The BlackBerry (wiki) is a wireless handheld device introduced in 1999 that supports push e-mail, mobile telephone, text messaging, web browsing and other wireless services.
It was developed by Research In Motion (wiki) and delivers information over the wireless data networks of cellular telephone companies.
Prior to the manufacture of the BlackBerry, RIM originally use the Mobitex wireless data network for two-way paging and wireless e-mail. Now Blackberries run on GSM, CDMA, and Motorola iDEN networks.
RIM currently offers BlackBerry e-mail service to non-BlackBerry devices, such as the Palm Treo 700P, Treo 750, and the Motorola Q, through BlackBerry Connect software. The Nokia E Series like the E60, Nokia E-61, Nokia E-62 and Nokia E70 support corporate mobile email solutions including BlackBerry Connect, GoodLink from Good Technology, Nokia Business Center, Seven Mobile Mail, and Visto Mobile. T-Mobile is rumored to launch the HTC S620 this fall. It has Wi-Fi and a mini keyboard. Unlike traditional mobile phones, BlackBerries can be centrally managed and supported by IT departments using BlackBerry Enterprise Server.
InfoSync reviews five of the hottest new Blackberry models:
RIM BlackBerry Pearl
When: September 2006 Worth: $199 - $250. The smallest and lightest of all the Blackberry phones — and the first to arrive with a built-in camera. The handset’s multimedia features and friendly main menu may draw in plenty of RIM newbies, but they’ll be scratching their heads once they dig into the typically arcane, text-only submenus. Review.
RIM Blackberry 8703e
When: September 2006 Worth: $350. The same basic look and feel as the EDGE-only 8700g on T-Mobile. The roomy RIM keypad was easy on our fingertips, and the 320 x 240-pixel LCD looked bright and sharp to our eyes. Of course, the real difference lies beneath the hood — full EV-DO support, plus dial-up networking for tethering to a laptop. Review.
RIM BlackBerry 7130e
When: November 2005 Worth: $200 - $300. The BlackBerry 7130e makes for a compact and speedy messaging companion, and you can’t beat the handset’s push e-mail and PIM synching abilities. Unfortunately, it’s hobbled by its tricky SureType keypad, which can’t quite measure up to a true QWERTY thumbboard, and we wish voice commands were included. Review.
RIM BlackBerry 8700g
When: April 2006 Worth: $300 - $400. With its bright screen, full-QWERTY keypad, EDGE and Bluetooth support, and characteristically superb e-mail handling, the 8700g is a strong choice for anyone looking to take the BlackBerry plunge. That said, T-Mobile customers who want a BlackBerry device that fits in a pocket might be better off with the slightly smaller (if tougher to use) 7105t, which features a pseudo-QWERTY thumbboard, while bargain hunters may want to scoop up the 7290 for just $100 (or the similarly priced 7105t, for that matter). Review.
RIM BlackBerry 7130c
When: June 2006 Worth: $200 - $250. With its new, trim profile and powerful, real-time messaging and PIM capabilities, the BlackBerry 7130c makes for a smart and pocketable business companion — provided your fingers can master the phone’s tricky SureType keypad. EDGE-only data capabilities. Review.
In other news, new mobile operator Truphone has announced a beta application to provide free calls to Wi-Fi enabled mobile phones. The software is currently available only for Nokia’s E-series handsets, but support for N-series devices will follow shortly.
By simply saying commands into their BlackBerry, mobile users can now search for information. MobileVoiceControl was formally launched on Sprint this week. The $6 a month service offers about 15 voice command functions, including email, text messaging, calendar entries, address book searches, Google searches and weather reports. IBM and Nuance are working with major wireless carriers on similar products and a number of voice control systems are now coming to market.
Additional information on Blackberries is available at Blackberry Forums, AllBlackberry, BlackberryFreeware, Howard Forums, and BlackberryToday.
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