Study shows BlackBerry users' desire for something new

To those who take even the least bit of interest in the wireless industry and smartphones in particular, it's no secret that RIM's BlackBerry platform has been in dire need of a complete refresh for years now. Sure, there have been OS updates, and OS 5.0 has ushered in many great things, but in a world of iPhones and the ever-growing Android platform, it's just not enough.

This accepted truth is detailed quite well in a study performed by Crowd Science, released Sunday, showing that RIM hasn't retained the kind of brand loyalty it might have had in the past.

A lot of things have changed in recent years -- BlackBerry isn't really one of them. RIM did introduce the first-ever touchscreen BlackBerry with the Storm, but what seemed like a great idea was implemented horribly and quite possibly pushed users to the iPhone even quicker, as early adopters were likely looking for something that could stand up to Apple's offering.

Of the people polled, 40% of BlackBerry users are seriously considering the iPhone for their next smartphone purchase. It's not just that the iPhone is particularly enticing, however. When asked if they'd give up their current device for Google's Nexus One, 32% of those same BlackBerry users admitted they would. For comparison, a mere 9% of iPhone users said they would consider the switch. The opposite is true as well. Those already using Android said they would prefer sticking with their current platform 9 to 1, as opposed to leaving for the iPhone.

What does this all mean? To put it simply -- trouble for RIM. Sure, it's still the market share leader in the U.S., and its Curve line was the top-selling smartphone series in Q4 2009. If Crowd Science's research really does represent BlackBerry users in general, however, all it takes is the right pricing and a mass-ending of contracts, and RIM could see a quick turning of the tables. And let's not forget, the fourth-generation Apple iPhone will launch this summer with a host of new features.

To put things in perspective, the iPhone is still only available from one carrier in the U.S. and it was already the single most used smartphone in 2009. Imagine if it was available from every carrier.

Also of importance here is the size of the group tested. In total, 1,140 people were surveyed. Of which, only 15% were BlackBerry users. Chances are, there are quite a few BlackBerry die-hards who weren't asked their opinions. We would love to see Crowd Science take this study a bit further.