The SquareTrade study
Figures from the analyst firm Canalysys, released last week, showed Apple has now overtaken RIM in the global smartphone sales stakes.
SquareTrade had to project their figures for the iPhone's failure rate over a two-year period, as the handset has not been available for that long — nonetheless, that rate came in at between nine to 11 percent. The equivalent failure rate for BlackBerry handsets was 14.3 percent, with the Treo coming in at 21 percent.
Breaking the figures down, the most prominent malfunctions for iPhone users appear to be touchscreen-related, accounting for a third of all reported issues with that handset. However, 12 percent of iPhone users reported accidental damage to their handsets within the first year of use — the average for other handsets is nine percent.
"It's likely that any iPhone owner can guess the reason iPhone accidents are so common," the authors wrote. "After two minutes of handling an iPhone, it's impossible to escape noticing that the handsets are incredibly slippery. The form doesn't help, either. The dimensions make for a difficult grip, especially for those with small hands. These two factors conspire to make the iPhone more accident prone than just about any other handset model we've seen."
The report's authors also noted that fewer than half-a-percent of iPhone owners reported battery problems after a year of use, compared with around one percent for BlackBerry and Treo users.
SquareTrade's study did not take into account software issues handled directly by the retailer or fixed by firmware updates.
ZDNet UK has requested comment on SquareTrade's report from both RIM and Apple, but had not received it at the time of writing.
Apple's iPhone has half the failure rate of RIM's BlackBerry in the first year of use, a study carried out by a mobile-phone warranty firm has found.
SponsoredWhite Papers, Webcasts, and Downloads
- The True Costs of Virtual Server Solutions VMware Discover ways to streamline and simplify your assessment of the total acquisition costs of a server virtualization environment. Download Now
- Dell IT Cuts Energy Costs by Up to 40 Percent With a New Power Management Plan Dell Energy conservation is an increasingly important issue for organizations ... Download Now
- Dell Helps Medical University of South Carolina Bring the Intelligent Classroom to Life Dell Established in 1824, Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) is one of ... Download Now
- Talkback
- Most Recent of 24 Talkback(s)
- Thread View
- Flat View
- RE: Study: BlackBerry has twice the failure rate of iPhone
- Having been a tech writer for a major trade mag I'd bet the editors gutted this of any meaning before publishing. No working writer would present an article as incomprehensible as this to an editor. <... (Read the rest)
- Posted by: tedwyer Posted on: 03/01/09 You are currently: a Guest | Log in | Terms of Use
What do you think?
White Papers, Webcasts, and Downloads
- The True Costs of Virtual Server Solutions VMware Discover ways to streamline and simplify your assessment of the total acquisition costs of a server virtualization environment. Download Now
- Dell IT Cuts Energy Costs by Up to 40 Percent With a New Power Management Plan Dell Energy conservation is an increasingly important issue for organizations ... Download Now
- Dell Helps Medical University of South Carolina Bring the Intelligent Classroom to Life Dell Established in 1824, Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) is one of ... Download Now
Smartphones
- Last year, many businesses deferred the purchase of new laptops in favor of smartphones, and why not? Offering phone, calendar, email, IM and Web access, they're arguably the most practical business tools. Check out the latest CNET Reviews of Blackberry devices for all the knowledge you need to make an intelligent choice.
-
Designed for
bold living. 
- Edit Word docs, check email, even listen to iTunes® playlists. Do more and do it faster with the BlackBerry® Bold™.Learn more
