It has been suggested that it's the use of tools that separates man from beast. Pre-historic man had the wheel and spears; modern man drives a "beamer" and totes around a BlackBerry.
2007 has seen Research In Motion (RIM) update each of its major device lines, with a BlackBerry, two Curves, and a Pearl. Even with strong competition from PDA developers HTC and O2, and more recently from consumer manufacturers Nokia and Sony Ericsson, BlackBerry is still the name synonymous with mobile business devices.
That's not to say the BlackBerry range is without shortcomings. We're still waiting for a BlackBerry device that supports HSDPA data connections, and only one phone in the list, the Pearl 8120, has Wi-Fi connectivity. This is criminal considering the importance of Web access to the targeted business market.
Next year may see this rectified with the release of a mysterious new touchscreen BlackBerry -- apparently a 9000 series phone -- however no official word has come from RIM about this device as yet.
In the meantime, check out our list below of the BlackBerrys currently in the market. We've also included a couple of the BlackBerrys from last year for comparison, or in case you spot a bargain on eBay.
BlackBerry Pearl 8120
A sexy, full-featured smartphone that sorely needs faster Web access.
BlackBerry 8800
A very slick high-end handset with GPS support and BlackBerry's trademark push technology that's let-down by a lack of features now standard in most smartphones.
BlackBerry Curve 8300
The BlackBerry Curve takes both good and bad factors from the Pearl and 8800, making it an enticing phone -- but we're still waiting for the ultimate consumer BlackBerry
BlackBerry Curve 8310
RIM has incrementally upgraded the BlackBerry Curve with the addition of a GPS receiver, although we're still waiting for 3G connectivity.
BlackBerry Pearl 8100
The BlackBerry Pearl is designed with both consumers and business professionals in mind with its blend of multimedia features and reliable access to e-mail.
BlackBerry 8700
The BlackBerry 8700 series is ideal for mobile professionals who require always-on e-mail access, but it's not so good for non-business users.
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