Released 9-26-06
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!