With its latest Blackberry 8800 smart phone, examine In Motion (RIM) set out to build on the success of its previous Blackberry Pearl 8100 and 8700 models by target a more conventional audience. Rim’s latest device comes with built-in GPS and frequent amusement features but it's the way it works as a business phone that has us most concerned.
Design:one of the most arresting basics of the new 8800 is its small stature. Measure in at only 114mm by 66mm by 14mm, the 8800 sits very contentedly in the hand and is slimmer than preceding models. At 134 grams, it won't be too much of a burden when placed in a jacket pocket. Its glossy black finish with chrome buttons and slick QWERTY keyboard ensure the 8800 will get jealous glances in the boardroom. The vibrant 2.5-inch LCD display packs in over 65K colors and has outstanding image excellence. The 8800 also comes with light-sensing technology that adjusts brightness of the screen and the keyboard taillight depending on ambient light levels.
One key development over the previous 8700 is the inclusion of a Micros reminiscence card slot. The slot is placed next to the battery which means you don't have to switch the phone off if you want to change the card. The 8800 also picks up the 8100 Pearl's exceptional trackball scrolled with four-way movement, a welcome change from the scroll wheel that often led to "Blackberry thumb." One annoying design feature is the location of the voice-activated dialing key, which can get pressed by chance while you're investment the phone.
Other outside skin include volume keys, a 2.5mm earphone jack and mini USB port, as well as power and mute buttons. Inside sits a 1400mAh Lithium ion battery that's emotional via the supplied USB cable or moveable AC adaptor.
Features:The big news is the built-in Serf Star III GPS receiver for direction-finding duties. The 8800 comes pre-installed with Rim’s own Blackberry Maps direction-finding tools, but at the time of writing we've been advised that Australian maps aren't available.
The 8800 has also been packed with a host of entertainment features including playback for most popular audio formats, as well as video support for MPEG4 and WMV.
Performance:There are no issues with using the Blackberry 8800 as a basic phone. Call fineness is good, with clear and crisp sound coming from the unit's internal speaker, but it's not very loud even at the utmost volume setting. Sound through the amplifier is also good, but again not loud sufficient for you to sit back and talk in true teleconferencing style. Battery life is good for a phone with this large a screen. The 8800 will last you at least one full day with heavy messaging and two hours of phone calls.
Though its GPS capability could not be fully tested, we found the 8800 to offer a very quick settlement link.
E-mail and messaging functionality is top notch, as you'd expect. The keyboard is a joy to use and even with minimal time to adapt to the layout and size we were patter out e-mails quicker than previous Blackberry models.
