So You Want a New Smartphone?

It seems like everyone has a smartphone these days, and now you've decided to throw yourself into the mix, but which one do you choose? BlackBerry has always been thought of as a great business tool, but these days almost everyone has one. Apple's iPhone has been growing its presence in the business world and it's very trendy. Then there's the newest kid on the block, the Android, which seems to be all the rage these days. Which one is right for you? You are the only person who can make that decision, but here is a quick look at a few pros and cons of each phone to help you with your choice.

BlackBerry by Research in Motion

Facts:

• BlackBerrys have been on the market since 2002.
• They were originally made for the corporate world but have since become consumer devices as well.

Pros:

• BlackBerrys are very durable (something to keep in mind if you're always on the go).
• There are many different models available, many of which are pleasing to the eye.
• The phone's keyboard is easy to use and offers a number of shortcuts.
• BlackBerrys have an excellent battery life and out-perform the other phones in this category.

Cons:

• There aren't nearly as many apps for BlackBerrys as there are for the other phones.
• Blackberry Apps are more expensive than those for iPhone and Android.
• The phone can't seem to completely shake its corporate image. (This could be a pro or a con, but many average consumers see it as a con.)
• Web browsing on the BlackBerry is not as great as on the other phones.

iPhone by Apple

Facts:

• The iPhone debuted in 2007.
• The phone has a strong fan base, much of which came from Apple brand loyalty.

Pros:

• The App Store has more apps available for the iPhone than you could ever imagine.
• The iPhone uses Safari for web browsing and overall, it provides a much better online experience than the other phones.
• It has a sleek, shiny look that is very pleasing to the eye.
• Its operating system has a lot more features than those of the other phones.

Cons:

• The iPhone breaks very easily. A friend of mine purchased one about a year ago, dropped it on his kitchen table the day he got it and to this day, it still has a huge crack in it.
• If you're looking for a business smartphone, the iPhone may not be it. It's designed for the average consumer.
• The iPhone has a very short battery life which seems to get worse over time.
• Right now, AT&T is the only carrier for the iPhone.

Android by Google

Facts:

• You can find the Android operating system on a number of different devices.
• Android started out on Google-brand hardware which didn't last very long
• Android recently became the top-selling mobile operating system.

Pros:

• The Android Market may not have quite the apps the Apple App Store does, but it's giving the company a run for its money.
• You can choose from a number of different hardware options.
• Android offers Microsoft ActiveSync for corporate messaging.

Cons:

• Like the iPhone, many of the Android devices offer a very short battery life.
• Even though there are tons of Android apps out there, a lot of them are bad. Really bad.

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