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BlackBerry usage share plummets to just 1% in the U.S.

Updated Dec 19th, 2018 8:32PM EST
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Research In Motion’s (RIMM) BlackBerry smartphones are still used by millions of people in the United States, but the smartphone market grew so quickly over the past year that RIM’s usage share has dwindled to almost nothing. Ad network Chitika recently conducted an 11-month study of RIM’s usage in the U.S., and the firm released its findings to BGR on Thursday.

According to the study, mobile traffic from BlackBerry devices across its network plummeted 25% between September 2011 and July 2012. RIM’s smartphones and PlayBook tablet combined to account for as much as 5% of all mobile usage in the U.S. late last year but as of last month, that figure sank to just over 1%.

Chitika notes that Apple’s (AAPL) share of mobile traffic has grown from a low of 46% to approximately 64% over the same period.

“A widely shared belief is that RIM’s lackluster response to the iPhone was a critical mistake that cost BlackBerry its top market position late last decade,” Chitika analysts wrote in their report. “This downward trend is likely to continue, as the loss in market share and revenue has caused RIM to lay off workers. RIM has even pushed back its new operating system release to next year (2013), which means the company will have to miss out on a chance to introduce new features and functions to support its customers and help attract new ones.”

RIM’s first BlackBerry 10-powered smartphones are expected to launch early next year and the company is currently shopping the platform to other vendors that might be interested in licensing it.

Zach Epstein
Zach Epstein Executive Editor

Zach Epstein has been the Executive Editor at BGR for more than 10 years. He manages BGR’s editorial team and ensures that best practices are adhered to. He also oversees the Ecommerce team and directs the daily flow of all content. Zach first joined BGR in 2007 as a Staff Writer covering business, technology, and entertainment.

His work has been quoted by countless top news organizations, and he was recently named one of the world's top 10 “power mobile influencers” by Forbes. Prior to BGR, Zach worked as an executive in marketing and business development with two private telcos.