Our Sites:
What a BlackBerry does
“BlackBerry” is not the name of a specific smart phone, rather it’s the name of the line of wireless products (advanced multi-function mobile phones) manufactured by Research in Motion (RIM). Offering a range of BlackBerry products, RIM is seen as the pioneer in the mobile phone Internet revolution, and the company’s flagship product should not be confused with its cheeky imitation rival, China’s RedBerry.
Whilst modern mobile phones increasingly offer many of the same features that have made the BlackBerry so desirable (mobile Internet, e-mail, GPS, etc), it is still BlackBerry’s reputation for sleek design and progressive functionality that makes them the professional mobile user’s first choice. While telephony (general telephone voice calls) is a given, BlackBerrys also feature a camera, detailed organiser, media player (for playing music and video files), and a map with GPS location technology (depending on the model). Importantly, though, you are able to browse the internet as you would be able to on a desktop or laptop, as well as use instant messaging (IM) software, with both Google Talk and Yahoo Messenger available for download from the BlackBerry website. One selling point of the BlackBerry has always been its “QWERTY” keyboard (the standard layout of keyboard you'd find attached to any computer), as opposed to the regular mobile phone keypad, which many “smart phones” stick to.
Setting up
Wireless Internet technology has allowed devices such as the BlackBerry to flourish. In order for you to get connected with your BlackBerry, you’ll generally need to go through a mobile phone provider that has access to 3G networks. In Australia, official partners are Optus, Vodafone and Telstra (providing access via their “Next” G network). If you are looking to buy a smart phone, one of the cheaper ways may be to look into a package deal with one of these phone companies. BlackBerrys are also able to search for and join local area networks (LANs) wirelessly wherever you are, pending availability and access rights. This is a key function that makes a BlackBerry seem like a tiny (even more) portable laptop, rather than just a mobile phone with Internet access (provided by a mobile phone provider). Only a couple of mobile phones currently offer this wireless "access to local networks" function, making it far from a standard feature of smart phones and explaining why the BlackBerry has been a very attractive prospect to business users.
The iPhone alternative to the BlackBerry
Many mobile phone manufacturers are wrestling for a share of the mobile phone Internet market, aiming to bring the technology to those more concerned with personal communications that business activity. The most prominent (or at least newsworthy) alternative to the polished, multi-functional BlackBerry is Apple’s new all-singing and dancing iPhone. Apple had to slash the price of their new device fairly immediately, as sales initially did not match targets, however pioneer users of the iPhone have praised it for its simplicity. Complaints remain about its total touch-screen operation though, but Apple has lead the market in recent years for computer and digital device design (its iPod device and OSX operating system notable market leaders for usability and style), and will no doubt persevere with gearing the “smart phone” to the general public.
BlackBerry addiction and the “always online” culture
BlackBerrys have become an essential way for businesspeople to remain connected to work, something often considered extremely unhealthy, with no switch-off period and work hours essentially never ending. In fact, the BlackBerry phone has gained an unflattering nickname for its addictive nature in “CrackBerry”, a reference to highly-addictive and destructive Class A drug crack cocaine. Substitute “crack cocaine” for “BlackBerry”, and “always high” for “always online”, and a sense is gained of exactly how negatively the e-mail and Internet-dependent sector of society is viewed by some.
Smart phones, such as the BlackBerry, have traditionally been aimed at the business person wanting to stay on top of their work, but in recent times technology has become less just a necessity for the business minded, or the fascination of geeks and “boffins”, and more an intrinsic (and exciting) part of every person’s daily life. Mobile phones are now offering as standard more of the functions that the BlackBerry is known for. For better or worse, soon we may all feel as though Internet access is never a want, day or night.
