BlackBerry Curve tops iPhone 3G as most popular US smartphone

It seems that the venerable iPhone 3G has been overtaken by the RIM BlackBerry (NSDQ: RIMM) Curve (in all of its “83xx” variants) in the first quarter of the 2009 US smartphone popularity contest. According to NPD, RIM’s US smartphone market share increased some 15% to give the BlackBerry-maker a 50% smartphone market share, knocking the iPhone 3G down to the runner-up position in US smartphone rankings. Aggressive marketing and the BlackBerry Curve’s availability through all four major national wireless carriers are attributed with helping RIM overtake Apple (NSDQ: AAPL) as the consumer’s choice for smartphones.

Verizon (NYSE: VZ) Wireless is credited with helping to boost RIM’s smartphone popularity through its “buy one, get one free” promotional offer. The sales tactic also helped RIM nab the No. 3 and No. 4 spots among the Top 5 most-popular US smartphones – the BlackBerry Storm is now the third most-popular smartphone, while the BlackBerry Pearl (and all its non-Flip variants) enjoys being the fourth most-popular smartphone.

The research also shows that the US smartphone market grew some 17% to account for 23% of the total mobile market, proving that the smartphone revolution continues to spread despite a wallowing global economy.

With the third-generation of iPhone hardware expected to launch in mere months, and Palm (NSDQ: PALM)’s hotly-anticipated Palm Pre due to launch even sooner, RIM is going to have a tough time keeping the BlackBerry Curve atop the list of most-popular US smartphones. Although, with an unofficial endorsement from President Obama, the BlackBerry Curve may live to see even better days!

[Via: Reuters]