not have sex with me anymore if she thought I truly felt this way.