Blackberry Pearl8120 Indigo- An amazing companion for businessmen

This beautiful newly designed BlackBerry Pearl8120 Indigo is available in a stylish solid bar casing with an array of stylish colours. The Pearl 8120 is provided with a large colour viewing display and beneath the display lies a full QWERTY keyboard. The gadget is embedded with Wi-Fi technology and a wide selection of messaging service. This smart phone is equipped with good camera features as well as built-in media player.

The Blackberry Pearl 8120 Indigo is a member of popular Pearl series. The stylish looking handset is provided with a high quality screen that is easy to use as well as it imparts a wonderful look to the handset. It has a high screen resolution of 240 pixels by 260 pixels. Coming to dimensions, the fantastic phone is 14mm deep, 50mm wide and 107mm long. It weighs around 99 grams including the light weight battery. The gadget is equipped with Wi-Fi technology which makes an individual enjoy a wireless connection. The user can also enjoy a high speed Internet connection. The gorgeous handset supports HTML Internet browser blessed with a built-in RIM wireless modem.

The device is also provided with built-in Bluetooth technology and with a USB which offers the users the ability to connect to other compatible devices quickly. Furthermore, it supports easy transfer of files as well as data. The smart phone is embedded with EDGE technology and GPRS, as a result of which an individual can experience high speed data transfers. The gadget supports 64 megabytes of built-in memory which is flash type memory.

The Blackberry Pearl8120 Indigo is available with easy to use messaging features that help a particular person to stay connected with his dear one's at any moment of time. It provides text messaging service as well as picture messaging service. The impressive gadget is loaded with speaker which enables the users to hear their contact without holding the handset to their ears at the time of call. The gorgeous looking mobile phone is provided with media player facility that refreshes the owners with music as well as videos. They can also make use of headsets for the purpose of private listening. The Pearl 8120 is regarded as the business user's best companion because it supports a user friendly business and communication focused features as well as some fun features to keep the users delight and entertained while on travels.

The Blackberry Pearl8120 Indigo is embedded with a 2 mega pixel camera that allows the users to capture still pictures as well as record the video footage. The camera is equipped with better flash and zoom options that provide owners the facility to take photographs even in the darker and duller environments also. The device is also provided with a small mirror that helps to take a self portrait picture. Thus, the Blackberry Pearl8120 Indigo is blessed with an array of latest and easy to use features.

Nokia N96 versus Blackberry 9500 Storm

Large number of people are using mobile phone for their personal and professional uses. These are the tiny devices that are very helpful for the present generation.

Today, in the world of advanced technology number of manufacturers are trying their level best and are producing various gadget in order to amazed the modern enthusiasts. Nokia, Samsung, LG are some of the reputed brands that have created various devices with amazing design. But the two latest gadgets that are creating sensation among the people are the Nokia N96 and Blackberry 9500 Storm. Such high end manufacturers has always been updating the features of their models as per the demand of the common people. While buying any mobile phone, sometimes it becomes very difficult to judge that which one to buy and why.

But, the difficulty can be erased simply by doing a comparison. In this respect you can take the best example of Nokia N96 and Blackberry 9500 Storm. Both of them are third generation gadgets. It is really convenient that most of the functions of these two devices are quite similar with each other. However, there are some small differences also. But, these differences do not affect the importance of these model First difference, that seems prominent between these models is its v2.0 of Bluetooth that comes with A2DP technology. This option will allow you to share data with other compatible devices at ease. The Nokia N96 has 16 giga bytes of storage space with 128 mega bytes of RAM. Whereas, the Blackberry 9500 storm is packed with 1 giga bytes of storage space with 128 mega bytes of RAM. Apart from this, the camera is the superior option of these handsets, that are highly sought by the customers.

The Nokia N96 has 5 mega pixels camera that come with the image resolution of 2592 x 1944 pixels. On the other hand, the Blackberry 9500 storm has 3.2 mega pixels camera. The auto focus and LED flash features are also existing in both the gadgets that allow you to capture clearer pictures in dark of night. The N96 has the VGA videocall camera, whereas, the 9500 storm has the QVGA videocall camera. But the difference that you will find is its latest messaging features that include SMS, MMS, Email and Instant messaging. These messaging packs will help you in interaction with others.

Data transferring applications permit the owners to transfer videos, images, audios, songs and excessive amount of other data to the compatible devices. The standard battery of the N96 offers 3 hours and 40 minutes of talk time and 220 hours of standby time. But, the 9500 storm gives 5 hours and 30 minutes of talk time and 360 hours of standby time in single start. Such modern gadgets cannot be completed without the option of Internet connectivity. Both of them come with WAP and HTML supported browsers, through which the users can access Internet connection.

After making comparison between Nokia N96 and Blackberry 9500 storm, we have seen that most of the features of these gadgets are similar with each other. These mobile phones are also equipped with various other options including TV out, document viewer and editor, organizer, audio and video players, voice memo, games, FM radio, etc., You can gain more information about such smart looking models from the numerous websites. So, by taking details, one can easily make his or her decision between the Nokia N96 and Blackberry 9500 storm. However, it does not create any difference that which one you are buying as both of the mobiles are, appreciated at a larger extent.

Protecting Your BlackBerry

Every time you slip that device out of its holster - even if its just for a quick game of BrickBreaker - remember that you're holding a storehouse of personal information, and most likely an access point into your company network.

We've gotten so addicted to those handheld devices, its no wonder they've picked up the nickname, "CrackBerry." But, along with the added convenience and productivity, they've also blessed us with some heightened security risks. Here are four things that you can do to make your BlackBerry safer.

Don't Lose It

I know that sounds ridiculously simple. But a survery released in 2005 reported that 160,000 portable devices are left in Chicago Taxis every year. One of the things that makes your BlackBerry so convenient - its size - also makes it simple to misplace. Fortunately, this is a security risk with a simple, low-tech solution. Put the device back in your holster or purse. Every time.

