BlackBerry Curve 8320

it's not the first BlackBerry with built-in Wi-Fi, but it's the best. In fact, the BlackBerry Curve 8320 is the best BlackBerry we've tested--period. RIM and T-Mobile took our favorite keyboard-equipped smart phone and added unlimited Wi-Fi calling for a reasonable $19.99 per month (starting in October), whether you're on your home network or at one of thousands of T-Mobile HotSpot locations. Add in the same sharp two-megapixel camera, robust media player, and good call quality we loved on the AT&T version--and throw in MyFaves and instant messaging--and you have a winner.

Weighing only 3.9 ounces and measuring 0.6 inches thick, the light and sleek Curve 8320 looks nearly identical to the AT&T-branded model, but you do get two color choices: titanium and pale gold (we tested the latter). We still love the rounded edges, the fast, spacious keyboard, and bright 2.5-inch display. You also get the same intuitive trackball for menu navigation and a 3.5mm audio jack for listening to tunes using your own headphones.

One unique (and welcome) difference is the new T-Mobile Zen-themed main menu, which includes five spots for your myFaves contacts. You get one-click access to these contacts via e-mail, calling, or text messaging right from the home screen. (You can even IM contacts from this menu if the other person is signed in.) Beneath this area is a row of icons for accessing frequently used applications like e-mail, calendar, and the browser.

The Curve 8320 is very much like its cousin in the features department, too. A 312-MHz processor provides snappy performance; the 2-MP camera takes sharp pictures without much of a shutter delay (but doesn't capture video); and the bundled Roxio software makes transferring music, photos, and videos to the device easy. We especially like we can multitask; we could easily switch from the music player to the Web browser without missing a beat and still have control over our tracks' volume. And like all BlackBerrys, the 8320 is an excellent push e-mail device and personal organizer.

What makes this model better than the AT&T version is how T-Mobile leverages the Curve 8320's Wi-Fi connection. Unlike the BlackBerry 8820, which merely uses Wi-Fi as a stand-in for EDGE when surfing the Web and viewing e-mail, the 8320 can make phone calls over Wi-Fi using the T-Mobile HotSpot @Home service. The carrier offers specialized routers along with this service that do a good job of prioritizing calls over other types of data traffic, but because they use the older 802.11g technology, we stuck with our own 802.11n-based home network. Call quality was still quite good, and voices came through loud and clear on our end of the line.

The 8320 also did a fairly good job handing off calls from Wi-Fi to GSM, and vice versa. The experience was a little smoother than when we first tested the T-Mobile HotSpot @Home service with the bargain-basement Nokia 6086. When standing outside a Starbucks in Manhattan, one of nearly 8,500 HotSpot locations in the U.S., our phone took about a minute to recognize and switch over to the T-Mobile HotSpot network, but our test call connected without any issues. As we walked away from the coffee shop, the call automatically switched back to T-Mobile's GSM network without a hiccup.

At home, we experienced some dropped calls when walking away from our house in one direction as the call switched from our Wi-Fi network to GSM but not when we walked in another direction. If you start a call on Wi-Fi and switch over to cellular, the call counts against your unlimited HotSpot @Home plan, not your monthly allotment of cellular minutes. However, if you start a call and then roam onto your home network or a T-Mobile HotSpot, that call will eat into your cellular minutes.

We were pleasantly surprised with the call quality of the Curve 8320 over GSM as well, especially compared with other T-Mobile phones we've tested. Although one caller complained that it was tough to make out some of our words, other callers said we sounded fine, and we were generally satisfied with the clarity and volume on our end. A button on the right spine automatically activates voice dialing, and we had no problems pairing a Motorola stereo Bluetooth headset for calls and music.

Data performance was also quite good. Surfing over Wi-Fi didn't really speed things up, mostly because RIM's servers already compress Web pages, but we were impressed with the speed of the 8320's EDGE connection. In most cases, surfing on this device was just as fast (or faster) than with the AT&T Curve. Yes, the formatting is crude, but in most cases we got the info we wanted in less than 15 seconds. Unlimited data costs a reasonable $19.99 per month.

Another unique perk on this Curve is the array of instant messaging client s. In addition to BlackBerry Messenger, T-Mobile bundles AOL, Google Talk, ICQ, Windows Live, and Yahoo. We tested Google Talk and Yahoo and found both services snappy. Yahoo had better emoticons, but Google Talk's IMs showed up in our general Inbox.

