Now that the iPhone costs a mere $200 (plus an expensive rental agreement), it’s getting traction among a much wider audience. Indeed there is a good deal of talk that Apple is going to put Research In Motion (makers of the once beloved BlackBerry) out of business. there can be no denying the fact that RIM is suffering greater damage than anyone else. Nokia has a whole range of phones and can compensate for Apple’s high-end success by going down-market. RIM, of course, has nowhere to go.

So there must be an atmosphere of doom and gloom hanging over RIM now. Initially the iPhone was exclusive to one carrier, but Apple cast that restriction aside in most geographies. Nevertheless, it was expensive and it didn’t do email well, but Apple improved the email, dropped the price and, in a rather compelling fashion, opened up a software shop for the iPhone. Suddenly it was transformed into a software rich platform – the only one in the mobile market.

It wasn’t long before businesses saw which way the wind was blowing. The news broke recently that HSBC Holdings PLC, the world’s largest bank, was thinking of ditching the BlackBerry in favour of the iPhone, a move which is significant in product volume (HSBC would buy 200,000 iPhones), but will also influence other businesses.

So is there any future for Blackberry? There’s one factor that may help them out, although its unlikely to revive their fortunes. It’s this:

Women with long nails won’t use iPhones.

Why?

Because they cannot use the touch interface. Nails don’t work on it – but they do work on a BlackBerry. When I was told this by my niece, who is an OC (obsessive- compulsive) texter, and I suggested she cut her nails, she gave me a look that could fell an elephant. The iPhone may be cool, but long painted nails are infinitely cooler

RIM co-chief executive officer Jim Balsillie repeatedly says things like “The iPhone is good for RIM because it raises the profile all smartphones”. He is, no doubt, whistling in the dark, but there is some hope, in the 16 – 45 female long-fingernail demographic, where the iPhone doesn’t play so well.