It would be an understatement to say that the iPhone has had a good run. The product has soundly dominated the market for internet-enabled cellphones ever since its introduction two and a half years ago -- a seeming eternity in the rapidly evolving tech sector. However, this holiday season, the smartphone market leader will see its first major competition since its June 2007 launch, reports Ad Age.
According to Ad Age, the iPhone's top rival will be the new Droid phone by Motorola for Verizon Wireless. The super-fast device will feature the newest version of Google's Android operating system, an improved web browser, and turn-by-turn navigation. Sprint and T-Mobile will also offer a handful of Android-enabled devices this holiday season.
Industry giants Palm and Research In Motion (maker of the BlackBerry) will also look to compete with the iPhone this season. Palm will push its newest smartphones, including the women-targeted Palm Pixi, which will sell for only $99. Meanwhile, RIM's BlackBerry Storm 2 features a better touchscreen and Wi-Fi support -- though Ad Age notes it is still not a very impressive device.
Regardless of the new competition, Ad Age still predicts the iPhone will remain the most popular phone this holiday season, owing largely to its robust app platform and enjoyable user experience.