Use a Password

Odds are, in spite of my sage advice, you'll leave the BlackBerry behind at some point. And when you do, you'll heave a sigh of relief knowing that your data is password protected. To set a password, simply go to Options > Security Options > General Settings and set Password to Enabled. You can also decide how long the device sits idle before it locks up. I keep mine set at 30 minutes. That's short enough so that if I do lose it, the device should be locked by the time someone picks it up. One sanity tip: If you're using a device like a Pearl that has a multi-tap keyboard, try to come up with a password that only requires one tap on each key.

Enable Content Protection

If you are using a BlackBerry Enterprise Server, then the data that flies back and forth between your handheld and the server is encrypted. The data stored on your handheld is a different story.

Content Protection will encrypt your emails and other content stored in the machine. By choosing this option, you will be protected if someone were to connect the device to a USB port and attempt to read its memory. To enable Content Protection, go to Options > Security Options > General Settings. Set Content Protection to Enabled. You have the choice of applying Content Protection to your Address Book. If you do, you will lose the Caller ID function, so you will have to decide if the risk outweighs the inconvenience.

If you decide to encrypt the files stored on your media card, you have three choices. Here they are as described by the good folks from RIM:

To encrypt files on a media card inserted in the BlackBerry smartphone, complete the following steps:

Note: In order to encrypt files using the BlackBerry smartphone password, verify that the password is set before you begin the steps below.

1. On the Home screen of the BlackBerry smartphone, click Options.
2. Click Media Card or click Advanced Options > Media Card (depending on the BlackBerry Device Software version that is installed on the BlackBerry smartphone).
3. Use one of the following methods to encrypt files:
   • To encrypt files using an encryption key for a media card generated by the BlackBerry smartphone, set the Encryption Mode field to Device.
   • To encrypt files using the BlackBerry smartphone password, set the Encryption Mode field to Security Password.
   • To encrypt files using an encryption key for a media card and the BlackBerry smartphone password, set the Encryption Mode field to Security Password & Device.

     Note: To turn off encryption for a media card, set the Encryption Mode field to None.

4. To encrypt media files such as videos, ring tones, pictures, and songs on the media card, set Encrypt Media Files to Yes.
5. Press the Menu key.
6. Click Save.

Wipe the Device Before You Sell It

The time will come when you want to trade up, and the BlackBerry you love so well will be consigned to eBay. Before that happens, make sure you wipe the device clean.

During the 2008 Presidential Election, the McCain Campaign sold some leftover BlackBerries for $20 each. They also decided to throw in some confidential campaign data for free. A reporter who purchased a BargainBerry got a peek at the inner workings of a campaign by reading the emails left in memory. He also found a contact list full of McCain supporters. No damaging information squirted out, but needless to say the campaign was red-faced. All you have to do to avoid this embarrasment is go to Options > Security Options > General Settings. While you are there, hit the Menu Key and select Wipe Handheld. The prompts will guide you through the rest of the process.

Conclusion

In my experience, most security threats are the result of simple negligence, not technological failures. None of the steps I've outlined here require advanced knowlegde. But if you follow them, you will have greatly improved your handheld security.

Security for Windows Mobile and BlackBerry phone users

Mobile phone users often look for a solution to provide them security on their mobile device. Taking the right security measures at the right time can help save you a lot of trouble, especially in cases like lost, misplaced or stolen mobile phone, or damaged phones. Text Guard is a helpful cell phone application which can be used by businessmen, by corporate clients, professionals and also individuals to provide them with backup of all their mobile phone activities. The software does not only block spam text messages, but can also be used to monitor text messages activity on the specified cell phone. All you need to do is to download the software from http://www.TextGuard.com (their 30 day evaluation version can also be used) and install it on the cell phone. To keep track of their childrens activities, parents can install it on their kid’s cellular phones. This software is also helpful to protect children from spam text messages as it allows you to block spam text messages. The utility also allows SmartPhone users to archive their email and SMS text messages for retrieval later on.

Likewise, corporate and businesses clients can also install the software on multiple cell phones to monitor the activities of all those employees. Text Guard also archives texts and SMS message which means you can access the complete archive of your cell phone text messages all at one place by logging on to the website. Corporations use Text Guard to track the activities of their employees, and could use the archived messages for later retrieval and record; if necessary.

With Text Guard, you can efficiently block spam text messages on your cell phones. This can spare you the frustration and save you a lot of energy and time. You can even block certain phone numbers to stop receiving spam messages from those numbers. You can choose between the three different editions offered by Text Guard, which include the Enterprise Edition, Business Edition and Family Edition. You only pay a nominal monthly fee per account for the storage space you utilize to save the SMS text messages at one place. If at any time you feel that you are running out of space, you can always purchase more space, or delete old messages by browsing through them using the SMS text messages search option provided in the Text Guard user module.

The utility not only lets users get rid of spam text messages, but it also helps in monitoring SMS text messages on the mobile phone.

Currently, it works on Windows Mobile phone and BlackBerry phones, and will soon be available for Android and Symbian operation systems. Some other features offered by Text Guard include blocking calls and monitoring calls as well as archiving all sent and received text messages as well as email messages from the mobile phone. These text messages are saved on a remote server, and can be accessed from anywhere by accessing the Text Guard website.

BlackBerry Curve 8310 Review

What the BlackBerry Curve 8300 series seek after is "For a bigger, more well-rounded life" . Here, we will take a look at just how the BlackBerry Curve 8310, one of the specific handsets included in the Curve series, fares against similar smartphones in the market.

Just how will the BlackBerry Curve 8310 lead you to a more well-rounded life in terms of technology? What sets the BlackBerry Curve 8310 apart from the rest of the pack? Which features included with the BlackBerry Curve 8310 will make the mouth of every techie water at the thought of their being able to use it? Let's find the answers in our BlackBerry Cureve 8310 review.

