Blackberry still rules the Smartphone roost

As reported in BetaNews, Google’s Android Smartphone OS has taken over the second place slot in market share, surpassing the iPhone. However, while just about every media outlet has started shouting that the Android phones will kill the iPhone market and own the Smartphone space, many are glossing over the fact that neither of those two Smartphone OS’s was in the top slot.

Research in Motion (RIM) still dominates the Smartphone market in most regions.  They’re above both Android and iPhone here in the US by about 8% above Android’s market share (as per NPD Group and their Wireless Markets Report).  So what does that say about the Smartphone market in general?

First, Smartphones are still the domain of the corporate user.  Google and Apple both tried to bridge the gap and bring the Smartphone to the general market, but it would appear that the majority of users are still corporate folks who are using devices to access email and Messaging and Collaboration Platforms, like Exchange Server.  Blackberry Enterprise Server (BES) gives the Blackberry handhelds a strong advantage here, as most mid-sized to large enterprises have BES servers already in place. 

Secondly, administrators like control.  While the Android and iPhone OS’s both use Exchange ActiveSync and/or Outlook Anywhere (natively or via 3rd-Party tools), they do not have the ability to centrally manage devices to the level that the Blackberry handhelds do.  Sure, I love Good Technologies and everything they’re doing to offer centralized management for Android, Windows Mobile, iPhone, etc. The problem is that a lack of cross-platform interoperability, and the sheer number of OS versions, updates, vendors, carriers, etc. makes things difficult to keep on top of.  BES offers a unified platform as all of their updates, software and versions are controlled by a single entity (RIM) even though they go through many different carriers.

Finally, change takes time.  I have no doubt that as Windows System 7 Phone platforms grow, and as Android and iPhone stabilize a bit and allow for more serious centralized control, that these platforms will offer a serious threat to the Blackberry dominance of the corporate marketplace, and the Smartphone marketplace overall. Compared to BES and Blackberry handhelds, these other devices are downright young, and there is something to be said for waiting for maturity before passing judgment.

In the end, this battle is far from over.  Eventually the Smartphone will indeed begin to become truly popular with non-corporate users.  Eventually other Smartphones besides Blackberries will begin to allow administrators much more control than they do today.  Once the playing field is leveled, RIM will have a very real challenge on their hands.  For now, though, read past the hype and realize that Android and iPhone are fighting for second place, not first.