Smartphones are the latest new hot gadgets to have. It is no longer good enough to just have a cell phone, or even a cell phone with a full keyboard with unlimited texting, 3G internet, picture mail, etc. Having one of the many smartphones on the market that allow different apps, games, email accounts, etc is a must-have for many consumers. Many of these smartphones make it unnecessary for one to use a traditional computer as often. I'm gonna discuss 3 of the most popular and proven smartphone brands: Blackberry, iPhone, and Android.
Blackberry:
I currently own a Blackberry Curve so I realize I am biased in this analogy. Therefore, I based this discussion on research I conducted prior to deciding on a Blackberry, and on opinions and facts from others I know. The Blackberry is currently the #1 selling smartphone on the market, and the most business practical. It was previously behind Palm in terms of organization and business-use. However, it became more user-friendly for the general user in late 2007 and has since boomed in popularity. The Blackberry Messenger (BBM) app is one of the more popular apps, as it allows one to keep in contact with other Blackberry users, irregularless of the Blackberry model they may own (Pearl, Curve, Storm, or Tour). Blackberry messaging also doesn't take away from your text message usage, and is more advanced than traditional texting. It's also easy to do a conference with very little delays, and some BBs are international. Having access to up to 10 different email accounts at once is a major positive as well. BBs have more apps than ever now, especially with the App World app that lists all of the free and paid apps. Some of my favorite apps include BBM, UberTwitter, Facebook, Poynt, and Pandora. It is now possible to personalize your BB for recreational use. Many complaints, outside of the app selection, are that BBs are "disposable" and crash very often. This can be true, esp if you use too much of your data, don't back your phone up regularly, etc. Companies do offer significant discounts on BBs, and EVERY major cell phone carrier has the Blackberry. The trackball on the Curve and Tour has also caused problems, users complaining of them getting stuck. Nonetheless, I still love my Blackberry, although I've only owned mine for two months.
iPhone:
The iPhone has been out for 5 years now and there has been several upgrades but the basic iPhone is still in place. AT&T is currently the only carrier that offers the iPhone so you have to be an AT&T customer to own one. There have been many complaints about AT&T service, often comparing it to Sprint (those that know me know my feelings towards Sprint mobile). Nevertheless, the iPhone is considered a dream of a smartphone, particularly for Apple lovers. They have almost any app known to man, plus the many capabilities of the iPod Touch. It is purely touchscreen, which is a positive if you are a fan of touchscreen phones. It is very much a recreational phone, although it can be used for business as well. iPhones also have uStream, and you can have live video chats with other iPhone and even Droid users. However, the iPhone isn't even as durable as many BBs or Droids, and replacing them is a much greater chore. The Internet on the iPhone is superb however, waay moreso than a BB. In my opinion, however, the iPhone is more for the casual user and doesn't have the business capabilities of a BB. One of my friends that despises BBs was making the joke that BBs are basically kiddie phones and that a toy company such as Fisher-Price should distribute them. To me, you could possibly make that same argument for iPhones. I mean, the apps, music and games are great. But how many apps and games does one adult really need? Also, the iPhone battery is built-in, until BBs and Droids. If the battery goes bad, you often have to replace the entire phone.
Android:
The Android, Droid, etc. is the hottest new commodity in the smartphone market. Microsoft and Google were NOT going to be out-done in this arena, so they have created a variety of phones capable of competing with the BB and iPhone. HTC, Samsung and Motorola are the main distributors for Droid phones, and they are available on every carrier. In a sense, Droids are the PC-answer to the iPhones. They also have several apps, many of them are free where they are not on the BB. The Internet, video, and uStream are superb as well. Many Droids have the options for the virtual and the traditional keyboards on the same phone. Droids also do not crash as often as BBs, and are typically faster on running apps and such than BBs or iPhones. Just like the iPhone, if you're a fan of Apples and Macs, the Droid is a great option if you're a huge Microsoft fan. Droids have definitely taken smartphones to the next level. They're not as proven as BBs or iPhones in my mind but they are definitely on their way
Basically, whichever phone you decide to end up with (or stay with) is merely a matter of personal preferences. I have my reasons for why I chose my Blackberry, and that is that. I don't condemn anyone for their choices. I ask that folks keep an open mind, and look at the advantages/disadvantages of each phone. Some phones have many negatives, and need waay more "cowbell" than the next phone. However, I truly believe there is a smartphone out there for every gadget junkie. Question is, which one is it for you?
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