Blackberry phones most popular in Mideast - research

Sunday, 31 January 2010 7:16 AM

TOP DEVICE: The Blackberry is more popular than the iPhone in the Middle East, according to new research. (Getty Images)

BlackBerry smartphones are the top devices used for browsing the internet in the Middle East, beating the Apple iPhone as well as popular Nokia models, new research has showed.

California-based mobile analytics firm Motally found that most people across the Middle East browse the internet using the BlackBerry 8520 (18 percent) handset.

The iPhone came in second with 10 percent, but BlackBerry took the third and fourth rankings again with their 8900 (8 percent) and 9000 (6 percent) models. The Nokia E71 represented only 5 percent.

The Middle East was one of the few regions in the world where BlackBerry has an advantage over the iPhone, which was ranked as the top device in North America, Europe, Asia and Oceania in the same report.

The figures are based on website traffic data that was collected using Motally's patent-pending technology, with the firm clarifying that the monthly report looked at the handsets that generated the most pageviews.

While their research is only indicative of top handsets that are used to browse mobile websites, it does throw some light on preferred smartphone brands and models in the Middle East.

While the iPhone dominated in more developed markets, the BlackBerry 8520 came out on top in both the Middle East and South America and the BlackBerry 8900 trumped in Africa.

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Posted by: nasir Sunday, 28 February 2010 4:58 PM[UAE]

to omar, BB package prices are lower only because BB has a lot of compression built in the solution and thus data usage is far less than the iphone. thats why etisalat is able to offer a unlimited package as they know that the average data usage will not be v high.

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Posted by: RAK Saturday, 27 February 2010 12:39 AM[UAE]

Forgot to mention - it is only SAR 99 for 2GB worth of emails/data. IPhone controls the pricing/content policy of the telecoms, which is why it is ridiculously expensive

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Posted by: RAK Saturday, 27 February 2010 12:37 AM[UAE]

There is no way the IPhone is beating the BB, even in 6m. One of the key reasons for this is the BB Messenger, which is such a blessing (and beats bluetooth) in KSA. Every teenager seems to have one in here, and IPhones seem to be obsolete. It is not the business people/professionals who are using it these days, it is the youngsters.

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Posted by: Bindiboy Friday, 26 February 2010 8:08 AM[UAE] - UAE

it would be interesting to conduct this study again in 6 months as I think the Iphone would clearly have overtaken Blackberry by then...mainly due to 3GS being constantly out of stock here with Du & Etisalat, I have 3GS and use it for business and sync all calender, mail & contacts just as good as Blackberry / if not better...they are differnt phones with different functionality but IPHONE is now very worth while for business

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Posted by: Mohammed Thursday, 25 February 2010 8:45 PM[UAE]

BlackBerrys and iPhones aren?t comparable really. They each have their functions. I receive dozens of important e-mails a day, so a BlackBerry makes more sense for me. In response to Mr. Omar?s comment above, I agree BlackBerry?s have more tempting offers surrounding them. When I got mine at Axiom a couple of months back, I got a 6 month free data package with it.

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