Ripe for picking: Apple or BlackBerry

Phone carriers, choices and costs
If you like AT&T Wireless’ service and network, and you want an iPhone, you’re set. In the United States, Apple and AT&T Wireless are wed to each other for the next four years with an exclusivity agreement.

One of the things some iPhone owners haven’t been particularly crazy about is the marriage between the two companies.

In its survey of what iPhone owners dislike most about their phones, ChangeWave Research found the largest number — 21 percent — said they were unhappy with the speed of AT&T’s network. By going to 3G now, that will improve. But second on the list of dislikes, by 17 percent, was the requirement to use AT&T Wireless.

One-third of the iPhone owners in the Rubicon Consulting survey said they carry a second mobile phone with them, although they were not asked why. The firm noted that among those who carry another phone, the BlackBerry “was the most popular, carried by almost one iPhone user in 10.”

“As Apple adds Microsoft Exchange compatibility to the iPhone, it's possible that some of the dual users will discard their BlackBerrys,” the firm said. “On the other hand, the people carrying both may be doing so because they want to use the BlackBerry's built-in keyboard to type messages.”

There are two models of the iPhone, one with 8 gigabytes' storage, the other with 16 gigabytes. Pricing will be dramatically lower for the 8-gigabyte phone, at $199, down from $399. The 16-gigabyte iPhone will retail for $399, down from $499.

In contrast, there are several models of BlackBerrys that are offered by many cellular carriers, including Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile, Sprint Nextel and AT&T Wireless.

When it comes to pricing, $200 — after rebates and signing up for a two-year contract — seems to be the current sweet spot for a BlackBerry, with some models as low as $100.

Due out this summer is the 3G BlackBerry Bold 9000, which has a black, glossy, ultra high-tech look while still providing a keyboard. Its 2.66-inch display is smaller than the iPhone’s 3.5-inch screen, but it will match the iPhone’s 480-by-320 pixel resolution, so its resolution should be sharper. It will also display pixels at 217 pixels per inch, compared to the iPhone’s 163 pixels per inch.

There is no word yet on pricing for the Bold, which will be carried by AT&T.

Yet another BlackBerry is in the works for release this year, one that has been code-named “Thunder,” and would purportedly be RIM’s first touchscreen BlackBerry.

Mark Guibert, RIM’s vice president of corporate marketing, declined to comment on the Thunder. “We have so much to talk about that’s being delivered today, we don’t comment on any of those rumors,” he said.

GPS, Wi-Fi and camera
The new iPhone is GPS-enabled, a feature that is high on the wish list of many cell phone users.

Figuring out which models of BlackBerrys have GPS is a little tricky, especially with the devices’ numbering system. The BlackBerry Curve series, for example, has two models, the 8310 and 8330 that have it. But the Curve 8300 and 8320 don’t.

It’s the same with the BlackBerry Pearl series. Two models, the 8110 and the 8130, have built-in GPS, but the Pearl 8100 and 8120 do not.

The iPhone has Wi-Fi, for Internet access using wireless networks. Only one model of the BlackBerry Curve, the 8320, has Wi-Fi. Of the BlackBerry Pearl’s four models, there’s also only one, the 8120, with Wi-Fi.

The BlackBerry Bold 9000 will have both GPS and Wi-Fi, RIM has said.

The iPhone has a 2-megapixel camera, as do all models of the BlackBerry Curve, and all but one model of the Pearl (the 8100, which has a 1.3-megapixel camera). The Bold’s camera will be 2 megapixels.

Even if you’re itching for an iPhone, Enderle recommends buyers wait a few weeks after it goes on sale.

“Read some of the reviews of the product, and find out if there are any problems or bugs, which isn’t unusual,” he said. “Some people may want to get another device that might better fit their needs. It’s just better to make an informed decision.”

MORE FROM DIGITAL HOME

Digital Home Section Front

Kindle DX: A little ungainly Digital TV questions and answers Lines between netbooks, laptops keep blurring Dell launches 'Della,' a women's PC site IT survey: Not quite ready for Windows 7 AOL: You've got irrelevancy? Not your mother's Garmin or Nokia Can other 'app' stores work for mobile users? Non-removable batteries aren't a charge for all Kindle for iPhone not the only e-book reader Digital Home Section Front   Add Digital Home headlines to your news reader: