iPhone 2's competition (Blackberry Thunder) leaked, blown off..

Chauncey Dupree
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June 08, 2008
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BGR (not to be confused with PBR) got the latest Blackberry leak on their iPhone kil..competitor.  Interesting timing.

It looks pretty similar to iPhone version 1 overall in form factor.  It has lots of buttons (see right) but most importantly, it runs the Blackberry software that millions of businesses have doing their enterprise email.  Us IT people aren't known to like switching platforms very often so no matter how good or bad it is, it will get adopted in a lot of businesses.

If you've used an iPhone and a Blackberry, you know there is a world of difference in the details.  Web browsing for instance.

Here's a typical scenario: A small business director asks his IT guy "why can't we have an iPhone" (he just spent $20,000 on BBY infrastructure/clients and training).  IT Director: "Here!  Have a blackberry thunder, it is pretty much the same thing!"

Sorry to Mr. Small Business Director....

Speaking of drinks (PBR), does anyone else think the "blackberry thunder" sounds like a bad drink?  Maybe 2 parts blackberry schnapps and 1 shot of Rumpleminze?  OK, obviously the weekend is hitting.  Back to work!

 

 

Comments (13)

GJ Gustav (not verified) | June 08, 2008 - 12:42pm

Contrary to popular belief:
- not everyone buys an iPhone for email
- not everyone who works in enterprise uses a blackberry

The blackberry better offer more than email to compete with the iPhone. I good web browser is the first thing required.

Mikey likez it (not verified) | June 08, 2008 - 12:59pm

The one thing that people like about Blackberry over the iPhone is the tactile feedback of their keys. I predict monster flop...moreso than a European soccer player....SKIDOOOUSH. I'll be here all week.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | June 08, 2008 - 1:12pm

This explains the near saturation advertising in the UK that's just started today. It's pretty much every advertising break.

They're preempting the iphone launch - may do it to, as what I've seen looks good.. no use to me though if they force you to go through their mail service.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | June 08, 2008 - 1:14pm

STOP COPYING APPLE YOU BASTARDS. APPLE SHOULD SUE THEIR ASSES.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | June 08, 2008 - 2:00pm

I happen to know several head IT guys at major corporations and they are looking to DUMP the Blackberries as they are fed up supporting the platform.

They can't wait until tomorrows keynote. As a matter of fact they are at the WWDC for the announcement.

If I were RIM I'd be shaking in my undies!

The iPhone is a different animal and these IT guys are sharp enough to know it.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | June 08, 2008 - 2:04pm

As evidenced by the screen shot, I imagine that this phone will be locked down by Verizon's monthly fees for applications and services.

Verizon is known to charge users additional monthly fees for features such as map directions, emailing photos, and moving your own personal data between devices.

Therefore, for the casual user, this seems like a non-starter. But for the corporate user where monthly fees are hidden within IT infrastructure, it will surely be a popular option.

In either case, it's great to see that the smartphone market is finally trying to get innovative. It was stagnant for the longest time. Too bad players like Nokia can't get out of the starting blocks - they have great hardware, but they don't have the price, distribution, or software to let their products shine.

Chet Kristy (not verified) | June 08, 2008 - 3:20pm

Why doesn't apple do something about all these iphone bad copies?
The Instinct, Thunder, N95, F700, Voyager (my least favorite), KE850, etc. They will never be even close to as good as the iPhone.
Wow. Apple starts something and everyone copies them. Like always.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | June 08, 2008 - 3:26pm

The N95 was released way before the iPhone?!

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | June 08, 2008 - 4:54pm

Just because a phone has a touch screen doesn't mean it's an 'iphone copy'. Apple didn't invent the touchscreen so I don't know how they're supposed to sue other companies for using them... And I personally much prefer other touchscreen phones over the iphone because they have multimedia messaging, GPS, VIDEO RECORDING, and usable keyboards. Just my thoughts on the matter.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | June 08, 2008 - 6:02pm

Well allow me to say you are stupid. The iphone SDk will rule. The Apps that will be available for the iphone, no other phones can dream of. We are not talking about the touch screen. It is the theme and everything else, such icons, the way the display is and all that. Everyone now want to come up with a touch screen. Apple innovation pushes others to be innovative.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | June 08, 2008 - 7:38pm

No Apple doesn't have a touch screen, they have a multi-touch screen Dumb *ss.
Blackberry is shaking cuz the only thing they got going is the email thing, Apple seems to match and maybe stepped ahead of them on that allowing the company to develop suitable programs for their company.
Yes everyone is copying apple cuz they are the absolut hit, think about, everything is compared to the iPhone, i mean everything. Apple doesn't have to do much advertising cuz everyone puts their product in all their PR. Thats good stuff you can't ask for.
Plus it's apple people, they been raising the bar each year since steve has been back, they're not going loosen up the noose they have now, considering the last time someone copied them they almost lost out, not this though

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | June 09, 2008 - 2:39am

This thing is the suck.

Orng (not verified) | June 09, 2008 - 6:48am

I'm sure Blackberry will continue to do just fine. Just because lots of people prefer the iPhone doesn't mean that all other phones will vanish from the marketplace. The RIM guys are pretty slick businessmen too, they won't sit idly by while their market gets cannibalized. They aren't Microsoft.