In what is probably a surprise to no one, Apple and the iPhone have come in at the top of the smart phone heap in a user satisfaction survey conducted by J.D. Power and Associates.

The new survey by the market research gurus considered categories such as ease of operation, physical design, and operating system in their 2009 Wireless Consumer Smartphone Customer Satisfaction Study and the 2009 Wireless Traditional Mobile Phone Satisfaction Study, according to an ars technica story. Overall, the iPhone scored 791 possible points out of 1,000 to win the top smart phone spot. It did particularly well in the areas of ease of use, operating system, features, and physical design.

Both LG and Samsung were fairly close behind the iPhone in the Powers rankings, though they are not particularly close in terms of sales. The other function that ranked highly with consumers was the life of a battery charge. The phones that came in second and third don’t have nearly as big a screen to support, and are bulkier, and thus get better battery life.  Outside the smart phone category, the LG phones took the top spot.

Kirk Parsons, a J.D. Power and Associates’ representative, said, “As consumers continuously upgrade to mobile phones that allow a full mobile-Web experience, advanced multimedia programs and 3G data downloads, overall handset satisfaction should continue to rise, as these devices tend to make our lives more convenient and prove entertaining. It is crucial, however, that manufacturers ensure these features are intuitive and that wireless carriers educate customers to maximize their wireless experience. While manufacturers continue to develop advanced features, they must also continue to provide a high-quality calling experience for their users.”

The Powers survey just confirms what the marketplace already knew. The iPhone does many things right. It may not, in fact, be the world’s best portable telephone. But is is the world’s best highly portable all-purpose computer. J.D. Powers is not quite in a place where they would be comfortable with that particular survey yet.

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Entry was posted on Friday, May 1st, 2009 at 2:03 pm under News, iPhone.  Print This Post

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