BlackBerry Curve 8310 Specifications

A quick glance over the specification sheet will reveal the same tech as the BlackBerry Curve 8300. As promised,the BlackBerry Curve 8310 will sports a 2 megapixel snapper, 3.5mm headphones jack,quad-band connectivity, Bluetooth 2.0, a microSD card slot,and the push email system.

Blackberry Curve 8310 as part of the BlackBerry Curve 8300 Series

Now that you already have an overview of the features that you will enjoy with the BlackBerry Curve 8310 smartphone, here's a brief look at its background. Basically, the BlackBerry Curve 8310 is part of the BlackBerry Curve 8300 series of smartphones which are developed by Research In Motion.

What makes the phones under the BlackBerry Curve 8300 is the fact that they all have full QWERTY keyboards, a built-in speakerphone, a standard 3.5-mm headphones jack,and of course the Push-Email function which BlackBerry is famous for, what's more, you will be able to use the phone internationally since it supports other network SIM cards.

A Closer Look at the BlackBerry Curve 8310 Features

So what are the plus and minus points of the BlackBerry Curve 8310 smartphone? First, the good points. Just like all the other mobile phone units included in the BlackBerry Curve 8300 series, the BlackBerry Curve 8310 has a sleek body with a metallic finish, soft edges and a streamlined look.

The BlackBerry Curve 8310 also has the smallest,lightest body which has a full QWERTY keyboard with an easy-to-use trackball navigation. Another outstanding feature of this smartphone is the fact that it has a voice-guided GPS which provides users with driving directions and other useful features like local business search.

So what are the disadvantages of using the phone, if any? Perhaps the only downside is the fact that the BlackBerry Curve 8310 does not offer Wi-Fi or 3G support and there's no video-recording feature included.

All in all, if there's one handset that will allow you to live a more well-rounded life technology-wise, that is none other than the BlackBerry Curve 8310 smartphone.

10 Reasons to buy the Blackberry 8100 Pearl

This major update to the popular 7105t brings the Blackberry experience to a whole new level. Here are 10 reasons to buy the RIM Blackberry Pearl.

1. The Camera.

The Blackberry Pearl includes a 1.3-megapixel camera that features an LED flash, 5 times zoom and white balance controls. This is the first Blackberry to include a camera, and whilst at 1.3 Megapixel it is not as advanced as others on the market, it takes a great little photo and is a long overdue addition to the Blackberry.

2. MP3 Player.

This model includes other consumer features including an Mp3. The Blackberry music player supports playback of your tunes in MP3, AAC, AAC+, and eAAC+ formats. The handheld is also compatible with Java application and game downloads. You can create playlists as folders and shuffle and repeat songs within a certain folder. It also displays some track information, such as title, artist, and album art if available.

3. Expandable Memory.

Now that you can listen to your mp3’s on the go with your Blackberry you are going to need somewhere to store all your favourite songs, not just a few of them. The blackberry Pearl also sports a memory card slot.

This is the first blackberry to include this feature.

4. Size and Design.

The Blackberry Pearl is sleek and stylish unlike typical business smartphones. At a form size of 4.2 by 2.0 by 0.5 inches; 3.1 ounces, the Pearl fits easily into a pocket or handbag, and unlike previous Blackberry models it does not look over-sized and silly when making calls. The Pearl is smaller than the Treo and Sidekick smartphones. It has a glossy black and chrome finish and will appeal to business users and general consumers alike.

5. The Screen.

The Blackberry Pearl sports a 2.25-inch TFT screen that displays 65,000 colors at a 240x260-pixel resolution. The screen is super sharp, clear and is reminiscent of a miniature plasma screen television. It is great for viewing emails and web browsing. Also included is light-sensing technology so the Pearl will adjust its brightness based on the conditions you are in.

6. The Pearl.

Gone is the classic Blackberry trackwheel. This phone features a trackball below the screen (The Pearl). The Pearl is easy to use and allows for 4 way scrolling. Its sensitivity can be adjusted and when pushed in, it acts as a select button. Whilst Blackberry users who are used to the trackwheel might initially experience some difficulties adapting to the Pearl it is very easy to adapt to. New Blackberry users will quickly take to it.

7. Maps

The Pearl is also the first Blackberry to come with a map application. Blackberry Maps provides local maps and allows you to get text-based driving directions straight to your Blackberry.

8. Email.

This is the feature that made the Blackberry so popular from the beginning. You can sync with your company's server with support for Microsoft Exchange, IBM Lotus Domino, or Novell GroupWise to deliver corporate e-mail in real time (Push email).

You can also support up to 10 POP3 or IMAP4 e-mail accounts.

The email set up wizard is very quick and simple to use.

9. Voice Dialling.

The Blackberry Pearl now offers voice dialling so you can set up voice commands for your contacts and use them to dial numbers.

10. Use it with a Mac.

The Blackberry Pearl is the most stylish smartphone on the market, so it makes sense to want to use it with the most stylish computers on the market. This can be done using a program called Pocketmac. Pocketmac is the first program to allow Mac users to sync their crucial data between their Blackberry device and Entourage, Address Book, iCal, Now Contact, Now Up-To-Date, and even Stickies.

Blackberry Bold or Nokia E71 - which one is better?

Released within a month of each other, the Blackberry 9000, better known as the Blackberry Bold (May 2008) and the Nokia E71 (June 2008) are obvious rival smartphones from these perennial rival smartphone makers as they look, feel, and function very much alike.

Both devices are just about equally sized, at 114 mm x 66 mm x 14 mm for the Blackberry and 114 mm x 57 mm x 10 mm for the Nokia. And both weigh just about the same with the Blackberry weighing in at 133 g to a slightly lighter Nokia's 127 g.

