Apple’s wonder gadget with a wonderful user interface and a great screen has made waves with gadget lovers all around the world.

iPhone, when it went on sale, created a minor sensation, with people waiting in long lines to own it and the media going gaga over this good looking piece of art.

When something as interesting makes it appearance, competition is not far away. This is what is irking Apple’s chief executive, Steve jobs. He is said to be encountering serious resistance in Waterloo.

Waterloo is home to the notorious opponents and the creators of the BlackBerry, Research In Motion (RIM.)

RIM as it is popularly known is the leader of smart phones in North America. Smart phones are more like computers than phones and there are many fans who love them for the easy access to the web, digital music and video.

The Blackberry Curve and Pearl, smartphones that are aimed at the consumer market did very well but RIM faces a challenge, as the entry of the iPhone brought the sales down in the first six months.

Apple’s noisy appearance in the smartphone market has increased the visibility of the smartphones and even enhanced the visibility of its rivals too. In the last few months, the sales of smartphones all over the world increased by 60%.

Apple announced in March, that they would most likely be licensing the corporate email technology from Microsoft, which makes it possible for iPhones to directly connect to business computers. In Apple’s quarterly conference, it was revealed that one-third of the Fortune 500 companies showed interest in giving their employees iPhones. (more…)

If recent Blackberry ads are to be believed, a handheld is all a small business owner needs to set up shop and keep operations running. This might be true for a few select businesses that don’t rely heavily on technology, but I can’t think of which ones. Most businesses need full computer systems, but a good handheld is a huge convenience for those business owners.

Handhelds are small, portable computers that can literally fit in the palm of your hand. They used to contain only simple software programs, but now have been combined with mobile phone technology to become entire media systems. They can access the internet, download music, allow you to check your email and make a few phone calls all away from the home or office.

Handhelds have become much more complex and the features available are enough to possibly run an office, but the tiny screen and keyboard would make it complicated to send more than a single line via email or check your flight information. (more…)