BlackBerry
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- This article is about the wireless e-mail device. For the fruit, see Blackberry. For other meanings, see blackberry (disambiguation).
The BlackBerry is a handheld wireless device providing e-mail, telephone, text messaging and web browsing and other wireless data access.
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Hardware
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While including the usual 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 anywhere it has access to an appropriate wireless network, as well as for its built-in keyboard optimized for "thumbing", or using only your thumbs to type. System navigation is primarily accomplished by the trackwheel (or "thumbwheel"), a scrolling wheel with a "click" function, located on the right side of the device. Some models (such as 7510 and 7520) also incorporate a two-way radio.
The devices are very popular with some businesses, where they are primarily used to provide e-mail delivery to roaming employees. To fully integrate the BlackBerry into a company, the installation of BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES) is required.
In November 2004, RIM announced that the number of subscribers to the BlackBerry service had reached two million, having doubled within ten months.
Keyboard
Most BlackBerry devices come with a full QWERTY keyboard, using the "Alt" key to enter numbers and special characters. The new 7100 series models feature a combination standard number keypad and QWERTY combination, using an intuitive typing technology similar to T9.
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Operating system
RIM provides a proprietary operating system (OS) for the BlackBerry, which makes heavy use of the device's specialized input devices, particularly the thumbwheel. The OS provides support for MIDP 1.0 and WAP 1.2. Previous versions allowed wireless synchronization with Microsoft Exchange Server's e-mail and calendar, as well as with Lotus Domino's e-mail. The current OS 4 provides a subset of MIDP 2.0, and allows complete wireless activation and synchronization with Exchange's e-mail, calendar, tasks, notes and contacts, and adds support for Novell Groupwise.
Software can be written using these APIs, but needs to be signed by RIM first so that an application can be associated to a developer account at RIM. This signing procedure does not ensure the safety of the code.
Supporting software
BlackBerry handheld integration into an organization's e-mail system is provided through a software package called "BlackBerry Enterprise Server" (BES). Versions of BES are available for Microsoft Exchange, Lotus Domino and Novell Groupwise.
Individual users can often use e-mail services provided by the wireless provider and therefore may not be required to install a BES server on their local network, but organizations that have multiple wireless users usually run BES on their own network.
BES can act as a sort of e-mail relay for corporate accounts so that users always have access to their e-mail. The software monitors the user's local "inbox", and when a new message comes in, it picks up the message and passes it to RIM's Network Operations Center (NOC). The messages are then relayed to the user's wireless provider, which in turn delivers them to the user's BlackBerry device. This is called Push procedure, where the mobile user doesn't have to synchronize the data by hand. All new e-mails, contacts and calendar entries are pushed to the BlackBerry device automatically. This also enables the mobile user to access all data offline in areas without wireless service. As soon as he connects again, the BES sends the latest data. This way the handheld is always up-to-date.
BES also provides handhelds with TCP/IP connectivity that is proxyed through a component called "Mobile Data Service" (MDS). This allows for custom application development using data streams on BlackBerry devices based on the Sun Microsystems J2ME platform.
In addition, BES provides security, in the form of 3DES or, more recently, AES encryption of all data (both e-mail and MDS traffic) that travels between the BlackBerry handheld and a BlackBerry Enterprise Server.
The universal connectivity of the BES/MDS infrastructure is one of the most valuable aspects of Research In Motion's product. An organization can have devices on different carriers, and connected through different cellular network protocols, all functioning in an integrated fashion.
Most providers offer flat monthly pricing for unlimited data between BlackBerry units and BES, which also enhances the value of the MDS component. In addition to receiving e-mail, organizations can make intranets or custom internal applications with unmetered traffic.
With more recent versions of the BlackBerry platform, the MDS is no longer a requirement for wireless data access. Beginning with OS 3.8 or 4.0, BlackBerry handhelds can access the Internet (i.e. TCP/IP access) without an MDS - previously only e-mail and WAP access was possible without a BES/MDS. The BES/MDS is still required for secure e-mail and data access.
Certain BlackBerry devices from Nextel and Telus have always had the ability to access the Internet without requiring a BES/MDS.
