Report: RIM to benefit most from move toward smartphones

Market research firm Pyramid Research says that BlackBerry maker Research In Motion is poised to take advantage of the growth in smartphones in the U.S. market. According to Pyramid, in 2014 RIM will be the U.S. handset marketshare leader, with 22 percent marketshare, outpacing Samsung, LG and Apple.

According to the research firm, smartphones will account for 31 percent of new U.S. handset sales in 2009, up from 15 percent in 2007. In 2014, the firm predicts 60 percent of all new U.S. handset sales will be smartphones.

By then, market competition from Samsung, LG and Motorola, coupled with the likely end of AT&T Mobility's exclusive rights to Apple's iPhone, will squeeze RIM's smartphone marketshare down from about 50 percent to 37 percent, according to Pyramid. However, RIM will still lead the U.S. handset market in 2014, with Samsung, LG and Apple following, with 19 percent, 18 percent and 15 percent, respectively.

RIM has made a concerted effort to broaden its appeal in the consumer market, and wireless carriers are releasing a slew of new BlackBerry devices this holiday season, including the Storm2 from Verizon Wireless and the Bold 9700 from both AT&T and T-Mobile USA.

For more:
- see this Pyramid Research release [1]
- see these charts comparing handset marketshare in 2009 vs. 2014 [2]

Related Articles:
RIM releases new BlackBerry Bold for AT&T, T-Mobile [3]
RIM releases BlackBerry Storm2, touts improvements [4]
RIM poised to Storm back into consumer market [5]
RIM's revenue jumps 37%, but outlook disappoints [6]