World Wide Worx MD Arthur Goldstuck<\/a> revealed that 24 percent of consumers claim that their next handset will be a BlackBerry, well above the 3 percent for Apple’s iPhone (which is seen as another strong future brand in SA).<\/p>\n According to Goldstuck the main reasons for BlackBerry’s success in South Africa are:<\/p>\n • Affordable flat rated Internet access model (priced at below R60 per month) Another factor which is often forgotten is RIM South Africa’s successful repositioning of BlackBerry as a consumer and business brand instead of only a corporate brand.<\/p>\n With the growth of BlackBerry in South Africa it is hardly surprising that Cell C last year launched a BlackBerry service to compete against MTN and Vodacom.<\/p>\n 8ta is also set to launch BlackBerry offerings soon. 8ta executive Zoltan Miklos<\/a> said that they are planning an innovative BlackBerry service which will give consumers a reason to use 8ta instead of Vodacom, MTN or Cell C.<\/p>\n The details on 8ta’s planned BlackBerry offering remain sketchy, but it may well be a model which combines the benefits of current BIS and BES services.<\/p>\n
• The cost of a high end BlackBerry device is accessible to the prepaid market
• BlackBerry’s messenger service (BBM) growing in popularity<\/p>\n![\"Arthur](\"\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/thumbnail\/people\/Arthur-Goldstuck.jpg\" "\\"Arthur")
BlackBerry devices are as popular as ever with people in suits but now school children, students and young professionals are all viewing BlackBerry devices as desirable phones, rather than merely a corporate tool.<\/p>\n