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Rivals challenge Apple’s iPhone

SAN FRANCISCO - In the roughly two years since the launch of the iPhone, Apple has done a good job of shaking up the mobile phone industry.

While many have tried to imitate the now iconic device, none have succeeded yet in seriously challenging the iPhone in terms of reputation and lasting popularity. A new spate of serious challengers has recently entered the market, however, meaning that the chase is back on.

The new Palm Pre from smartphone specialist Palm is generally viewed in the industry as a strong iPhone competitor. The device received a good deal of positive press prior to its recent release in an exclusive distribution deal with cellular service provider Sprint.

The Pre offers several benefits compared with the iPhone, starting with its ability to run multiple programs at once. Another major selling point: a real hardware keyboard to accompany the virtual one. However, the Pre did have to launch without anywhere near the critical mass of applications now available through Apple’s App Store.

The G1 from HTC hit the market some time ago as the first phone running Google’s Android operating system. Some saw in it the potential to challenge the iPhone for its crown. Yet it never awakened the wave of enthusiasm that the iPhone did.

The Taiwanese manufacturer is now releasing its second Android phone, the HTC Magic, to be followed shortly thereafter by Samsung’s “Galaxy,” that company’s first Android cell.

All of the devices are designed for direct access to the internet and feature applications from Google, like Maps and Gmail. Because Android is an open source operating system, developers can program their own applications for download from the “Android Market,” akin to the App Store.

Canadian hardware maker BlackBerry boasted a 19.9 per cent market share in a recent report from Gartner, putting it significantly ahead of Apple.

The Blackberry started out as a tool for power business users who wanted direct access to their corporate email and demanded a classic keyboard. The BlackBerry Storm was the manufacturer’s first attempt at a device with a virtual keyboard only. The 9500, a successor to the Storm, is expected in the coming months.

With 41.2 per cent of the smartphone market, Finnish phone maker Nokia is still listed as the overall leader in Gartner’s rankings. Yet the company has also come under criticism for reacting too slowly to the smartphone trend and for losing its role as a trendsetter.

The company hopes to turn it all around with the Nokia N97, featuring a touch screen display and sliding keyboard. Like its competitors, the N97 focuses on mobile internet use. With updates for Nokia’s N-Gage gaming platform, the smartphone also works as a gaming console.