BlackBerry outsells iPhone; or "RIMM > AAPL"

In Tuesday's IT Blogwatch, RIM BlackBerrys outsell Apple iPhones, according to NPD. Richi Jennings wonders what the fanbois will make of that? Not to mention Evelien Lohbeck's notebook...

Previously in IT Blogwatch:

• RIM/Verizon prep. Wi-Fi touchscreen BlackBerry Storm 2
  

Joel West looks north for this year's smartphone:

The NPD Group said Monday that Research in Motion (RIMM) upped its US market share to nearly 50% in 2009 Q1. Three out of five of the top smartphones were from the Ontario company.
...
The iPhone has fallen behind the BlackBerry Curve (sold by all four carriers) but ahead of the BlackBerry Storm (exclusive to Verizon (VZ). ... As I’ve argued for years, by giving an exclusive to AT&T (T), Apple (AAPL) gave the majority of the market a reason to promote everything else.

Zach Epstein talks of how, "RIM dethrones Apple":

While RIM’s next-generation handsets such as the Bold, Storm and Curve 8900 are already flooding the marketplace — and a new wave including the Tour and Curve 8520 are on the horizon — it looks like RIM’s bread and butter is still the trusty old Curve 83xx series.
...
RIM, holding three of the top [four] slots, shipped an astounding 7.8 million BlackBerry handsets in its last reported quarter (Dec 08 - Feb 09). ... With several new BlackBerry models on the horizon and at least one new iPhone model due out this Summer, things are definitely starting to heat up in the US smartphone space.

Jeff Bertolucci explains why it, "Won't last":

Things certainly look rosy for RIM and its popular BlackBerry series. But it’s doubtful the Curve, including all the 83xx models, will continue to outsell the iPhone.
...
The BlackBerry’s impressive Q1 sales got a huge boost from Verizon Wireless’s consumer-friendly “buy-one-get-one” BlackBerry promotion, as well as its heavy marketing of the iPhone-like BlackBerry Storm, which is selling like hotcakes ... [but] if everyday users agree with the pros that the Storm doesn’t cut it, sales will fall. ... why did iPhone sales fall 10 percent? Rumors of a new and improved iPhone have been circulating for months, and it’s likely that potential buyers are sitting on the fence to see what Apple rolls out this summer.

Will Park will agree:

With the third-generation of iPhone hardware expected to launch in mere months, and Palm’s hotly-anticipated Palm Pre due to launch even sooner, RIM is going to have a tough time keeping the BlackBerry Curve atop the list of most-popular US smartphones.

Although, with an unofficial endorsement from President Obama, the BlackBerry Curve may live to see even better days!

So what's next? Eric M. Zeman is the man: [You're fired -Ed.]

RIM co-CEO Jim Ballsillie confirmed that the company is currently engineering a follow up to the Storm touch-based BlackBerry. He noted that the company believes there is a large consumer segment for such a device.

Balsillie said "[the Storm] was a huge success in terms of sales and adoption." He also said, "we have next-generation devices with [touch] and the whole roadmap." Balsillie did not provide any specific details, nor did he say when such a product would reach market.

And Kevin Michaluk knows about the new Curve, sans ball:

We've been starting to get a better idea of what the "Gemini" is all about. And thanks to these first live photos, now you can see it for yourself ... Curve 8520 features some new innovations ... including an "optical trackball" (so long sticky balls!) and dedicated media player buttons.
...
Dedicated media player buttons on the top of the device. ... Body features rubberized sides/buttons. ... We can't wait to get our hands on this one!

And finally...

• Evelien Lohbeck's notebook
  

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Previously in IT Blogwatch:

• XP Mode confuses and amuses Windows 7 reviewers
• MAYDAY! Windows 7 is here
• Apple: chipping away at its suppliers
• ...more

Buffer overflow:

• Shark Bait: How not to keep your cool(ing)
• ElasticVapor: Six Steps to Building an Open Source Cloud Company
• Katie Fehrenbacher: The Story of Grid Net: How Ray Bell Is Betting WiMAX Can Fix the Grid
• Todd Watson: Turbo Ubuntu Redux
• Robin Harris: Non-competes are evil
• Mark Milian: Why text messages are limited to 160 characters
• Mary Jo Foley: Microsoft to defend its IE policies in closed-door antitrust hearing
• Gastón C. Hillar: Counting cores in .Net and Java
• Ryan Paul: Mozilla ponders policy change after Firefox extension battle
• ...more

Richi Jennings is an independent analyst/adviser/consultant, specializing in blogging, email, and spam. A 24 year, cross-functional IT veteran, he is also an analyst at Ferris Research. You can follow him on Twitter, pretend to be Richi's friend on Facebook, or just use boring old email: blogwatch@richi.co.uk.