As with all BlackBerrys, the Curve 8320 lasted a pretty long time on a charge. With moderate usage our device lasted about 3.5 days, compared with 4 days for the Wi-Fi--less AT&T Curve. Rated talk time is 4 hours and standby time an unrealistic 17 days.

If this device has a letdown, it's the integrated Maps application from Tele Atlas. It's certainly a useful app, but it feels like a watered-down version of TeleNav, which you'll find on some AT&T BlackBerrys. We like that you can look up addresses and get directions and that the software integrates with the Curve 8320's address book, but you can't search for businesses, and you don't get real-time turn-by-turn instructions as you do with the BlackBerry 8820.

You really can't go wrong with either the AT&T or T-Mobile BlackBerry Curve, but those looking to ditch the landline should consider the latter because of its ability to make unlimited calls via Wi-Fi for an affordable price. For $50 more, you get a smart phone that can be your only phone.

Specifications:

Carrier:  T-Mobile

Form Factor:  Other

Operating System:  BlackBerry OS

Bluetooth Type:  Bluetooth Stereo

Fast Data Network:  EDGE

Internal Memory:  64MB

Memory Expansion Type:  TransFlash/MicroSD

Music Player:  Yes

Video:  Yes

GPS:  No

FM Radio:  No

Display (main):  2.5 inches (320 x 240 pixels, 65,000+ colors)

Talk / Standby Time:  4 hours/17 days

Size:  4.2 x 2.4 x 0.6 inches

Weight:  3.9 ounces

BlackBerry 8820

For many BlackBerry fans (and haters), the lack of Wi-Fi has been at the top of the proverbial pet peeve list for years. Well, the wait is over. The BlackBerry 8820 is the first cellular device in the company's stable to offer 802.11 connectivity. While the Wi-Fi was simple to set up, it wasn't exactly blazing, and we wish you could do more with it (like VoIP). This world phone/organizer/media player/GPS navigator has more than enough going for it to warrant the $299 price tag but not enough for current 8800 owners to upgrade.

Design

With the exception of a Wi-Fi logo in the top-right corner of the 2.4-inch display, the 8820 looks and feels pretty much identical to its predecessor. And that's mostly a good thing. Sure, it's heavier and larger than the 3.9-ounce Curve, but the black-and-silver 8820 retains the relatively light (4.7 ounces) and slim profile (0.6 inches) of the 8800. You also get the same tightly packed but speedy keyboard and slick trackball for navigating menus.

Simple Wi-Fi Setup

RIM did a nice job integrating 802.11a/b/g without making it complicated. You simply click on the Manage Connections icon on the bottom of the main menu, which brings up a list of options that includes Mobile Network (AT&T/EDGE), Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth. A built-in wizard steps you through scanning for and connecting to available networks, whether the phone is in the office, at home, or near a public hotspot. Should the network you're trying to connect to be encrypted, you can easily type in the encryption key (WEP, WPA, etc.)

We appreciated that the 8820 automatically connected to networks saved as profiles. Once we set up our office profile, the 8820 took only five seconds to latch onto our wireless network after turning Wi-Fi on. The device's range could be better, however. When we walked about 30 feet away from the router, our 8820 showed only one bar of Wi-Fi coverage (out of five), compared with the iPhone's two bars (out of three). Plus, you can't tell how strong your Wi-Fi coverage is on the 8820 while you're surfing the Web; you have to be in the Manage Connections utility.

How Fast Is It?

On our side-by-side tests, the 8820 downloaded pages over Wi-Fi noticeably faster than the BlackBerry Curve did via EDGE, but the margin wasn't very wide. On average, the 8820 started loading CNN.com and other sites a few seconds faster than the Curve, and it loaded pages completely two to seven seconds faster. The reason for these less-than-dramatic results is that no BlackBerry has a direct connection to the Internet; Wi-Fi simply queries RIM's own servers a bit faster, and those servers have always done a superb job delivering compressed Web pages in a hurry. (We downloaded Opera Mini, which offers a more desktop-like surfing experience, but it wouldn't work over Wi-Fi.)

Having integrated Wi-Fi is less of an advantage in terms of e-mail, mostly because RIM nailed that eons ago with its push delivery. We noticed a mere one-second speed advantage when downloading a Word attachment over Wi-Fi versus EDGE. You can use the 8820 at nearly 10,000 AT&T Wi-Fi hotspots in the U.S. ($7.99 per day, $29.99 per month) and at thousands of other hotspots worldwide with which AT&T has roaming agreements. Connecting to those hotspots costs $39.99 per month.

