More iPhone “killers” on the way?

Posted on February 13, 2008 by Bruce Keener

First off, let me say that I do not believe there are any “iPhone killers,” and I doubt that we will see any. The iPhone grabbed a 28% share of the US smartphone market in 4Q07, and I don’t expect it to slow down any time soon.

Having said that, there are a couple of devices that appear to be built as competitors to the iPhone. For example, Michael Fresco sent a couple of neat Xperia links to me:

Slated to arrive in the latter half of the year, this looks like it will be an impressive competitor to the iPhone. I love the look of its keyboard. It also has touch screen capability, and, with it being Windows Mobile powered, I wonder if that touchscreen interface extends to handwriting recognition? The built-in GPS and 3G capabilities sound like real market-grabber potential.

And of course there is the GPS leader Garmin who is placing a phone into a GPS device this Fall with its nuvifone. Again, another high-speed device, combining phone and browsing and more into a GPS device. (Thanks to John for giving us a heads-up on this phone a few weeks ago.)

I doubt that either of these would win me over from a possible iPhone purchase (yup, still thinking about it, and still waiting for it to go 3G). For one thing, no more than I travel, I just do not need a GPS. True, believe it or not. But, competition in the market place sure is nice. Might keep His Steveness on his toes to further improve the iPhone.

Your thoughts? Either of these coming devices really appeal to you? Any other possible “iPhone killers” on the horizon?

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  • John

    As if you didn’t already know about the Nuviphone. ;) But thanks for the credit anyway.

    There’s still a lot of unknowns about Garmin’s phone but that looks like the one for me-at the moment. ;)

    BTW, my son works at an Apple store and I just got finished talking with him about the future of the iPhone. Of course he couldn’t (wouldn’t) tell me anything, but I think I could be talked into the Apple phone over the Garmin. Maybe. Like you, I’ll have to wait and see.

    I think the Xperia would be overkill for my use but it sure looks like a very capable device.

    Never thought I would get excited about cell phones but these new devices are truly amazing.

  • http://www.keenerliving.com/ Bruce

    They are amazing devices, John.

    I am curious about the price of the Xperia … would imagine it would be high.

    Yes, I am hoping the iPhones keep getting more attractive to me … I’m thinking that within the next few months, it will have enough improvements (3G, battery life (maybe) ) that I can no longer resist it.