The BlackBerry 8800 is a great phone for the professional on the move. Although it lacks a camera included in other smart phones the intuitive menu system and the ability to customize almost every facet of the phones operation as well as options like GPS make the 8800 a versatile and useful device.

The 8800 is relatively small and very thin and comfortable to use. It measures 2.6 x 0.6 x 4.5 inches and weighs in at 4.7 ounces which makes it sized to fit most needs. Navigating the menu system is made very easy using the rolling track ball. The trackball system is simple and allows you to navigate programs effortlessly. Seamless transitions can be made from all of the phones applications, whether it is going from looking up an address in your directory, to getting directions to that address through the use of the optional TeleNav GPS Navigator or Google Maps on the internet. It's size allows the 8800 to have a bright 2.4-inch screen which is not touch sensitive like the Palm. The screen is vivid, and all of the application icons are easy to see.  The menu button in each application provides the user with a list of the options available within the application.

At first glance, the BlackBerry’s keyboard keys seem rather small and clustered together. They are, however, rather easy to use. Errors made from hitting keys next to the intended one were minimal, while accessing symbols and numbers is made easy with “symbol” key. This makes sending messages through text messaging, e-mail, or the BlackBerry messenger very quick and easy.

The main purpose of a smartphone still remains the basic function of placing and receiving calls and retrieving messages. The sound quality on both ends-sending and receiving - is quite good. In addition, some versions such as the unit offered by AT&T has push to talk capabilities. BlackBerry is know for its messaging capabilities. As expected, e-mails are handled well. Other functions, such as SMS, MMS and instant messaging also performed as expected. The 8800 is GSM/ EDGE capable but does not support G3.

BlackBerrys are expected to do e-mail well and they do. One can sync and push data from up to 10 e-mail accounts. Word, Excel, PDF, and JPEG files can be viewed however editing requires third-party software.

The BlackBerry browser is easy to use, and connection speed is rather quick even without G3 capabilities. However there is no integrated Wi-Fi in the 8800 but should be available on the new 8820 model by the time you read this. Even pages with lots of pictures, like ESPN.com, load quickly and are easy to navigate. The websites that you visit are stored in a log, making it very easy to transition between your frequently visited sites. One does not need to keep typing in the web address you wish to visit.

Another very useful feature is the built-in GPS capability using TeleNav. Whether traveling to new locations or exploring your own home territory, the optional GPS function is an extremely useful tool. The voice directions are clear and helpful and allow the driver to concentrate on the road and not be distracted by the phone screen. Of particular usefulness are the voice prompts that are given with the actual name of the street on which to turn.

Other standard features expected by the road warrior include the usual: calendar, address/contacts, and task list all which can sync with Outlook and a Web browser. The 8800 handles media and supports AAC, MP3, WMA music files, as well as MPEG-4 and WMV video files. Bluetooth capability and memory expansion with a microSD card slot complete the package.

The BlackBerry 8800 boasts a respectable battery life, with a rated talk time of 5 hours and standby of 22 days. This seems somewhat exaggerated from our experience but we were still pleased with the battery durability.

Conclusion

All in all, the BlackBerry 8800 is a well-designed, versatile, mobile smart phone with many attractive features that work well in today's hectic business environment. "I liked it so much that I'm buying them for the whole family".

Manufacturer: Research in Motion

www.blackberry.com

Available Features*

Wireless email Organizer Browser Phone BlackBerry® Maps Media player Corporate data access 1 SMS MMS 1 GPS 1 64 MB of memory and expandable memory via microSD card**

Full QWERTY keyboard The tethered modem capability lets you use the smartphone as a wireless modem for your laptop or PC* Dedicated Send, End and Mute keys, a trackball navigation system, plus user definable convenience keys Speakerphone and Voice Activated Dialing High capacity battery Bluetooth® capability for hands-free dialogue via headsets and car kits Stereo headset capable Integrated attachment viewing Compatibility with popular Personal Information Management (PIM) software High resolution, light sensing screen that adjusts lighting levels automatically for ideal indoor and outdoor viewing Easy email set-up directly from your BlackBerry 8800 via the set-up wizard Enterprise friendly The BlackBerry 8800 smartphone works with your organization’s BlackBerry® Enterprise Solution to provide enterprise class functionality, including: Advanced security features Push delivery of data from corporate applications Remote address look-up Wireless synchronization with corporate PIM tools Single mailbox integration

* Courtesy of RIM

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