Technology has unveiled competition within the mobile phone industry. A case in point is the pitched and intense battles between the iPhone and Blackberry. The iPhone is an internet-connected multimedia smart phone designed with a flush multi-touch screen and a minimal hardware interface.

The device does not have a physical keyboard, so a virtual keyboard is rendered on the touch screen. Its functions include those of a camera phone and portable media player in addition to text messaging and visual voicemail. It also offers Internet services including e-mail, web browsing, and local Wi-Fi connectivity.

The Blackberry on the other hand is a wireless handheld device, which supports e-mail, mobile telephony, text messaging, internet faxing, web browsing and other wireless information services. Today’s generation that is addicted to keeping with the latest technologies is faced with the decision of embracing either the iPhone or the Blackberry.

This makes keeping track of basic business information a snap issue because one never has to worry about acting on outdated data or manually updating one’s handheld device. In contrast, the iPhone does not synchronize calendar and contact information wirelessly, which makes it less dependable for information ultimately stored on a server.

The Blackberry possesses GPS, which makes Google Maps much more useful, especially for turn-by-turn directions.

Blackberry wireless email device has also been a staple of the corporates now, with a single function of secure, instant and mobile email. This is said to be its killer application.

The iPhone lacks basic cut and paste capabilities. Despite Apple’s reputation for superior user interface design, the Blackberry possesses keyboard shortcuts that make navigation around and between applications a breeze.

Despite all of these criticisms of the iPhone, it is a technological wonder even without a supported push email, calendar and contacts synchronization, and GPS.

What is refreshing is that Apple has selectively released upgrades to the iPhone to make it more competitive in the business customer arena, and with the possibility of the iPhone being able to handle corporate push email, it may become an even bigger threat to the Blackberry.

Contact: eddiemukaaya@yahoo.com