Smartphone Wars

We are all anxiously waiting for the new iPhone 5 to be released. The hype has been overwhelming with plenty of speculation and leaks of all kinds. Of course, the devote Apple fans will line up for the new iPhone, but for some of us it is pushing us to consider the alternatives. Other mobile vendors continue to battle for market share. You now have a choice between Apple’s iPhone, Google’s Android, Windows Phone and dare I say RIM’s BlackBerry?

In the past I used to say that if you want simple to use go with Apple, and if you want a more technical experience go with Andriod. However, Windows is putting up a fight to gain market share, and RIM will soon be releasing the Blackberry 10.

Choice is a good thing, and despite the legal battles between the vendors, it is healthy to have competition out there. Here is a quick update on the four major options:

iPhone from Apple: Great if you love everything Apple, and have multiple Apple devices and accessories. You also have thousands of applications to choose from. This is a great solution if you want to keep it simple.

Android from Google: Favored by techies and backed by Google. Great if you use many of the other Google applications. The list of Android applications is starting to rival Apple. Motorola is also making a bet on Android.

Windows Phone: Samsung and Nokia joined forces with Microsoft to boost their arsenal in the smartphone wars. Microsoft will continue to invest in mobile technology, anything to compete with Google.

BlackBerry from RIM: Great if you really miss your old BlackBerry and the unique features it provided.  This could be the last chance for RIM and they will be working hard to win back their old customers.  Still have one of the strongest networks out there, especially if you travel internationally.  You will need to wait until next year for the BlackBerry 10.

If you can afford to wait, it might makes sense to compare all four options to find the best fit for you.