How Heavy is the iPhone's Competition?

With the release of the "Droid" earlier this year, one thing is becoming apparent: the iPhone's dominance over the world of smart phones isn't necessarily guaranteed in the next ten years.  That's particularly relevant given that there's a new decade upon us.  One question then remains: is the iPhone's dominance here to say or is the competition for newer, better gadgets simply too fierce?

During the summer, we saw the release of the iPhone 3G S, the latest and most advanced form of the iPhone.  As usual, the release was met with buzz, high sales, and crowds of giddy Apple fans ready to soak it all up.  But partially thanks to the success of the iPhone series, the mobile/smart phone industry has seen a complete spike throughout the first decade of the 21st Century.  So where's all the pressure coming from?

As Bizmology notes, it's coming from, well, a little bit of everywhere.  The BlackBerry remains a popular item, and the rise of the Palm Pre has also put a dent in the iPhone's dominance over the market.  Both of those phones offer high-quality service and features that were unheard of before the iPhone.

Google, characteristically, isn't staying put either.  Phones like the myTouch and the G1 are big players on the market, thanks in part to a big advertising campaign on myTouch's side.

Another place to look for competition isn't in the iPhone itself, but in the networks providing phone service.  The success of the iPhone doesn't only relate to Apple's success, it relates to AT&T's.  The more users of the iPhone there are, the more people are using AT&T's network.  With a sleuth of advertising campaigns from companies like T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless, there's no reason to think that the iPhone has a monopoly by any means.

What does this all mean for the world of smart phones in the decade from 2010-2019?  Quite simply, it means that there's enough competition to keep power in the hands of the consumer.  The quality of phones is always increasing, while the prices generally come down.  Apple has been able to keep its company strong while selling relatively low-cost, simple gadgets to a wide audience.  It's a good idea not only to watch the development of the iPhone, but whatever Apple has up its sleeve in the next ten years.