Ipsos Reid: Canadians Continue to Buy Apple and Android Smartphones Over BlackBerry

Ipsos Reid has released results of its survey of 46,000 Canadians that took place from August 2011 to January 2012. During this period, smartphone ownership was stated as 24% in August 2011 and grew to 34% in January 2012.

“Clear shifts in brand preference appear when we look at the brands of devices consumers are currently using,” says Mary Beth Barbour, Senior Vice President with Ipsos Reid, “And looking forward, it appears that the brand race will continue to heat up.”

The smartphone landscape in Canada continues to shift away from RIM’s BlackBerry, as noted by the changes in their study from January 2011 compared to January 2012. BlackBerry’s market penetration decreased from 41% to 33%, Apple increased from 23% to 28%, and Android from 26% to 31%.

In terms of intent to purchase a particular brand of smartphone, BlackBerrys took a huge dip. In January of 2011, 58% of survey respondents planned to purchase a BlackBerry, but a year later it declined by a third to 40%. The bulk of RIM sales are now heading to Android. Intent to purchase an Android phone made by Samsung grew from 21% to 32% in the same time frame. Apple had a slight incline notes the report.

It was noted last month the iPhone had finally toppled BlackBerry sales in Canada according to data compiled by Bloomberg and IDC. Last September, comScore reported iPhones already had outnumbered BlackBerrys in Canada. There’s no question the reign of the BlackBerry has faded, as the Waterloo-based company continues to struggle to release a compelling and innovative product to keep up with the iPhone and Android smartphones.

Do you know anyone planning to purchase a BlackBerry anytime soon?

[via Ipsos Reid]

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