Both devices have a QWERTY keypad occupying the bottom half of the face of the device with a small display screen (2.6 in on the Blackberry, 2.36 in on the Nokia) above it. Interestingly, the display screens on each device possess a quality superior to that of their counterpart. The Blackberry has better resolution, at 480 x 320 pixels to its competitor's 320 x 240 pixels; but the Nokia has more colors, at 16 million to its competitors meager 65,000.

Then, for a matter of simple preference, the Blackberry Bold's primary navigation is a trackball whereas the Nokia E71 uses a 5-way scroll key. Also a simple matter of preference, the Blackberry runs on the Blackberry OS, the Nokia on the Symbian OS.

Other similarities amongst these two candybar competitors are their built-in GPS with mapping capabilities (the Bold using Blackberry Maps, the E71 using Nokia Maps - each coming preinstalled), as well as voice dialing, photo calling, video calling, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth v2.0 with A2DP, and speakerphone. They also both operate on AT&T's EDGE network and support HSDPA and 3G.

Also, both devices sport microSD card slots for expandable memory up to 8 GB, though the Blackberry has more more internal memory, at 1 GB to the Nokia's 110 MB (both devices have 128 MB onboard RAM though). And both devices have a USB v2.0 port, though the Nokia also has a microUSB port.

In terms of multimedia features they each have built in digital cameras, but the Blackberry Bold's is only 2 megapixels while the Nokia E71's is 3 megapixels. Both cameras, however, have LED flash and video recording capabilities. Both devices also have a built-in MP3 player.

Also worth noting, along these same lines, is that unlike the Blackberry (or most smartphones, for that matter) the Nokia does not have a standard 3.5 mm headphone jack but rather a 2.5 mm audio jack, making headphone and speaker compatibility a bigger issue with the Nokia. The Nokia, however, has an infrared port while the Blackberry does not.

You can view Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents on both devices, but you can only edit them on the Blackberry.

The battery on the Bold gives up to 5 hours of talk time and 310 hours of standby time. The battery on the Nokia gives up to 10 1/2 hours of talk time in 2G or 4 1/2 hours in 3G, and 410 hours of standby time in 2G or 480 hours in 3G.

Deciding between these two devices is a tough call, and may come down to extraneous features such as the availability of preferred 3rd party apps. Or you may just prefer the Blackberry operating system to Symbian. You may also lean towards the Blackberry Bold if you want to be able to edit Microsoft Office docs, though you might lean towards the Nokia E71 if you'd rather take crisper digital photos. Really these two devices are quite comparable.

By Caroline Telford

Blackberry Curve 8900: A True Mobile Communication Device

The BlackBerry Curve 8900 smart phone proves to be an easy-to-use device which does great in delivering expanded functionality and reliable performance.

External Features to Flatter: BlackBerry Curve 8900 comes with one of the slimmest QWERTY keypads among all the BlackBerry phones which have been released so far. It is also the lightest in this category of smartphones and is the slimmest of all the BlackBerrys on offer. The shape has the basic BlackBerry exoskeleton but the edges and corners have been further smoothened that helps to grip the much slimmer phone in a better way and helps to fit it easily into the pockets of the executively-dressed folks — the Curve's target audience. The overall configuration evokes a feeling of sturdiness and a device that will not lose its edge even it is mishandled for a few years. One feature that immediately grabs your attention is the TFT LCD that measures around 2.4-inches and has been enriched with 480 x 360 pixels of brilliant resolution. The keypad is similar to BlackBerry Bold. However they have been redesigned to assist faster messaging, making it a breeze to use.

More Convenience & Some Add-ons: just below the screen display, all the standard navigation keys like the Talk, End, Menu, Back and Navigator have been placed. It makes the interface simplified and makes switching from messaging to talking a convenience. The side control functionality is undemanding and fulfills the promise of offering single-handed operation. The user interface features the BlackBerry's best OS — the OS 4.6.1.114 making the entire interface more interactive and it features applications that help in editing everything from Word and Excel to PowerPoint files. The biggest improvement over the older models would be its web browser. The Curve 8900 now comes with a HTML capable browser with support for RSS feeds, enabling users to get access to real-time news on the go. The GPS has been offered as a built-in feature, helping users to access BlackBerry Maps, Google Maps and TeleNav GPS Navigator. It has an internal memory of 64MB and comes with an expandable memory slot which supports microSD storage cards.

Verdict: Along with some other features like the Wi-Fi and 3.2 Megapixel camera, the BlackBerry Curve 8900 proves hard to resist as a multi-functional phone. Its design and the functionalities have been combined together in a smart and reasonably priced manner to make it appealing to both the smartphone addicts and first-time purchasers.

Getting to Know More about BlackBerry Bold 9000

With so many upcoming new technology of cell phones from different manufacturers, where does BlackBerry is being different?

Currently I have a BlackBerry Bold 9000 Phone model and I surely am enjoying this phone but I would like to know is why does this phone is unique from other mobile phones.

As what I have researched, this phone is especially designed to provide business professionals an unprecedented functionality and performance. This BlackBerry Bold model is the fastest and the most powerful having a better support for tri-band HSPDA high-speed networks around the world as well as integrated GPS or Global Positioning System and Wi-Fi networking.

This mobile phone have a lustrous black exterior, satin chrome with finished frame and stylish leather-like backplate and a sophisticated user interface and a better designed full-QWERTY keyboard.

This mobile phone can also keep yourself on track for your schedules and also provide you a spoken or text-based turn-by-turn rerouting and a local business finder service in 20 countries. This can also support mobile music and access to thousands of video clips via cellular video.

Other feature also includes a 2 megapixel camera/camcorder, Bluetooth for handsfree communication, 1 GB of internal memory with MicroSD expansion, a multi-format audio/video playback, and up to 4.5 hours of talk time.

