Apple iPhone VS BlackBerry Curve ( 8300 )

Research in Motion (RIM) introduced a sleeker and sexier version of its popular smartphone, the BlackBerry Curve. Its also the smallest and lightest full-QWERTY BlackBerry to date. Since the BlackBerry has been one of the best smartphones available it is only appropriate to compare it with Apple's revolutionary iPhone.

Isn't it ironical that the title of my blog post says the new BlackBerry Curve (Update: Original title has been changed from "iPhone VS the new BlackBerry Curve" to "Apple iPhone VS BlackBerry Curve ( 8300 )" to keep the post timeless) when the iPhone will only be available in the stores in US in the month of June. I guess there has been so much buzz created about the iPhone that it probably makes me feel that the iPhone has been around for quite sometime now.

BlackBerry Curve ( 8300 ) advantages VS Apple iPhone:

• The BlackBerry Curve is compatible with your company's BlackBerry Enterprise server with support for Microsoft Exchange, IBM Lotus Domino, or Novell GroupWise to deliver corporate e-mail in real time. This is probably one of the key functionalities for a Corporate user.

• An attachment viewer is also onboard to open popular file formats, such as Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Corel WordPerfect, PDFs, JPEG, GIF, and more. Based on the information that is available currently it doesn't look like the iPhone will be able to support Office documents as attachments which is likely to hamper business users.

• BlackBerry is open to independent developers, on the other hand Steve Jobs was quite categorical in an interview that "He ain't opening up the iPhone" for independent developers.

• The BlackBerry Curve's full QWERTY keyboard should offer a better typing experience with its tactile feedback making typing emails, SMS or even dialing numbers a breeze.

• The BlackBerry Curve will be a far cheaper option than the $499 and $599 iPhone.

• You can upload and download large files by using the BlackBerry Curve as a wireless modem for your laptop, there is currently no information available to suggest this feature will be available in the iPhone.

• User replaceable battery.

• Above all, BlackBerry has been a proven smartphone with a large number of BlackBerry addicts, or should I say Crackberry, so RIM have definitely done many things right.

Apple iPhone advantages VS BlackBerry Curve ( 8300 ):

• iPhone is a not just a phone it is widescreen iPod with touch controls that lets you enjoy all your content — including music, audiobooks, videos, TV shows, and movies — on a beautiful 3.5-inch widescreen display (BlackBerry Curve only has a 2.5 inch screen). The BlackBerry curve does have a media player, however with all the iPod features and 4 GB / 8 GB space, it makes the iPhone the best music phone.

• iPhone is a revolutionary new mobile phone that allows you to make a call by simply pointing your finger at a name or number in your address book, a favorites list, or a call log.

• The iPhone lets you select and listen to voicemail messages in whatever order you want — just like email using a revolutionary new feature called the visual voicemail.

• iPhone features a rich HTML email client and Safari — making it the most advanced web browser ever on a portable device — which automatically syncs bookmarks from your PC or Mac.

• iPhone is also Wi-Fi enabled and supports Wi-Fi (802.11b/g) which gives you an option to switch to faster Wi-FI networks instead of using EDGE which aren't that slow but also aren't very fast.

• With its advanced Safari browser, iPhone lets you see any web page the way it was designed to be seen, then easily zoom in by simply tapping on the multi-touch display with your finger which will change mobile browsing for the good.

• iPhone features the most revolutionary user interface since the mouse. It’s an entirely new interface based on a large multi-touch display and innovative new software that lets you control everything using only your fingers.

• iPhone’s full QWERTY soft keyboard lets you easily send and receive SMS messages in multiple sessions. And the keyboard is predictive, so it prevents and corrects mistakes, making it easier and more efficient to use however only time will tell if it is better than the full Qwerty keyboard thats available on BlackBerry Curve.

• iPhone is expected to have better battery life of up to 5 hours for Talk / Video / Browsing as compared to up to 4 hours of battery life in case of the BlackBerry Curve.

• iPhone is expected to have a 2 megapixel camera, similar to the BlackBerry Curve but from initial reports it seems like the camera on the iPhone will be far superior to the low quality camera available on the BlackBerry Curve.

It would be interesting to know from you if RIM is ready for the iPhone. Let me know your thoughts.