Now such a phenomenon may happen again, and possibly to a greater degree, as Research in Motion's BlackBerry Storm 9730'click technology' touch screen is viewed as an advancement on Apple's innovative design. And just like Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL), RIM's tenacity in taking its time in development and to get to market, to get it right out of the gate may pay bigger, according to one industry watcher.
The reason? RIM (NASDAQ: RIMM) understands its user base just as well as Apple does, IDC analyst Ryan Reith told InternetNews.com. While many market watchers are already calling the Storm 9730, which RIM formally announced today, the biggest 'iPhone Killer,' Reith believes both smartphones will command impressive market segments.
"Smartphones are all similar but it's the touch screen that's the comparison point with these two devices," Reith said. "Apple and RIM both took their time but have different visions and different approaches," he explained.
Apple's vision, said Reith, was to provide an easy, enjoyable
multimedia experience. The iPhone's multi-touch user interface lets
users tap once to open applications and access functions, twice to
reset the screen panel, and move icons around, and slide/swipe to
browse music files, photos, e-mail and Web pages. For text, users tap
on a keyboard that will magnify certain letters during activity to help
avoid mistyping.
RIM's new touch screen mimics the look and feel and
incorporate the 'click' bump of current BlackBerry keyboards. That
provides users with a familiar experience, explained Reith. As another
pundit noted in a report issued yesterday it provides "superior" typing
accuracy as compared to the iPhone -- "leveraging a RIM hallmark" in
the handset maker's push into the consumer market.
In typing the BlackBerry touch-screen is depressed "ever so
slightly," according to a product press statement. Users experience a
gentle “click,” similar to a physical keyboard, according to RIM. Users
can also tap and slide screens for navigation needs.
"RIM has put precision into where the user's finger needs to be when typing," said Reith.
"I'm not saying one is right and one is wrong but RIM is pushing
the next wave in this [design] area," he said. RIM went with its touch
'click' approach as testing revealed that iPhone touch and as swipe
would frustrate RIM's heavy text user base. BlackBerry users are
typically enterprise application users and that means much more text
and e-mail use.
"What RIM did was make sure its touch screen fit the needs of
its users, just as Apple did," said the analyst. "Both are sticking to
the core fundamentals and the needs of their users," he added.
The fact that RIM is not deviating from what its loyal
'Crackberry' audience likes and wants could easily keep it ahead of
Apple in the market race, and way ahead of newcomers like Google and
its G1 Android-based HTC handset, said Reith.
"For example Google's G1 interface is going to change, as its
users' needs come into play. BlackBerry already has the core foundation
and is not giving up any efficiency, stability or security aspects in
its design changes," said Reith.
competitor and see them as head to head," said the analyst. "But both
have unique audiences and both are targeting those audiences."
Source : http://www.internetnews.com/