BlackBerry Bold has a stunning half-VGA (480 x 320 at 217 ppi) colour display that is fused to the under surface of the lens, making images leap out with stunning definition and clarity. This also includes trackball navigation system located on the top of the QWERTY keypad. The BlackBerry Bold also boasts a new acoustic design for enhanced phone listening quality and clarity and numerous premium phone features, including Speaker Independent Voice Recognition (SIVR) for Voice Activated Dialing (VAD). Having this mobile phone really boosts one person's office productivity and connectivity.

BlackBerry 8700g Phone Review

Design:

• Pro: The BlackBerry 8700g fits comfortably in your hand. It’s not on oddball, awkward size.
  
  
• Con: Con: At 4.3” by 2.7” by 0.77,” though, some newer models of email phones are thinner and smaller. Its weight is 4.7 ounces with the battery installed, which flirts with the ceiling of how heavy a phone should be.

Software:

• Pro: Email and Web surfing are the sole reasons why you’d select this phone over other devices not designed for the serious, on-the-go emailer. You can theme it to your heart’s desire, which means you can customize its overall look and feel with the “skin” of your choosing.
  
  Popular file formats attached to emails (i.e. Adobe’s PDF files) can be viewed by default. You can also combine text and images on a single message using multimedia messaging.

• Con: In several trials during my review of the 8700g, the phone took about 45 seconds to power on. That’s too long. Also, you might find the default BlackBerry Web browser to be underwhelming with problematic Web scripting. This means what you get isn’t always like what you should see.
  
  For my review, I upgraded to the default browser to Opera, which renders much better.
  
  I experienced some disconcerting technical glitches in my trials. It randomly flickers and spontaneously reboots itself. There’s no Microsoft Office unless you use plug-ins to access Office applications through the Web. Also, reading certain file formats (i.e. PDF files) don’t render exactly as they should.

Hardware:

• Pro: Its full, 35-key keyboard is a major perk that affords familiar typing. The keys are far enough apart that you can type easily and swiftly. It doesn’t have half keys like some other devices and the keys aren’t too close together.
  
  Even when I Web surfed the phone like a madman and emailed and texted more than necessary, its rechargeable Lithium battery does the job. It’s rated at four hours of talk time and up to 16 days of standby time.
  
  The dedicated “send,” “end” and “mute” keys are a nice addition and there are also user-definable convenience keys. Thank you for the bright, high-resolution screen and the speakerphone comes in handy, too. The thumb-operated “trackwheel” translates into easing scrolling and the MP3 ringtones are fun.
  
  The phone also offers Bluetooth technology for short-range wireless communication with other devices.

• Con: The 8700g only comes with 64 megabytes of on-board memory, which you may need to upgrade if you want more software applications. There’s no camera.

Data Speed:

• The 8700g runs on an advanced data network that’s enhanced by a technology called EDGE, which allows for high-speed surfing. The phone also gives you international roaming.
  
  Newer networks (i.e. 3G networks) are even faster than EDGE, though, which said simply is being used by T-Mobile to speed up its base data network. Superseding 2G, 3G is the third generation of mobile phone standards and technology.

Simplicity:

• It’s sometimes stupidly simple – like for emailing – and at other times exceedingly complicated. You may need help setting up corporate email and navigating the sometimes perplexing realm of software applications and plug-ins.

Price:

• For an email phone, it’s priced relatively economically by T-Mobile from $100 at the cheapest to a list price of $250 without any of the rebates or instant discounts.

The Bottom Line:

• When buying the 8700g, you’re clearly not just purchasing a phone.
  
  Most delve into the BlackBerry world for email just as much if not more so than its use as a phone. BlackBerry offers a wide array of models for the beginner all the way up to the tech guru. This one ranks in the middle and suffices happily for the layperson.

BlackBerry Curve 8900 Review

Research In Motion has overhauled its popular blackberry curve smartphone

with the 8900. This new model features a slim design, an excellent camera, and an absolutely gorgeous screen. Unfortunately, it lacks support for high-speed 3G networks, but if you can get past that omission, you'll find the Curve 8900 to be one of the best smartphones around.

The BlackBerry Curve 8900 will be available from T-Mobile on February 11 for $200 (after a $100 rebate) when signing a new two-year contract.

Design

+ : The Curve 8900 is BlackBerry's slimmest full-QWERTY smartphone yet, measuring just a hair more than half and inch thick. Its case is black with chrome-colored edging, making it look a lot like the BlackBerry Bold. The 8900 is slightly smaller than the Bold, though, measuring 4.3 inches tall by 2.4 inches wide.

The screen measures 2.4 inches diagonally and has a resolution of 480 by 360--that's even higher than the resolution of the Bold's display. I used to think the Bold's screen was the best I'd ever seen on smartphone, but not anymore. The Curve's screen is gorgeous, displaying crisp graphics and bright colors. Everything from text to streaming video looked great.

The keyboard is small, but I still found thumb typing easy. The phone is light, too, weighing just 3.9 ounces.

- : The only real downside to the 8900's design is the fact that much of it is made of plastic. While that helps keep the phone light, it does feel a tad bit cheap.

Making Calls

+ : The Curve 8900's small size and light weight make it comfortable to hold next to your ear, and I found voice quality to be very good. The Curve 8900 is a quad-band GSM phone; that means you'll be able to make voice calls in many countries outside the U.S.

You also can make voice calls over Wi-Fi networks, in addition to over cellular networks. This can allow you to make voice calls in places where you have a wireless network, but the cellular coverage is spotty.

- : Making voice calls over wireless networks can save you from using the voice minutes on your monthly plan, but it does require signing up for T-Mobile's Unlimited HotSpot Calling plan, which costs $10 per month.

Browsing the Web

+ : The included BlackBerry browser is excellent: It displays Web pages just as you would see them on a computer screen, and lets you zoom in and out easily.

