Ofcom have released their Market in Context document, detailing the UK’s media and communications habits.
The survey looked at viewing habits, mobile phone use, radio listening and many other detailed aspects of the communications market.
The mobile phone market has been particularly fierce between arguably the creater of the smartphone, Research In Motion (RIM), Google’s Android devices and Apple’s iPhone.
In answer to the question of which smartphone users have (if they owned more than one, they were asked to mention the one they use most often), the data surprisingly shows Blackberry use, which traditionally had been aimed at the business market almost halving from teens to 25-34 year olds. This could be down to the expense of rival handsets such as the iPhone and top end Android devices, but this is sure to be a concern to RIM, makers of the Blackberry phones who have seen several months of profit warnings, product delays and a sliding share price.
iPhone use sees an upsurge in users between the ages of 25 and 54, possibly due to an increase in disposable income, Samsung appear to be the more popular choice for over 54s while Nokia fluctuates between being more popular with the 25-34 and 55+ age groups than it is with the others.
The popularity of the Blackberry devices in the teen market could also be down to the use of the Blackberry Messenger service (BBM) which provides a free alternative to texting, and also group messaging. For many this has provided a very useful means of communication between individuals and groups.
When the teen market is broken down, Blackberry phones are shown to be the clear winners especially amongst female consumers, while iPhones are more popular with teen boys than girls.
With a new iPhone on the horizon, a cheaper version rumoured to be in the works too, along with the new iOS which incorporates a BBM style messaging system, could this be the final nail in RIM’s coffin? Or will the Canadian manufacturer’s own Blackberry 7 phones and the increased community functions and application integration of BBM see their brand regain some of their lost ground? Alternatively, will Android phones or even the newer Windows mobile devices cement their position as main iPhone rival?
It promises to be an interesting couple of years as we see this battle unfold.
