iPhone Trumps BlackBerry Storm in Customer Satisfaction Survey

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iPhone Trumps BlackBerry Storm in Customer Satisfaction Survey

6:11 am on December 24, 2008 | Category: Mobile Devices, Cell Phones

Research In Motion’s much-anticipated BlackBerry Storm device is failing to keep up with the Apple iPhone in terms of customer satisfaction, according to a new survey by ChangeWave Research.

The Storm’s satisfaction ratings were more in line with a mid-range handset, rather than a high-end multimedia smartphone, with just 33% of users describing themselves as “very satisfied” with the new BlackBerry. That compares to 77% who are “very satisfied” with their Apple iPhones.

“It’s not that the BlackBerry Storm is a bad phone,” explained ChangeWave research director, Paul Carton. “It’s just that the initial launch has glitches which have resulted in a mediocre satisfaction rating, while consumers are already trained to expect the very highest standards from their BlackBerries.”

Despite the Storm’s mediocre reception, however, Carton believes that RIM is in a strong position leading into 2009.

“For the first time in a year, RIM’s next 90 days are looking very, very strong, even in relation to Apple,” Carton said. “Overall, BlackBerry represents the top of the line. And although Storm started off looking like a midtier smartphone in terms of its initial consumer reaction, that’s not the end of the story.”

Another ChangeWave survey dealing with consumer purchasing plans found that 39% of those planning to buy a smartphone over the next 90 days will go with the tried-and-true BlackBerry brand. That’s up from 30% in September and 23% in June. Only 30% of respondents were planning to buy an Apple iPhone device, down from 34% in September and 56% in June.

iPhone sales are “settling down” after a stunning performance this summer, but will continue to perform well through early 2009, Carton predicted.