- : The 8900 supports both Wi-Fi networks and EDGE data networks, but notably missing is support for a true 3G network like HSDPA. That means you'll have to rely on the availability of a Wi-Fi network for high-speed data access.

Messaging

+ : Like all BlackBerry phones, the 8900 is a messaging champ. It will support 10 personal or business e-mail accounts, and setting them up is a breeze. Several instant messaging applications, including AOL's AIM, Google Talk, ICQ, Yahoo Messenger, and Windows Live Messenger, come pre-installed. You also get support for text and multimedia messaging.

Software

+ : The Curve 8900 runs the updated version of the BlackBerry OS that we've seen on the Pearl Flip, Bold, and the Storm -- and that's a good thing. And, like those phones, the Curve 8900 has the DataViz Docs To Go editing suite preinstalled.

- : The Curve 8900 does not include access to the upcoming BlackBerry Application Center, which will let you download software applications directly to your phone, much like Apple's App Store. Also, the phone comes with the Standard Edition of Documents To Go, which doesn't allow you to create new Microsoft Office documents. For that capability, you'll have to upgrade to the $70 Premium Edition.

Multimedia

+ : The included 3.2-megapixel camera has auto-focus, a flash, and digital zoom, and it captured some great snapshots. You also get support for stereo Bluetooth and built-in GPS, as well as a decent--though basic--audio and video player. Video clips look great when played back on the Curve's screen, though.

- : Unlike the other nationwide cellular carriers, T-Mobile doesn't offer a lot in the way of multimedia services. It doesn't offer a music store or a video service that can compare to AT&T's CV video service or Verizon's V Cast offerings. That means you'll have to purchase your own music and videos on your computer and transfer them to the phone yourself.

Overall, I was really impressed with the BlackBerry Curve 8900. It could benefit from 3G connectivity, but even without it, this is one of the best smartphones I've seen.

How Good Is The Blackberry curve 8300

The Good:

1. Technology: The Blackberry curve 8300 works with global GSM frequencies , a convenient feature for overseas travelers. (Note that additional roaming charges from your home carrier generally apply) (score: 7/7)
2. Talk Time: 240 minutes of talking time. It is good enough! (score: 16/20)
3. Stand-by Time: A stand-by time of 408 hours. It is very good! (score: 20/20)
4. Phone Book: It can store up to 8300 phone book entries, which is quite good! (score: 20/20)
5. Memory Expansion Slot: It includes a memory expansion slot MicroSD, a useful way to store more pictures and music or transfer them from and to your laptop computer. (score: 10/10)
6. Speakerphone: It has a speakerphone, which will prove useful in a car or in other situations. (score: 10/10)
7. Full Keyboard: It has a built-in small keyboard. Useful not only when typing text but also when browsing the Internet and adding new phone book contacts. (score: 7/7)
8. Wireless Data System: Bluetooth-enabled, which is an interesting plus. Bluetooth is not really necessary but may be handy if you want to use a wireless headset or transfer data to or from your (Bluetooth-enabled) laptop, for instance. (score: 7/7)
9. Stereo Bluetooth: It supports stereo Bluetooth (A2DP). Perfect for music listeners, or even just to be more completely immersed in a conversation. (score: 5/5)

The Average:

1. Weight: A weight of 3.9 ounces is very average. (score: 8/20)

The Not-So-Good:

1. Camera: The (unknown) built-in camera is basic. Useful, but you won't make artwork with it. (score: 3/10)

BlackBerry Pearl 8100 Review

When the Blackberry Pearl 8100 was launched more than two years ago, this smartphone was a revelation. The Pearl 8100 was the first BlackBerry phone to feature a camera, an audio player, and a video player, This made the the BlackBerry Pearl 8100 the first BlackBerry designed for everyday users, not just hardcore business types.

Today, the BlackBerry Pearl 8100has lost some of its novelty, thanks to the availability of devices like the Blackberry Bold and the Blackberry Curve--both of which pack in plenty of multimedia features. But the Pearl 8100 remains one of BlackBerry's most popular phones.

The BlackBerry Pearl 8100 is available from T-Mobile for $50, after a $50 mail-in rebate, and when signing a new two year contract. That's quite a bargain.

(Note: Similar phones in the BlackBerry Pearl 8100 series are available from other carriers: The 8110, the 8120, and the 8130 are available from from Sprint, Verizon Wireless, and AT&T respectively. These models all offer slightly different features than the 8100.)

Design

PROS: Available in red and black, the BlackBerry Pearl 8100 is a slim, attractive phone. It was the first BlackBerry phone to omit the thumbwheel on the side of the phone in favor of a glowing navigation ball--the Pearl--that sits below the screen. Navigating the phone with the Pearl is quite easy.

CONS: Like the Pearl Flip, the BlackBerry Pearl 8100 uses a slightly modified QWERTY keyboard, which fits two letters on most keys to save space. The Pearl uses RIM's SureType predictive-text software to guess what you're typing. As I've noted in other reviews, some people love this system, but I'm not one of them. No matter how many times I use it, I still find that it dramatically slows down my typing.

Making Calls

PROS: The Pearl is slim and light, making it comfortable to hold during calls.

CONS: Voice quality was mixed; some calls sounded very good, while other times, I noticed muffled voices.

Browsing the Web

CONS: Web browsing is not one of the BlackBerry Pearl 8100's greatest strengths. The 2.25-inch screen looks nice, but feels small when compared to the roomier screens you often find on today's smartphones. The phone also lacks support for 3G data networks or Wi-Fi wireless networks (a feature that was added in the newer Pearl 8120), so browsing the Web can be slow. The Pearl 8100 also runs an older version of the BlackBerry browser, which can make some Web pages harder to view.