Sorry, No VoIP Here

Unfortunately, you can't use the 8820's Wi-Fi connection for making VoIP calls. For now, at least, it's for Web surfing and e-mail only. We did get Shape Services' IM+ for Skype to work on the 8820, but it worked only when we had the device's EDGE connection turned on. We're hoping the company will add Wi-Fi support in an update to the client.

GPS Still Good, Improved Multimedia

In most other respects, the 8820 is just as good as or better than the 8800. Like its predecessor, this BlackBerry can provide turn-by-turn directions when you purchase the TeleNav GPS Navigator software ($9.99 per month unlimited). We noticed much improved route-calculation times and appreciated how close to real time our location was displayed on the device. The 8820 incorrectly identified an illegal left turn as part of one route, but in general we were impressed with the accuracy of the results and the robust local search functionality.

The 8820 has also improved on the multimedia front. It's compatible with AT&T's music offerings, including XM Radio ($8.99 per month). That service delivered decent reception, but it works only over EDGE; we'd like to see Wi-Fi support added. As with the Curve, the 8820 ships with a media player that synchronizes with supplied software from Roxio, making it a cinch to drag and drop music, photos, and videos onto the device. You also get the same great multitasking capabilities as you get with the Curve, so you can surf the Web while listening to tunes through stereo Bluetooth headphones. (You can also use the 2.5mm jack.)

Solid Phone and Battery Life

Call quality was good on our tests. We noticed a little background fuzz on our end of the line, but conversations sounded pretty clear and loud overall. Other callers said we sounded very clear and almost too loud. The speaker provided more than enough volume for calls, music, and navigation. Our only nitpick is that calls sometimes took a while to connect, a complaint we also had about the Curve.

The 8820 is rated for 5 hours of talk time and 22 days of standby time. Not surprisingly, having Wi-Fi on and being connected to a network reduces this smart phone's endurance, but as usual, RIM does a nice job with power management. Even though the 8820 uses the same 1400-mAh battery as the 8800, the device lasted nearly three days with intermittent use.

Verdict

Mobile workers who consider Wi-Fi a check-off item when shopping for a smart phone won't be disappointed by RIM's implementation, but they won't be blown away, either. We consider the 802.11 connection a good backup plan for EDGE, especially when you can't get a strong cellular signal indoors. So long as you don't need a built-in camera, the 8820's snappy overall performance, GPS navigation, and multimedia features make it a solid choice for AT&T customers. Others may want to wait and see what RIM cooks up for T-Mobile.

BlackBerry 8830 World Edition

A versatile smart phone that connects to both CDMA and GSM networks to keep business travelers connected at home and abroad.

Jet-setters in search of a phone that they can use both at home and abroad will find a compelling option in the BlackBerry 8830 World Edition. Featuring unique dual-network capability, this smart phone will automatically switch between CDMA and GSM signals when roaming globally. Toss in RIM's airtight push e-mail, a QWERTY keyboard, and a media player, and you have a fully loaded smart phone that will keep globe-trotters connected, productive, and entertained.

The 8830 World Edition should look familiar to BlackBerry aficionados, with its 8800-styled trackball and QWERTY keyboard, but its executive-chic metallic-silver body more closely resembles the Curve. At just 4.6 ounces and 4.4 x 2.6 x 0.6 inches, it easily slips into a shirt or jacket pocket. Navigating menus was a cinch, thanks to the silky-smooth glide of the trackball.

Although it lacks the 8800's GPS functionality, the 4.6-ounce handheld does what all BlackBerry models do best: handle e-mail. The 8830 World Edition's built-in wizard made setting up our Gmail account a snap (users can create a maximum of ten accounts), and within a few minutes we were receiving messages. The keys a bit small for lion-pawed users, but they're nicely spaced, which makes for a comfortable typing experience.

The 8830 World Edition also lets you view (but not edit) Word, Excel, and PDF files. BlackBerry Messenger is included, but we preferred to use the free Google Talk for BlackBerry Devices download, as it's a more universal communication tool. You can also try IM+ ($49.95; shapeservices.com), which works with Google Talk as well as AOL, Windows Live Messenger, and Yahoo.

