by , 3:10 PM EDT, August 27th, 2008

Despite an expected decrease in IT spending, a recent study by ChangeWave research shows that more and more companies are planning to purchase the Apple iPhone. The iPhone gains are coming at the expense of RIM/BlackBerry and Palm.

The survey, conducted August 11-21, contacted almost 2,000 people involved with IT spending in their organization.

Source: ChangeWave Research

The results showed that RIM had lost three percentage points since the last survey in May. The number reflects how many of the IT managers plan to make a purchase for that product in the next quarter.

Paul Carton wrote: "While the success of RIM's upcoming new product launches could put most of these issues to rest, the first new RIM launch - the Bold - is still not yet available in the U.S. When you place this in the context of the current 'take no prisoners' stock market, RIM could be in for a bumpy ride with investors short term - until they have some proof that RIM's new products are being successfully brought to market.

"Apple (17%), on the other hand, continues to show considerable momentum in terms of corporate planned purchases - up 4-pts from previously. In short, while recent ChangeWave consumer surveys have shown the 3G iPhone having a huge impact on consumer demand, the current results show the iPhone is beginning to gain real traction in the corporate market as well.

"In yet another positive for Apple, 19% report the release of the 3G iPhone has made their company More Likely to purchase Apple products in the future - only 1% say Less Likely. Thus, the 3G iPhone release appears to be having a positive 'halo effect' in terms of improved overall corporate purchasing intentions for Apple products in general."

The iPhone has shown incremental gains in four of the last five ChangeWave surveys.