BlackBerry once dominated the smartphone market with a 40% share but has seen steep declines in recent years. Their market share dropped to 20% in 2010 and 13% in the first quarter of 2011, as Android phones grew in popularity and capabilities. Android phones now offer comparable security, email, and apps as BlackBerry but with more innovation and flexibility. BlackBerry will need to release another breakthrough product to regain momentum in the rapidly changing smartphone industry.

1. Image: Daniel Y. Go, Flickr SOBERING UP FROM CRACKBERRY

2. Image: Orangeya, Flickr For nearly a decade, BlackBerry has revolutionized mobile productivity and dominated the smartphone market.

3. Image: loveroni, Flickr Though considered a luxury smartphone (priced higher than many other smartphones), BlackBerry still maintained a leading market share.

4. In November of 2009, BlackBerry commanded a whopping 40% market share of the recent acquirers of smartphones Source: The Nielson Company

5. Image: ^M.w, Flickr Consumers were attracted to BlackBerry’s advanced security.

6. Image: ilamont.com, Flickr And its email capability.

7. Image: Buthaina, Flickr And its unique BlackBerry Messenger.

8. However, the 40% market share of recent acquirers of smartphones dropped to a mere 20% in December of 2010. Source: The Nielson Company

9. WheredidBlackBerry’smarketsharego?

10. Image: fd, Flickr Android-based phones have poached BlackBerry’s market share, fiscal quarter after fiscal quarter.

11. BlackBerry’s competitive advantage no longer applied to the smartphone market as Android phones increasingly provided state-of-the-art capabilities. Source: The Nielson Company

12. Image: Phil Roeder, Flickr In the first quarter of 2011, 36.2 million Android phones were sold, which equaled 36% of the smartphone market. BlackBerry only snatched 13% of the market during this quarter. Source: Gartner

13. Image: Lomofy, Flickr The first quarter of 2011 is also a tipping point. The amount of Android users finally surpassed the amount of BlackBerry users. Source: TG Daily

14. Image: John Catral, Flickr Amount of Android users vs. BlackBerry users 29% 27% Source: TG Daily

15. The smartphone market is booming. Android is capitalizing the growth. BlackBerry is not. Source: The Nielson Company

16. Image: Pilot Ian | Photography, Flickr Such a decline in BlackBerry’s sales comes as no surprise.

17. There is an increasing desire for Android phones and a decreasing desire for BlackBerries amongst consumers. Source: The Nielson Company

18. The desire for a BlackBerry is even low amongst current BlackBerry users. Source: The Nielson Company

19. Source: The Nielson Company

20. Source: The Nielson Company

21. Source: The Nielson Company

22. Image: Computman, Flickr Consumer interest in BlackBerry has dropped across all demographics.

23. Image: Robert S. Donovan, Flickr But… Why???

24. Image: Cisco Pics, Flickr Because companies are increasingly securitizing employee’s phone of choice, rendering BlackBerry’s leading security program irrelevant.

25. Image: phillsacre, Flickr Because BlackBerries no longer lead the innovation curve, as Android phones can now host email, internet, and GPS better and faster.

26. Image: gpsachs [à Montréal], Flickr Because Android is a better platform operating system for users to add advanced apps for everyday purposes and gaming.

27. Image: Edlimagno, Flickr And because BlackBerry has released a string of disappointing products, such as Torch.

28. Image: RoozbehRokni, Flickr In the every-changing, volatile smartphone market, it is all about the next BIG product. BlackBerry was once an example. However, it can be again, if BlackBerry caters to the smart users of the smartphone era.