At the heart of the BlackBerry 8830 World Edition is its unique dual-network compatibility. Verizon Wireless' new Global BlackBerry service, which includes a SIM card-a rarity for a Verizon phone-allows customers to place and receive calls from more than 150 countries and send and receive e-mail in the United States, Canada, and more than 60 other nations. When in the United States, chatters are given voice time via Verizon's CDMA network, but when venturing overseas, the phone automatically connects to local GSM/GPRS networks. Unfortunately, this device doesn't support faster EDGE data networks overseas.

When in GSM mode, the 8830 World Edition runs on only the 900-MHz and 1800-MHz international frequencies. While this is a bit disappointing to those who may want to pop their AT&T or T-Mobile SIM cards into the phone here in the States, it's the closest thing to having an unlocked phone while traveling abroad, without having to fork over extra cash for another handset.

Not only does the BlackBerry 8830 World Edition offer unprecedented voice freedom for business travelers, it also offers a wealth of e-mail options. Those who sign up for the Global BlackBerry service ($69.99 or $64.99 with a qualifying voice plan) will receive unlimited e-mail in the United States, Canada, and more than 60 countries worldwide. Customers can also opt for a "Pay As You Go" plan with any qualifying voice plan for $20 per megabyte. Finally, e-mailers looking for a method to dive into their Inboxes only in the United States can invest in an unlimited e-mail plan beginning at $49.99 per month.

Web-surfing stateside was pretty snappy thanks to the 8830 World Edition's high-speed EV-DO connection. The photo-heavy CNN.com consistently loaded in a little less than 18 seconds. We also experienced good call quality on Verizon's network, but as with the Blackberry 8800 and the BlackBerry Curve, we would have liked more volume. The phone is rated at 220 minutes of talk time, and we saw about four days of periodic use before needing to charge the battery.

The 8830 World Edition also supports voice dialing and recognized every name we threw at it, with the exception of "Horatio," which required multiple voice commands to dial correctly. Using Bluetooth, we were able to sync to a wireless headset for hands-free calls. Like the BlackBerry 8800, this device doesn't support stereo Bluetooth headsets, so you'll have to go the wired route when listening to tunes.

The bundled copy of Roxio Media Manager 9 features a split-screen interface that makes dragging and dropping media files between your notebook and handset a breeze. Transferred photos looked crisp and colorful on the bright display, and video (H.264, WMV, MPEG-4) played smoothly. The 8830 features surprisingly loud speakers for enjoying music (AAC, MP3, WMA), but they project only average audio quality. Make sure you have a microSD Card on hand, as the paltry 64MB of onboard memory fills up quickly.

Priced at $299 (after a $100 rebate and two-year agreement), the BlackBerry 8830 World Edition is reasonably priced given its global roaming capability. The BlackBerry 8800 from AT&T can do the same thing today and offers a built-in GPS receiver for the same price, but the 8830 is a very good choice for people who want fast EV-DO data performance stateside.

Also, check out our review of the Verizon Wireless BlackBerry Curve 8330.

BlackBerry Curve

A sleek smart phone for much more than e-mail, the Curve sports a sharp 2-MP camera and some serious multimedia muscle.

When it comes to BlackBerrys, you have the really tiny one, the one with GPS, and now you can add to that list the one that just rocks. And we're not just talking about the Curve's music player or fully integrated stereo Bluetooth. RIM's latest fun-loving smart phone (available for AT&T later this spring) boasts a sharp two-megapixel camera and a much-improved multimedia software package for taking your favorite songs, pictures, and videos to go--all without sacrificing the long battery life that's made BlackBerry the device of choice for e-mail addicts.

Just Right Design

It sports the kind of sleek design that will make BlackBerry Pearl owners say "D'oh!" The Curve is just as slim as the Pearl (0.6 inches), and at 3.9 ounces it's only 0.7 ounces heavier. It slips easily into a pocket, no geeky hip holster required. Granted, at first glance this device doesn't seem as deserving of an iconic name as the Pearl, but the Curve's liquid-silver finish with chrome accents and rounded edges make it an attractive alternative to the Samsung BlackJack.

More important, RIM managed to squeeze in a full-sized backlit keyboard, one that makes the Curve noticeably wider than but also much more reliable than the Pearl, whose not-so-SureType keyboard doesn't always accurately guess the word you're trying to peck. In just a few minutes we were typing e-mails and entering Web addresses at a brisk pace, thanks to the Curve's well-spaced layout. Just like the Pearl and the 8800, the Curve has a trackball for simple (if sometimes erratic) menu navigation.

