Right now the world is being increasingly split into two groups: Crackberry Users and iPhone Phanatics. These two companies are at the forefront of the wireless revolution and will maintain their positions for the foreseeable future due to innovation and consumer loyalty. Research in Motion (RIMM) and Apple (AAPL) are locked in a battle that both will win.
The key to this unfolding story is emerging markets. A global story told by rural communities around the world and increasing penetration in emerging national cities. RIMM has made the case that its appeal is moving beyond US borders and beyond its traditional e-mail applications. For example one farm collective in Latin america is using the Blackberry to help 30,000 farmers run their crops. According to Balsillie, “Applications are everything.”
Those who owned the Commodore 64 certainly think so! 
The Blackberry does it all for that rural farmer, what used to take an office and everything in it now can be held in one hand. There have been no better examples of emerging market growth than China and India, which have become the poster children for wireless growth.
These two countries are the largest and fastest growing cellular markets in the world. In 2006, they added 131 million net new subscribers. That number increased by 29 percent in 2007 with more than 170 million net new subscribers. Both countries are starting to see cellular penetration move from the city population centers and into rural areas as technology and the cost structures allow. This experience is not only occuring in Chindia but in Africa, Indonesia and Malaysia as well as many other emerging regions. The key question to ask right now especially during this “US led global slowdown” is, “Are we seeing a slowdown in demand from the emerging markets?” The answer is no.
