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BlackBerry Pearl Review from eAccess - 09/26/06

BlackBerry Pearl Review from eAccess:

No longer just a ”must have” business tool for stuffed-shirt executives, the smart phone has evolved into a fun, sexy, sensible tool for anyone who loves communication! Blackberry has worked very hard to expand this device’s appeal to get everyone from stay-at-home Moms, students and techno-savvy blue-collar workers hooked. Now offering the most portable keyboard phone possible, the BlackBerry Pearl, available exclusively with T-Mobile service from eAccess, is the perfect case-in-point! Why settle for a cell phone when you can have an affordable, sexy, fun “communication device”?
 
DESIGN: Throw out the uptight, nerdy visions of times past - the very sexy Pearl repudiates every “functional but boring” smart phone aesthetic. A glossy black finish, bright 240 x 260-pixel color screen, and silver side bezels radiate style. At 3.2 ounces and half an inch thick, the Pearl is like an iPod video or two stacked nanos. Replacing the old BlackBerry scroll wheels an intuitive, very sensitive trackball (borrowed from the SideKick 3?)
The dedicated volume keys and a pair of programmable convenience keys make the phone flexible and enhance its ease of use. At the top of the phone is a designated mute key to silence all alerts. The Pearl features an even smaller version of the SureType keyboard introduced on the 7100t. Note: Large fingers may find the tiny keys problematic. RIM has improved the SureType system however the ease-of-use is nowhere near a full QWERTY keyboard.
FEATURES: Riding on T-Mobile's EDGE network, the Pearl delivers a reliable if not speedy data connection. It also supports quad-band GSM/GPRS networks. Bluetooth 2.0 is onboard to support handsfree and serial port profiles.  BlackBerry is finally catching up with the competition in the multimedia department with the Pearl. With features like a 1.3-megapixel camera, a music and video player, and the microSD slot to bolster the 64MB flash memory. Note: The camera washes out colors but retains sharp detail and the microSD card slot is located behind the battery.

ORGANIZER: BlackBerry's organizational options are diverse; the included BlackBerry Desktop Manager can sync contacts, calendars, memos, and tasks with Outlook, Outlook Express, Lotus Notes and Organizer, Novell Groupwise and Sage ACT! software. The software still works well (without any notable updates from RIM), with clear alerts about each sync operation and advanced configuration options.

WEB RIM: No great strides forward with the Web browser; it remains capable but often dramatically reformats pages to fit the tall portrait screen. Navigation is rudimentary but easy enough, making the Pearl a good tool for looking up specific data like scores or news headlines, but not for general surfing. The device relies upon the same EDGE data network as the SideKick 3, and cruises along at a speed of 80Kbps.

E-MAIL: Setting up an e-mail account is a simple process, facilitated by a well-designed walkthrough, a recent upgrade in all Blackberry's. Up to ten addresses are supported, with the BlackBerry Internet Service, BlackBerry Enterprise Server, and Exchange options being the primary corporate tools. Images, documents, and PDFs are viewable but can't be edited, as all attachments are handled on 7100 series phones.

CALL QUALITY: The calls we made with the Pearl on T-Mobile's network were fine, but there was a slight airy quality to them. We consistently got a strong signal while traveling around Chicago. The voice-dialing option worked reasonably well, with improvement noted for contacts with only one associated number.

ENTERTAINMENT: RIM didn't break out all the stops with its debut media player.—There is no DRM support but the MP3/AAC/AAC+/eACC+ player sounds good, with an easy interface, and it shows album art if embedded in the track. The MPEG-4 videos are supported, and while the screen not large enough to really show case video, it's better than the displays found on some flash audio players that have been tested.

Accessories: As far as BlackBerry Pearl Accessories go, eAccess has that completely covered in their eStore.

VERDICT The Pearl is a strong performer with many noticeable updates and the sexiest smart phone yet! Expect to see many more Blackberry's around with this hot new player entering the market right before the Christmas season!

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