Apple’s going to release the new iPhone just in the nick of time, as recent data shows its share of the smartphone market dropped 7.5 percent from Q4 2007 to Q1 2008. That’s a pretty big dip, it has to be said, and one that can almost wholly attributed to RIM’s increase. It went from 35.1 percent to 44.5 percent.
But, really, numbers are boring unless you’re playing the market. Why is why we should care.
I can think of a few reasons. RIM seems to have increased its marketing the BlackBerry as a consumer device. You know, “It’s not just for for Wall Street or K Street anymore.” You can’t watch “According to Jim” without seeing a commercial for it.
Also, I sorta blame the Internet. Every week it’s, “Apple to come out with a new iPhone next month, no next week, no tomorrow!” A few people read that, then tell their friends to hold off on buying an iPhone until the new one comes out.
Which should be June 9 ;-)
Image from Flickr
Have you ever heard of seasonality? Apple markets the iPhone to consumers. The Christmas selling season is always stronger than the January quarter. Rimm sells to businesses whose buying patterns are more balanced. Please leave financial analysis to the professionals.
RIM and Palm include all of December as part of their most recently reported quarter. Apple does not. Since smart phones are definitely sell better near Christmas, most people are drawing false conclusions from the data.
If you shift Apple’s fiscal year back one month to match RIM and Palm, the swing in Apple’s market share is a lot less–only 3% by my estimate.