The 2.5-inch, 320 x 240-pixel display did a superb job rendering everything from Web pages and maps to photos and videos. The rest of the design is pretty straightforward. A standard 3.5mm stereo jack, a USB port, and a push-to-talk key line the left side of the Curve, and the volume buttons and camera-launch key are on the right side. The top of the device houses the Mute button. We wish the microSD Card slot weren't located beneath the battery, but chances are you won't be removing your card very often; the Curve's mass-storage mode enables easy drag-and-drop file transfers.

Sharp Camera, Smarter Media Software

What separates this BlackBerry from the Pearl and the 8800 is its robust multimedia capabilities. The Curve's 2-MP camera takes pictures good enough for 4 x 6-inch prints. Everything from a photo of a fountain in Bryant Park to a portrait of two children was highly detailed and richly saturated. We like the fast shutter speed, and a built-in flash allowed the Curve to take decent close-ups in dimly lit rooms. The Curve's inability to record video is a bummer, however.

The robust Desktop Media Manager software is powered by Roxio's Easy Media Creator. A split-screen interface makes dragging and dropping files to the Curve (and from the Curve to your desktop) a cinch. If you want to take some videos to go, the program will attempt to convert all sorts of files to MPEG-4, including AVI, DivX, WMV, and Xvid, so long as your PC has the right codecs loaded. Media Manager can also be used to automatically monitor certain folders for new media files, create music playlists, and edit photos.

Desktop Media Manager did a good job transferring MPEG-4 footage captured with our Sanyo HD1 camcorder and a 68MB WMV clip downloaded from Microsoft's site. But the software had a little trouble with a five-minute MPEG-4 clip ripped from a DVD, as the audio wasn't in sync with the video when we played it back on the Curve. Then we tried a large AVI file of a "Heroes" TV episode; the Curve was able to play the audio but not the video. (Roxio claims that a successful conversion depends greatly on how a file is encoded, so be sure that a video file can play within Desktop Media Manager before you bother transferring it.) Music files transferred without a hitch, but you have to add album art manually by editing the audio tags.

Media playback on the Curve was generally smooth, and the device supports a wide range of audio (AAC, MP3, WMA) and video (MPEG-4, H.263, WMV) files natively. The device's speaker puts out a decent amount of volume, but we highly recommend pairing this smart phone with a Bluetooth stereo headset. We enjoyed superb audio quality via the Curve's Bluetooth 2.0 connection when we used the Motorola HT820. Another benefit of stereo Bluetooth is that you can remotely skip tracks with a simple press of the Fast-Forward button on a headset, as opposed to the two-step process of hitting the Menu key and then selecting Next Track on the Curve. The device also supports AT&T Music services, such as streaming XM radio ($9.99 per month). We had no problem downloading the app and liked the wide selection of stations in seven genres (including Pop, Rock, Decades, Country, and Hip Hop & Urban). We didn’t mind the tinny sound quality that much over the Curve’s EDGE connection, but we experienced so many momentary drop-outs that it ruined our enjoyment of the service. We say stick to your own tunes.

Long-Distance Sprinter

Despite its multimedia prowess, e-mail is this (and every) BlackBerry's killer app. We had no problems setting up our Gmail account using the setup wizard (the device supports ten personal and corporate accounts), and we appreciated the new spell-checker function, complete with a customizable dictionary. Similar to the Pearl and 8800, the Curve lets you view Word, Excel, PDF, and JPEG attachments. Overall performance was just as fast as other BlackBerrys; the only time the Curve slowed down a bit was when we streamed music over Bluetooth while trying to surf the Web.

Speaking of which, the Curve's Web-browsing performance was pretty snappy over its EDGE connection. (Yes, without HSDPA or Wi-Fi.) We could start reading most sites within 7 to 10 seconds, and images filled in 10 to 20 seconds later. Call quality was generally good on AT&T's network, but as with the 8800, we wish we could get more volume out of the Curve's earpiece. More disconcerting were the two occasions when we couldn't get through to the number dialed on the first try. On the plus side, the Curve delivered excellent endurance on our tests, with the battery lasting four days with periodic use. You get only four straight hours of talk time versus five for the 8800, but that's still half an hour more than the Pearl.

