The iPhone is to blame for the growing smartphone frenzy.

It was only about 3 years ago when the average US based cell phone user didn’t know what an app or a sim card was, then along came the iPhone.  Most US based users felt they simply wanted a phone to talk and occasionally text.  A phone with too many features was too complicated for the average user to figure out.  Phones like the Palm Treo were for power smartphone users and left every day users simply perplexed.  Unlocked smartphones like the Nokia Communicator series were far too complicated for people to figure out . Not to mention the $500 plus price tag seemed ridiculous.  Many users who attempted to tackle these phones ended up frustrated and unable to fully utilize them.

The iPhone simply put these matters to rest.  An out of the box, app friendly,  high-end phone.  Today average users are asking for more apps and features. They are not afraid of the hefty price tag and see their phone as more than just a means to text or make phone calls.  The iPhone deserves a lot of credit for the growth in popularity of US based smartphone users.  The iPhone put the competition on notice.  They either had to make their phones fun and user friendly or else!!  Some companies still haven’t got it and are losing market share.  For example if you put a phone with Windows Mobile 6.1 in someones hands versus giving someone an iPhone, you will get a lot more overall interest from the iPhone, meanwhile the Windows Mobile phone may actually  suit that individual better and have more features.  Some of the latest updates to the iPhone 3Gs were features that existed on other phones for the past 3 years however that did not slow sales down one bit.  As of January this year iPhone sales were up 88%.  The iPhone keeps winning new users every day.

While the competition has to hate the iPhone, they also must thank them at the same time for bringing more users to the smartphone market.