Where the iPhone wins The iPhone is a better device for business users, especially those in enterprise environments. Its ability to send calendar invites is one of those little things that make all the difference when you’re doing business on the road. And the iPhone has a bunch of better-thought-out capabilities. Plus, its management and security capabilities are much stronger than the Pre’s if you use the free iPhone Configuration Utility.

The iPhone’s device search is more capable, and its copy-and-paste functionality is both easier to use and more broadly usable. And the iPhone has a major leg up in the wealth of apps available for it.

The overall winner is ... The Pre is a surprisingly strong competitor to the groundbreaking iPhone. RIM’s efforts to compete with the iPhone have been uninspiring; the Google Android platform turned out to be a weak competitor, too wrapped up in Google’s offerings to the exclusion of the business world; and Microsoft has been AWOL.

For business users, the iPhone wins InfoWorld’s mobile deathmatch, but it was no knockout fight. Individual users will have a tougher decision to make and likely end up choosing based on device and UI aesthetics (Galen prefers the iPhone still, but Brandon is quite happy that he chose the Pre) and the appeal (or not) of the communication collaboration the Pre enables but the iPhone does not.

A year ago, the Pre could have derailed the iPhone. Today, the iPhone has moved enough ahead to stay in front. But the Pre is close on its heels, and its multitasking strength is what could ultimately let it blow past the iPhone in a next iteration.

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