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More Women Wield Smartphones

Female buyers doubled last year, as devices got cheaper, sleeker

By Kevin Spak, Newser Staff

Posted Jun 10, 2008 8:50 AM CDT

(Newser) – More and more smartphones are going into female hands and pocketbooks, the New York Times reports, as women catch up with their male counterparts in adopting not only iPhones but BlackBerrys, Treos, and other models. The number of American women toting smartphones more than doubled last year, to 10.4 million, as phones became cheaper, sleeker, and more user-friendly. Industries notice that kind of growth, and have begun marketing to women.

Valentine’s Day saw RIM offer pink BlackBerry Pearls, to resounding success. “Years ago the market was much more focused solely on function,” said a RIM marketing executive. “Now there is more focus on lifestyle.” But girls want more than pink, one female researcher says, complaining that vendors often showed her male colleagues “the cool phones, and showed me the phones with a mirror.”

Increasingly, phone companies see women as the key to the whole household. (Shutterstock)

Women smartphone usage doubled last year. (Shutterstock)

"You are not seen as a geek anymore if you have a smartphone," said one woman. (Shutterstock)

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BlackBerry's Best Can't Beat Apple, Google

The Bold 9900: 'Does Anybody Care'?

BlackBerry Maker Slashes 2K Jobs

Changes follow 12% drop in revenue

More People Want Androids Than iPhones

Google's operating system barely edges out Apple's

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Passes Symbian; iPhone at No. 3

Shut Off the Smartphone, Lest You Kill the Bar Debate

There are times for your iPhone; the bar is not one

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

iPhone • women • marketing • BlackBerry • smartphones

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

BlackBerry's Best Can't Beat Apple, Google

The Bold 9900: 'Does Anybody Care'?

BlackBerry Maker Slashes 2K Jobs

Changes follow 12% drop in revenue

More People Want Androids Than iPhones

Google's operating system barely edges out Apple's

Android World's No. 1 Smartphone Platform

Passes Symbian; iPhone at No. 3

Shut Off the Smartphone, Lest You Kill the Bar Debate

There are times for your iPhone; the bar is not one

About Us

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Newser By Users

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What is Newser?