It may be the first bad news ever about the Apple (AAPL) iPhone, It is certainly good for RIM (RIMM), the maker of the Blackberry, According to research firm IDC, the iPhone lost smartphone market share in the US during the first quarter.
Reuters writes "According to the report Rim’s share of the U.S. market for advanced phones with computer like features such as e-mail rose to 44.5 percent in the first quarter from 35.1 percent in the fourth quarter while iPhone’s share fell to 19.2 percent from 26.7 percent in the fourth quarter."
Motorola’s (MOT) share fell from 7.5% in Q4 to 2.6% in the first quarter.
The iPhone shows a vulnerability. Whether the introduction of a 3G version, which many potential buyers have been waiting for, will push Apple’s piece of the market up remains to be seen. The newer version will run on AT&T’s (T) fast network instead of the current 2.5G infrastructure.
The study does support the strategy of RIM (RIMM). Its Blackberry, probably the best mobile e-mail device in the world, is doing well as the company introduces new, move consumer-friendly versions of what has been mostly a business device.
No wonder RIMM trades near a 52-week high.
Douglas A. McIntyre
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