Messaging

PROS: Despite its lack of high-speed data access, the BlackBerry Pearl 8100 remains an excellent messaging phone. It will let you access up to 10 e-mail accounts--both business and personal. It also includes access to popular instant messaging clients, like AOL's AIM, ICQ, Windows Live Messenger, and Yahoo Messenger.

Software

CONS: Unlike the newer BlackBerry phones (like the Bold or Pearl Flip), the Pearl 8100 does not include any productivity software. That means you'll have to supply your own software if you'd like to use your phone to view or edit Office documents.

Multimedia

PROS: The Pearl 8100 was the first BlackBerry phone to add a camera, a music player, and a video player, and it remains a decent multimedia device. You can transfer your AAC, MP3, and WAV files to the phone using an included USB cord.

CONS: The BlackBerry Pearl 8100's camera is a measly 1.3 megapixels, and both the video and audio players are somewhat limited. You don't have access to a music store for downloading songs directly to the phone, and you'll have to supply your own microSD card if you want to boost the phone's storage.

The Pearl 8100 lacks the wow factor of some of today's newer BlackBerry phones. But there's a reason this phone remains available--and popular--more than two years after its debut. It's a good-looking multimedia phone with excellent e-mail features. And at $50, it's quite a bargain.

BlackBerry Curve 8330

You don't need to shell out big bucks for the latest, greatest smartphone to get a great feature set. Case in point: The BlackBerry Curve 8330. This excellent phone includes plenty of features for both work and play. And you can get it from Sprint for $100 (after a mail-in rebate) when you sign a new service contract.

Design

PROS: The 8330 features the same design as past Curves: It is petite, with a slightly rounded design, and sports a Pearl-like trackball directly below the 2.5-inch screen for navigation. The QWERTY keyboard is small, but I found it sufficient for thumb typing. The case of the 8330 is titanium, a slight change from the lighter gray of the original Curve.

CONS: The 8330 features a nice-looking screen, but it pales in comparison to the stunning screen found on the newer Blackberry Bold. Graphics are not as crisp or clear.

Making Calls

PROS: Voice quality is very good; I had no problems hearing my callers and they said the same thing about me. The 8330 is light (it weighs 4.2 ounces) and comfortable to hold during conversations, despite its slightly blocky shape.

Browsing the Web

PROS: The 8330 supports the 3G EvDO network, which helps improve video performance, and made surfing the Web noticeably speedy.

CONS: Some sites can be difficult to view on the 8330's browser, which is an older version of the BlackBerry browser.

Messaging

PROS: Like all BlackBerrys, the 8330 excels at messaging. It supports up to 10 personal or business e-mail accounts; adding one is a snap. The 8330 also adds supports for consumer instant messaging clients, like AOL's AIM, Google Talk, and Yahoo Messenger.

Software

PROS: The 8330 supports the Sprint Navigation service, which provides turn-by-turn directions.

CONS: Unlike some of the newer BlackBerry phones (such as the Bold or the Storm), the 8330 does not come with a productivity suite. If you'd like to edit Office documents, you'll need to go out and get your own software application.

Multimedia

PROS: The 8330 supports Sprint's TV service, which offers a mix of live channels (showing the same content you'd see on your TV) and content that has been specially packaged for viewing on your mobile phone. Sprint says it service offers access to more than 70 channels. Other features include a 2.0 megapixel camera that can capture still photos and video clips, and a music and video player.

CONS: When watching Sprint TV, I found the video quality was mixed, whether I was watching live TV or pre-packaged mobile content. I had to wait while files buffered, and the picture often looked blocky and sometimes broke up completely. Performance is largely related to network strength, though.

Blackberry Storm or Blackberry Bold - Which One Is Better?

Blackberry has created two great phones that have similar features. They include camera, built in GPS, Media Player, Video recording, maps, wireless e-mail, organizer, browser, corporate data access, phone, sms/mms. Although, they are different in physical appearance they have many of the same features and functions. Consumers will have to really dig when comparing and contrasting them before making a final decision.

For a more in dept look of the two cell phones, I am going to compare and contrast their most popular features starting with the Storm and then the Bold. The display windows of both has transmissive TFT LCD, Font size (user selectable), light sensing screen; supports over 65,000 colors. One however, has a 3.25 inch screen size with a high resolution of 480 x 360 pixel color display and the other has a 2.6 inch screen size with half VGA resolution of 480 x 320 pixel color display.

Next the camera on the first one comes with 3.2mp, auto flash, auto focus and 2x digital zoom. The second one only has 2.0mp with flash but is equipped with 3x digital zoom. Both may require a microSD card to enable the video recording feature depending on the amount of memory available.

The battery life has a slight difference. Stand by time is 15 days and the talk time is 6 hours vs. a stand by time of 13.5 days and talk time of 4.5 hours. Both have a removable/rechargeable cryptographic lithium cell battery.

You will not get lost with either phone because they both offer a built in GPS system and maps. These features allow you to plan and view your trip right on the screen, save a list of favorite places you like to visit and step by step driving directions to any location of your choice.

They both have built in 3.5mm stereo with headset compatibility, integrated earpiece/microphone, speaker phone and Bluetooth ready. However, one has a touch screen keyboard (allows you to type by touch) vs. a QWERTY keyboard (allows you to type on a regular keyboard) on the other. The built in microphone is a great asset to both phones because it allows users to send voice e-mails. This comes in handy when you are in a hurry, donÕt feel up to typing or want to give a message in person but are unable to.

They both have media player which allows you to watch video or audio formatted programs, allow you to edit your Microsoft word or PowerPoint slides (copy and past, adjust font and other formatting) and doubles as an iPod allowing users to create their own playist list for easy listening.

