BlackBerry Curve tops curious list of most popular handsets in US

by Darren Murph posted Oct 18th 2008 at 8:50AM

There's a pretty substantial difference between "sales" and "popularity," as evidenced by the glaring dissimilarities between this here top 10 list and the one churned out earlier this month by NPD. AvianResearch got its data by polling 100 service representatives at retail stores to "gauge consumer interest in handsets available at the four major carriers in the United States." In September, RIM's BlackBerry Curve maintained the "lead," with Apple's iPhone securing a very distant second place. LG's Dare and the BlackBerry Pearl followed suit, while the LG Voyager, Samsung Instinct, LG Rumor, LG Shine, Palm Centro and Nokia 5310 closed out the rear. But seriously, since when has popularity trumped cold hard sales? Ah well, here's your cookie, Curve.

Filed under: Culture, Handsets, RIM, Misc

Tags: analysis, blackberry, curve, data, pearl, popular, report, research

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Low Ranked

Jack H @ Oct 18th 2008 10:17AM

Curve, iPhone distant second????
thats odd
wouldve thought it would be the other way around

Highest Ranked

Sorry @ Oct 18th 2008 2:37PM

But the TV told me the iPhone was the coolest?? How could this be?

Get over it, the Curve is a great phone. Expand your experience outside the hype.

Neutral

Evilhomer @ Oct 18th 2008 10:56AM

I think there is a big difference when what a person "showed interest in" then what they actually bought. I think this is a bogus report. Especially when it leaves the polling in the hands of the sales reps and not the actual customer.

Highest Ranked

fred @ Oct 18th 2008 2:13PM

Ok, let's stop the BS all around and get down to it.

You want the Apple phone to be #1, so some of you are saying that "well just because the Bold is #1 doesnt mean people REALLY want it".

Jesus, just F'ing spit it out

"But seriously, since when has popularity trumped cold hard sales?"

When you can use it to make the Apple product look good. Since you cant in this case, well it doesn't matter anymore.

Neutral

Restoration @ Oct 18th 2008 12:19PM

at least one version of the curve is available on subsidies with every major wireless carrier in the US. Additionally the Pearl, which held this "most popular" position in April has been available with every major carrier. The only surprise on the list is the LG Dare's high position, but I guess that could have something to do with the TV commercials.

Neutral

carcomptoy @ Oct 18th 2008 3:19PM

How ironic that most of those phones are offered by AT&T...absolutely no bias by the surveyors I hope.

In any case, I guess it helps that SOOO many celebraties have Blackberrys right, as per that Powerpoint slide? :-p

I guess it also helps that us Curve users are so obnoxios about our Crackberry addition too haha

Neutral

Restoration @ Oct 18th 2008 4:50PM

at&t has 4 on the list, verizon has 5, sprint has 4, and t-mobile has 3.
US Cellular has 2, Alltel has 2.

Highest Ranked

badqat @ Oct 18th 2008 6:07PM

Math isn't your strong point, is it?

This despite your "Crackberry addition"?

Seems English isn't your strong point either.

Neutral

egloskerry @ Oct 18th 2008 5:27PM

Whenever a customer asks me what is the most popular phone, I tell them whatever is free that week. It's true. The bulk of customers don't want a smartphone or a media phone. Or maybe they do and just won't admit that they're scared of them. But most customers immediately look at the free phones. They may look at the Curves, Blackjacks, Dares, and Instincts, but they almost always go back to free.

Neutral

striggity @ Oct 18th 2008 8:11PM

All I know is...I dearly miss my Curve...:(

*puts 8830 WE on eBay*

Neutral

Ryan @ Oct 19th 2008 4:05PM

The only reason teh Curve topped the list is because it is offered by all 4 companies. They polled retail reps at locations for the 4 major carriers, and with all 4 carrying the Curve, it gained "popularity" at every location they went to. If the iPhone was offered by all acrriers, then it would've been on top hands down. I'm not saying the Curve is not a great phone, because it is. I love it, and am no means an iPhone fanboy, but I think the masses are so fixated on having touchscreens and iPhones, that if each carrier had it, the reps would all be saying "this is our most popular phone."