The Curve's biggest competition isn't other BlackBerrys but the Samsung BlackJack, which currently costs only $149 with a mail-in rebate. The BlackJack's 3G data connection is only a moderate advantage because of Windows Mobile's slower browser, but its built-in camcorder and support for Cingular Video are definite pluses. On the other hand, the Curve offers a better e-mail experience, a sharper camera, and much longer battery life. Despite a few drawbacks, this is the best BlackBerry--and one of the most well-rounded smart phones--money can buy.

Check out our review of the updated BlackBerry Curve 8310 for AT&T.

BlackBerry Pearl (AT&T)

Now available for AT&T customers, the Pearl is a stylish and powerful smart phone for work and play.

As T-Mobile proved several months ago with the first Pearl, smart phones aren't just for executives looking to stay connected to their Inboxes. The AT&T version of RIM's glossy black, pocket-sized device offers similar features and performance as its brother--including a bright screen, a 1.3-megapixel camera, and multimedia playback--but some may prefer AT&T's larger network, which means more consistent voice and EDGE data coverage in the U.S.

The piano-black Pearl weighs only 3.2 ounces and measures less than 0.5 inches thick. Its 2.3-inch screen is framed in silver, and the traditional BlackBerry scroll wheel has been replaced by a trackball that sits in the center of the keyboard. Volume controls and a button to turn on the camera reside on the right, and a push-to-talk button sits on the left.

If you're used to a full QWERTY keyboard, the Pearl's SureType setup, which squishes two letters onto each key, has a slight learning curve. After sending a few text messages and e-mails, however, we were hooked on its ease and found that even with large fingers we didn't accidentally press the wrong keys.

Call quality was clear, and we had no problems with dropped calls or weak signals as we walked between the subway and our office in Midtown Manhattan. The Pearl's voice-dialing feature also worked well and quickly identified the contact we wanted to call. Web pages loaded quickly, and we were able to access reviews on our site in a matter of seconds. Surfing was pleasant overall, but don't expect a rich Web experience, as pages are stretched to fit the Pearl's vertical display.

You'll find little difference between the applications loaded on the AT&T and T-Mobile Pearls. Two notable additions to AT&T's unit are a push-to-talk option ($9.99 per month) and TeleNav Maps 1.0. We tested the PTT with a colleague using the BlackBerry 8800. It worked, but we noticed a distinct echo during test calls.

TeleNav's mapping program took more than a minute to display a map of our office. It also offers step-by-step driving directions, but you have to click on each turn to see the map, which isn't very useful if you're on the road. You can upgrade to TeleNav GPS Navigator, which includes 3D moving maps, spoken and written turn-by-turn directions, business location, and fuel finders for $5.99 for ten trips or $9.99 per month for unlimited use, but you'll also need to add a dedicated Bluetooth GPS receiver ($99). The BlackBerry 8800 has GPS built in.

BlackBerry's Desktop Manager, which syncs your contacts, calendar, and tasks with Outlook or Outlook Express can help you stay organized and on time. Connecting to the data stored in Outlook was simple and fairly straightforward using the Setup Wizard. The Pearl supports up to ten e-mail addresses, and you can view attachments but not edit them.

On the entertainment front, the BlackBerry Pearl has a basic music and video player that supports AAC, AAC+, eACC+, MP3, and MPEG-4 files. Songs sounded clear, and video was on a par with some flash players that we've tested, but the screen is too tiny to watch clips for an extended amount of time. The 1.3-MP digicam took decent shots (for a phone) but doesn't record video.

Overall, the BlackBerry Pearl is a great choice for anyone looking to stay connected without carrying a bulky device. Its slim design will appeal to consumers and executives alike, and its price tag of $199 (with a two-year contract) will fit most budgets.

BlackBerry 8800

If the Pearl is the sleek sports car of BlackBerrys, then the new 8800 from Cingular ($299 with two-year contract) is the Escalade in the line, a beefier model complete with a full-sized keyboard and bigger display. RIM has even decked out this device with a GPS system, enabling the 8800 to double as a navigator using the included TeleNav software (if you pay an extra $9.99 per month). Add it all up and you have a full-sized, fully-loaded smart phone with just a few minor flaws.

It may sport the same silky-smooth trackball for navigation and chrome accents on the sides, but there’s no mistaking the 8800 for its smaller brother. This dark metallic blue device weighs 1.5 ounces heavier than the Pearl (4.7 versus 3.2) and is noticeably wider (2.6 inches versus 2 inches). At the same time, the 8800 is a tiny bit thinner than the Pearl (0.55 versus 0.57 inches). The bottom line is that you’ll notice when the 8800 is in your pocket, but it’s certainly less bulky than the Treo 750.

