The rumor mill is a-turning now that the release of the 3G iPhone is upon us … everyone is speculating what BlackBerry will create in order to compete with the everything-you-could-ever-want-and-more iPhone.  But BlackBerry might just have something up their sleeve with the talk of the BlackBerry AK (supposedly named AK for Apple Killer).

The Apple Killer

RIM offers great BlackBerry devices for their targeted market:  business and executive level personnel.  According to an article by Phone Magazine, RIM holds 40 percent of the market share for smart phones in the U.S. while the iPhone has 17 percent market share.  But we all have seen what Apple can do …

The idea for a touch screen BlackBerry is that it will have the touch screen for ease of selection but will also offer a QWERTY slide out keyboard.  The big catch is that RIM needs to develop an interface that will essentially transfer the “non-touch phone” into a touch interface … somewhat daunting, yes, but doable.  It has also been speculated that RIM will try to add more media-friendly features in order to engage in a friendly competition with Apple.

 Advice to RIM

This might seem like a small bit of advice (mainly because I’m one blogger shouting out to the corporate world), but I think that BlackBerry needs to continue to do what it has been doing.  Having options for smart phones is perfect because people like choices.  The media options for the iPhone are unprecedented because it is an iPod turned phone.  BlackBerry needs to understand that its well-developed and valued customer base has stuck with their BlackBerry devices because they like them and they work for them.  So my advice to RIM … do what you do best and don’t try to “beat” the iPhone … just keep reinventing the BlackBerry that many have grown to know and love.