iPhone becomes smart choice for companies

The iPhone will replace BlackBerry as the most purchased company smartphone, beating longtime leader BlackBerry in the process.

That is according to a recent IDC report, which says businesses are buying the Apple device "in droves", with Android phones topping the list of of smartphones bought directly by workers.

Predicting Apple to ship 37.1 million iOS-based iPhones to workers and 31.1 million to companies this year, the forecast sales look set to outdistance the BlackBerry for the first time.

IDC says Research In Motion will ship only 5.2 million devices to employees, contributing to a total delivery of 14.8 million during 2012.

While BlackBerry led the market during 2011, by 2016 the iPhone is expected to top the "corporate liable" smartphone shipment, reaching 68.9 million shipments.

"BlackBerry continues to be the gold standard for security," IDC said.

But the research company predicted the reduced consumer and developer interest "hinders its viability going forward."

With BlackBerry set to unveil two new smartphones on January 30, IDC failed to ignore the potential impact of Microsoft's Windows Phone, branding it a "dark horse."

But at the same time it was not expected to be adopted by companies in the near future, leaving Apple to top the list.

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