A survey of smartphone users has found 77% would not consider buying a BlackBerry.
The online survey was conducted by online research company One Poll on behalf of VoucherCodes.co.uk and surveyed 1000 smartphone users over 18 years old on January 14. Of the respondents, 14% were BlackBerry users, 35.1% were iOS users, 42.5% were Android users, 6.2% were Windows users and 2.2% were ‘other’ operating systems.
The survey found that 77% of users would not consider switching to a BlackBerry, with 40% of current BlackBerry users saying they would consider upgrading their phone, VoucherCodes said.
The big day
The survey comes before BlackBerry maker Research In Motion’s big day on Thursday, when it will launch its new mobile operating system, BlackBerry 10, hailed by many as RIM’s chance to get back in the smartphone game, following a rocky year with management reshuffles and decreased revenue in the last reported quarter.
The launch should see six new BlackBerry 10 handsets released plus the results of RIM’s recent drive to up its previously scanty app store offerings, with Port-A-Thons that included the netting of 15,000 apps in 38 hours for the new OS.
VoucherCode said nine out of ten respondents felt the new OS wouldn’t be enough to sway them and 42% said they did not think BlackBerry made user-friendly phones.
Of the BlackBerry users surveyed at 14% of total respondents, 44% said they were planning on purchasing an iPhone next and 28% said they were considering buying a Samsung-made phone.
Forty two percent of smartphone users in the 18 to 24 year old age bracket used Android compared with 18% using BlackBerry.Co-founder of VoucherCodes.co.uk said with so much choice now available in the market, the company advised potential smartphone buyers to do their research online before purchasing.
“Smartphones are still a significant investment, however, manufacturers will discount handsets a few months after launch, so if you’re prepared to wait you can get a phone at a price that suits you.”
