iPhone booms

Invention of the year 2007, as it was named by Times magazine, now more and more interests both users and researchers.

The research firm Rubicon Consulting conducted the survey of 460 iPhone users in the U.S. last month (PDF.) and reported that:

- The iPhone is expanding the smartphone market. About 50 percent of iPhones replaced conventional mobile phones, 40 percent replaced smartphones, and 10 percent replaced nothing. Among conventional phones, Motorola Razr was the phone most often replaced. Among smartphones, Windows Mobile and RIM Blackberry were most often replaced.

- A third of iPhone users carry a second phone. There have been anecdotal reports of iPhone users carrying a second mobile phone, either for basic voice calling, or for other functions like composing e-mail. The survey confirmed those reports.

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A quarter of iPhone users say it's displacing a notebook computer. 28 percent of iPhone users surveyed said strongly that they often carry their iPhone instead of a notebook computer.

On that last point, Rubicon said it wonders whether third-party software will make the device "an even more attractive notebook replacement."

About 43 percent "strongly supported" Apple making at least one major change to the device, whether it is changing its size or adding a keyboard, for example. Rubicon said that there must be people out there who haven't bought an iPhone yet because they'd like to see such changes.

Improved browsing is almost certainly on the way too, said Rubicon. About 40 percent said the iPhone "has trouble displaying some Web pages." Without good browsing, smartphone companies run the risk of being overlooked by mobile carriers and users alike, the firm said.