Two weeks before the new iPhone 3G iPhone was released, a ChangeWave consumer survey showed it was
likely to have a tsunami-like impact on the smartphone market. A new survey,
however shows
users are eagerly awaiting the Bold, Thunder and KickStart with many likely buyers.
catapulting Apple into the lead in terms of planned consumer smartphone
purchases for the next 90 days. Note that RIM remains the leader among current smartphone
owners in the consumer market, and RIM holds a huge lead in the corporate
market.
Yet despite its current lead in both markets,
isn't taking the Apple 3G challenge lying down. The Canadian manufacturer has
multiple plans in motion to counter Apple's momentum among consumers, including
an already announced new product release (the Bold) and two likely additional
product releases (the Thunder and Kickstart).
arsenal, ChangeWave surveyed 3,567 consumers on their reaction to the new RIM
counteroffensive. The survey was conducted in the aftermath of the Apple 3G
announcement (June 17-23), but before the new iPhone model was released.
Preparing For Multiple Battles
Consumer respondents were presented a brief description
containing key features of RIM's new smartphone models, along with a follow-up
question asking them how likely they were to buy each model if and when it
becomes available.
The survey found the new RIM releases each showing
considerable potential among consumers once they actually get into the
marketplace.
-A total of 4% of respondents report they're Very Likely to buy the new
RIM/BlackBerry Bold when it becomes available. Another 13% are Somewhat Likely.
-Slightly less positive but nonetheless significant, 2% of
respondents say they're Very Likely to buy a RIM/BlackBerry Thunder when
available. A total of 13% are Somewhat Likely.
-Another 2% say they're Very Likely to buy a RIM/BlackBerry
Kickstart when it becomes available, and 11% are Somewhat Likely.
"These results show consumers hungry for all varieties
of BlackBerry," said Tobin Smith, founder of ChangeWave Research and
editor of ChangeWave Investing, who added, "it appears like when it comes
to the BlackBerry, the adage 'if you build it, they will come,' certainly holds
true."
The strength of these early survey results on the demand for
RIM's new products points to a potentially powerful counteroffensive to Apple's
3G iPhone, according to Smith. "The real losers in this smartphone battle
will most likely be the second-tier players, who could find themselves
increasingly pushed to the sidelines as the two Goliaths battle for market
dominance."
To find out which manufacturers are most at risk because of
the RIM counteroffensive, ChangeWave looked at the impact of the new RIM
releases on the rest of the smartphone industry.
times more likely to buy the new RIM models than the customers of other
manufacturers. The survey also found that the new RIM releases have a
significant potential to lure away customers from other manufacturers -- with
Palm (
and Samsung the most vulnerable.
buy any of the new RIM phones.