There are three main benefits to the 8800’s girth: the larger 2.4-inch screen, a bigger battery for longer talk time, and a real QWERTY keyboard. The full-sized treatment is certainly an improvement over the SureType keyboard on the Pearl (because you don’t have to hope your smart phone guesses the right word as you peck out messages), but we found the 8800’s layout to be a little cramped. RIM compensates for the tightly packed keys by giving each one a slightly raised groove to keep your thumbs from slipping. Still, some may prefer more spacing between the keys, whether on the Samsung BlackJack, Palm Treo 750, or an older BlackBerry 8700.

Having more screen real estate made reading e-mail and even opening and closing applications easier than on the Pearl, because you can see more messages at once, and the icons are larger. The right side of the device houses the two volume buttons, and the left side is where you’ll find the push-to-talk button. Up top is the power button and a mute button. The back of the device houses the microSD Card slot; it’s located underneath the battery cover, but we like that you can access the card without removing the battery itself.

What makes this BlackBerry unique is its GPS capability. We were very impressed with the bundled TeleNav GPS Navigator. For a reasonable $9.99 per month, you get spoken turn-by-turn directions (including street names), 3D maps, and local search via the Biz Finder tool. We tested the system by asking the 8800 to get us home from a park-and-ride using local roads. The very natural-sounding female voice told us the distance before the next turn and alerted us at just the right time before the turn itself. TeleNav also pulls up addresses from your contact list. The local search function worked well, too, allowing us to map a business address, navigate to it, or dial the number.

Like Cingular’s BlackBerry Pearl, the 8800 supports the carrier’s Push to Talk service ($9.99 per month). Setup couldn’t be easier. Just enter the phone number of the contact and the 8800 sends an invitation for that person to join your group. When we tried a walkie-talkie call with a Cingular Pearl, we noticed very little latency, and the voice quality was decent, despite a noticeable echo effect. The incessant beeping, however, (both when making and receiving calls) quickly got annoying. The good news: You can switch over to a regular call from within the Push to Talk app.

As expected, the 8800 did a superb job of pushing new e-mail to our Inbox automatically. We used the BlackBerry Internet Service, which allows users to set up ten personal and corporate e-mail accounts and features the easiest setup of any smart phone. Attachment support also continues to be excellent, as you can view Word, Excel, PDF, and JPEG files. Just keep in mind you can’t edit or create Office documents, at least not without third-party software.

Other standard-issue features include an organizer (address book, calendar, memo pad, task list) that syncs with Outlook and a Web browser. Even though this is not a 3G device, we enjoyed very good performance on Cingular’s EDGE network. Because the browser loads text before images, sites like CNN.com and The New York Times began to load within ten seconds, and articles on those pages took only about six seconds to pop up.

Audio quality when making regular voice calls was generally good. Callers didn’t complain, but we noticed a slight fuzziness on our end of the line during some conversations. When we left a voicemail on a landline phone, the message sounded clear when played back, if a little faint. The 8800 can be used to make conference calls, and the voice-activated dialing worked quite well even over Bluetooth. A top-mounted speakerphone puts out plenty of volume, whether you’re making calls or listening to music using the device’s built-in media player. Unfortunately, the 8800 lacks stereo Bluetooth support; you’ll need to use the bundled wired stereo headset to listen to music in private. (RIM promises that stereo Bluetooth capability will be added with an update of the 8800’s software later this year.)

RIM includes a Media Manager utility to import music, photos, and videos to the device. The 8800’s media player supports AAC, MP3, and WMA music files, as well as MPEG-4 and WMV video files. The device doesn’t support DRM, so download and subscription services are off limits. And while you can view photos, the 8800 lacks a camera—most likely at the request of security-conscious IT buyers. We hope a camera-enabled version is on the way for the same price.

Overall, the BlackBerry 8800 is an excellent smart phone and a surprisingly good navigator. At $299, it’s priced between the sleeker, BlackJack and the more powerful Cingular 8525 ($399), which offers both HSDPA and Wi-Fi connectivity. Whether it’s $150 better than Cingular’s BlackBerry Pearl depends on how much of a premium you place on having a full-sized keyboard, up to five hours of talk time, and GPS capability. We think it’s worth it.