Thinking about a new Blackberry for Christmas? Well, it’s got to be better than a Treo.

At least that’s what research group SquareTrade is saying. They’ve got a 10-page cell phone study that says the Treo is more likely to snap (not literally) than any Blackberry or iPhone.

The study tracked 15,000 handsets over their first year. The iPhone had a malfunction rate of 5.6 percent. The Blackberry doubled that at 11.9 percent. The Palm Treo was the worst of all, with a malfunction rate 16.2 percent within the first year.

As Gizmodo states, none of the numbers are all that promising. However, you need to take the iPhone’s touchscreen into consideration. So did the study to some extent; apparently 3 percent of its users were more likely to damage that unit over the others tested.

Looking two years ahead, your gadget probably has scratches, cracks, and possibly a gooey spot. It also has an increased failure rate. The study projected that the iPhone’s rate would jump to 11 percent, while the Blackberry came in at 14 percent and the Treo was up to 21 percent.

Better start taking better care of that device; or signing up for a shorter contract.

Rachel Cericola - Contributing Writer

Over the past 15 years, Rachel Cericola has covered entertainment, web and technology trends. Check her out at www.rachelcericola.com.