BlackBerry Cell Phone

The BlackBerry is a wireless handheld device introduced in 1997 as a two-way pager. The more commonly known smartphone Blackberry, which supports push e-mail, mobile telephone, text messaging, internet faxing, web browsing and other wireless information services was released in 2002. It is an example of a convergent device. Developed by the Canadian company Research In Motion (RIM), it delivers information over the wireless data networks of mobile phone service companies. BlackBerry first made headway in the marketplace by concentrating on e-mail. RIM currently offers BlackBerry e-mail service to non-BlackBerry devices, such as the Palm Treo, through the BlackBerry Connect software. The original BlackBerry device had a monochrome display, but all current models have color displays.

While including PDA applications (address book, calendar, to-do lists, etc.) as well as telephone capabilities on newer models, the BlackBerry is primarily known for its ability to send and receive e-mail wherever it can access a wireless network of certain cellular phone carriers. It has a built-in keyboard, optimized for "thumbing", the use of only the thumbs to type. System navigation is primarily accomplished by a scroll ball in the middle of the device (older devices used a track wheel on the side). Some models (currently, those manufactured for use with iDEN networks such as Nextel and Telus) also incorporate a PTT (Push-To-Talk) feature, similar to a two-way radio. Some BlackBerry devices do not depend on mobile phone service coverage and are Wi-Fi compatible, like similar handheld devices that are on the market.

On April 2 2008, RIM announced the number of BlackBerry subscribers had passed 14 million.