According to Myxer, a ringtone and mobile entertainment provider with 33+ million users, BlackBerry holds an overwhelming majority in the US, with a 63% operating share. BlackBerry also accounts for 72% of total downloads from Myxer.
The press release from Myxer points to recent analyst reports that paint a negative picture of the BlackBerry market share, and state that their numbers dictate otherwise. In the end, the numbers are saying something but it has nothing to do with device market share. Myxer provide ringtones, wallpapers, games and videos: mobile content that simply makes no sense to purchase from a third party source with an iPhone. According to Myxer, iPhone represents 2% of their downloads, which in my opinion, is a very large number considering the environment.
If anything, Myxer’s report demonstrates that BlackBerry users lack a convenient portal to download this mobile content, and instead rely on third party sources. This brings me to another point: if Myxer are selling 16 million ringtones, wallpapers and videos to BlackBerry users, why isn’t App World providing this content? BlackBerry users clearly want a convenient way to download this content, and RIM could make a few dollars on it. Also, maybe it was a mistake to call it App World. Why limit the store to apps? The store should be able to carry ringtones, accessories, wallpapers etc.
BlackBerry is definitely dominating the smartphone market and while iPhone is gaining in market share, it still has a long way to go. I would love to see App World start making some leap frogs over the other app stores, and from what 3rd parties have been providing, it seems they can do it.