The Blackberry Storm and the Blackberry Bold are very similar with few differences. Overall the Blackberry Storm offers a little more. It offers better picture resolution, more digital camera MPS, a longer battery life and more built in memory. However, if you donÕt like touch screens and prefer the usual keyboard style, the Blackberry Bold offers it. There are such minute differences between the two; one would have to begin to look at styles, colors, prices and services to help them make a choice.
by Caroline Telford

The RIM BlackBerry Bold Vs Apple’s iPhone 3G Battle Of The Smart Phones.

The consumers and companies win with the BlackBerry Bold can sync with a companys BlackBerry Enterprise server and it also supports Microsoft Exchange's push email server. You can also configure the Bold to work with POP3 and IMAP4 e-mail accounts as well. RIM has remained loyal to it’s core customers government and enterprise while dipping it’s toes in the consumer pools. Over the past year the BlackBerry Curve has replaced the BlackBerry 8700 as the BDOC. Meanwhile Apple has only recently made plans to venture into the enterprise market which is where they are hoping to make their next fortune.

Many people consider this smartphone to be the BlackBerry device that is designed to take on Apple’s iPhone 3G in the enterprise environment and even dip into the high tech consumer market as well. Powered by a 624 MHz mobile processor and support for tri band HSDPA and enterprise grade Wi-Fi networks the Bold makes short work of downloading email attachments, streaming video or rendering webpages. The BlackBerry Bold also includes 128 MB Flash memory plus 1 GB on board storage memory as well as and a microSD/SDHC memory card slot that is conveniently accessible from a side door.

If the battery is running too low, the Bold won't shut down but will disconnect the radio, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi antennas, the other features of the phone remaining accessible. However if the phone is put to charge the radio antenna will not be switched on immediately but rather after 10-15 minutes of charge. Battery life was thought to be an issue on the Bold by many but it lasted three days before I decided to juice it up. There is no option to switch from 3G to Edge which I think is a travesty because every other 3G smartphone on the market has the ability to do so.

After few weeks of testing BlackBerry Bold and beside a few minor problems we only have adjectives of approval for it. The Blackberry Bold is RIM's next generation full size Blackberry that will have the latest cutting edge technology built in including a new larger keypad, 802.11 WiFi, 3G HSDPA wireless, Bluetooth, as well as a GPS chip for location based maps and services. Microsoft and Apple promote the lack of third party involvement as a security advantage but I'm not convinced that's how it will appear to the companies that have learned to trust and rely on the BlackBerry.
by Christoper West

Blackberry 8700V Review

The trend in mobile market is that phones are getting more and more intelligent, such as the output from the Blackberry. One of the series is the Blackberry 8700, which is a good start especially for users of BlackBerry beginners.

Design The design of the device adopts classic Blackberry form factors. Shown with silver color and dominated with the black on some parts of the body the BlackBerry 8700V looks very stylish and simple. Many buttons on the keypad usually cause mistakes when typing if users are still not used to QWERTY keypad. But as long as you accustomed to it you can't deny the convenience and fast speed when typing it for email.

Email For people especially businessmen for whom emails are their thing the Blackberry phones are the gift from the gods. Blackberry is always connected to the Internet if there is no interruption of service and network provider. If there are any incoming emails they can be read directly because there are features such as SMS notification.

Chatting For your regular use the facility to chat with Yahoo Messenger can be installed directly through the BlackBerry Help with icons plus yellow. In addition there is also a link to download BlackBerry Messenger, Google Talk v2.0, Maps, News and Fun Games.

Connectivity Blackberry 8700V in series does not mean that there is a change in network connectivity. This device is still using the facilities such as Bluetooth, GPRS, EDGE, data cable, USB, and also Internet data connection using the other facilities. Results and also the speed at the time we open the pages of many sites that do t require image loading time is no too long. So if you want a fast connection and stable, likely Blackberry 8700V can be your choice.

Batteries A powerful and durable resource also is very important for a device. With a battery of 1100mAh, this Blackberry 8700V series is able to survive up to 17 days in standby, while the time to talk about 4 - 5 hours. However, if we use for the application that is too heavy, such as browsing the Internet, and sending email, the battery's performance is less optimal.

Conclusion Since it is strictly business phone oriented, it is understandable that the blackberry 8700V doesn't possess a media player. Anyway, it is a nice emailing handset with ideal web browsing speed. by Jerry Smith

The Blackberry mobile phones are worldwide popular for their outlandish features and functionality. The BlackBerry 8310 is provided with the Quad band technology having formats like GSM 850, GSM 900, GSM 1800, GSM1900 which provides the users with worldwide roaming facility. A user can easily communicate the message by typing the messages on the full QWERTY keyboard. The handset has the security password question in it so that no else can misuse the handset. The facility is also provided for the keyboard lock so that, if the phone is in the pocket, there is no pressing of an unwanted key. Along with these features, the common features present in any other mobile are also present in this device like phone book, calendar, alarm clock and many more. The device is also possessed with feature of the BlackBerry maps with which one can easily find a lost direction. For the fast Internet connection, one can connect through connectivity like GPRS and EDGE. It is not necessary for the users to open a laptop or his PC to access the Internet he can easily access the Internet through his handset and search his favourite websites through HTML browser.

The BlackBerry 8310 has 2.0 MP camera with the feature of zoom and flash and many interesting camera features. The feature of viewfinder display is also present in the handset. The viewfinder feature can realize superimpose having good visibility without giving uncomfortable feeling to the user. The device is embedded with the MP3, MIDI, Polyphonic ringtones . The facility of voice dialing is also present in the device. One can speak the name, without looking at the screen, without using his fingers, and the phone will respond immediately and will put that contact on to dial. The 111 gm weighing phone has the capacity to store files in the space of 64 M bytes and the device also has the option of flash memory plus MicroSD memory. The Blackberry mobile phones have maintained the hierarchical dignity. The handsets are usually business oriented phones, same is the case with the Blackberry 8310 mobile phone. One can control the business and the personal lives with the handset. by Stephen George