Third Party Software
Thanks to the MDS component, which allows secure data access between BlackBerry handhelds and the BES, a growing number of third party commercial applications are available for BlackBerry. These include applications in sales force automation, customer relationship management, and remote IT management.
Social usage
Thanks to their gains in popularity, BlackBerry devices are also used in social scenarios for setting up dates or movie viewing times with friends and acquaintances.
Nicknames
The ability to read e-mail that is received in realtime, anywhere, has made the BlackBerry devices infamously addictive, earning them the nickname "CrackBerry". Smaller blue-coloured models of the BlackBerry are colloquially nicknamed "BlueBerrys". Due to the abbreviated company name displayed prominently on early BlackBerry devices, they are mistakenly nicknamed "RIM".
Internal to the company, various model families are named for subatomic particles; names used include Proton, Baryon, Quark and Charm, among others.
Models
Early Models:
- 850 small monochrome screen, operates on DataTAC network, e-mail services only
- 857 large monochrome screen, operates on DataTAC network, e-mail services only
- 950 small monochrome screen, operates on Mobitex network, e-mail services only
- 957 large monochrome screen, operates on Mobitex network, e-mail services only
Java-based Models:
- 5790 large 160x160 pixel monochrome screen, operates on 900Mhz Mobitex network, e-mail services only
- 5810 large monochrome screen, operates on 1900Mhz GSM/GPRS network, phone but headset required
- 6210 medium 160x100 pixel monochrome screen, operates on 900/1900Mhz GSM/GPRS network, integrated phone
- 6230 medium 160x100 pixel monochrome screen, operates on 900/1800/1900Mhz GSM/GPRS network, integrated phone (blue case)
- 6280 medium 160x100 pixel monochrome screen, operates on 850/1800/1900Mhz GSM/GPRS network, integrated phone
- 6510 medium monochrome screen, operates on iDEN network, integrated phone, integrated two-way radio
- 6710 large monochrome screen, operates on 900/1900Mhz GSM/GPRS network, integrated phone
- 6750 large monochrome screen, operates on 800/1900Mhz CDMA2000 1xRTT network, integrated phone
- 7100 large 240x260 colour screen, operates on 850/900/1800/1900Mhz GSM/GPRS network, integrated phone with speakerphone, Bluetooth, aka "Charm"
- 7100t T-Mobile version of the 7100
- 7100r Rogers version of the 7100
- 7100v Vodafone version of the 7100
- 7100g Hong Kong/Cingular version of the 7100
- 7100x O2 version of the 7100
- 7210 medium 240x160 pixel colour screen, operates on 900/1900Mhz GSM/GPRS network, integrated phone
- 7230 medium 240x160 pixel colour screen, operates on 900/1800/1900Mhz GSM/GPRS network, integrated phone
- 7250 medium 240x160 pixel colour screen, operates on 800/1900Mhz CDMA2000 1x network, integrated phone, GPS and bluetooth
- 7280 medium 240x160 pixel colour screen, operates on 850/1800/1900Mhz GSM/GPRS network, integrated phone
- 7290 medium 240x160 pixel colour screen, operates on 850/900/1800/1900Mhz GSM/GPRS network, integrated phone, Bluetooth
- 7510 medium 240x160 pixel colour screen, operates on iDEN network, integrated phone with speakerphone, integrated two-way radio
- 7520 medium 240x160 pixel colour screen, operates on iDEN network, integrated phone with speakerphone, integrated two-way radio, GPS and bluetooth
- 7730 large 240x240 pixel colour screen, operates on 900/1800/1900Mhz GSM/GPRS network, integrated phone
- 7750 large 240x240 pixel colour screen, operates on 800/1900Mhz CDMA2000 1x network, integrated phone
- 7780 large 240x240 pixel colour screen, operates on 850/1800/1900Mhz GSM/GPRS network, integrated phone
Phones with BlackBerry e-mail client
Several ordinary mobile phones have been released featuring the BlackBerry e-mail client which connects to BlackBerry servers. All these phones have full QWERTY keyboards.
- Siemens SK65, Operates on 900/1800/1900MHz GSM network, 132x176 pixel screen
- Nokia 6810 Operates on 900/1800/1900MHz GSM network, 128x128 pixel screen
- Nokia 6820 Operates on 900/1800/1900MHz GSM network, American variant on 850/1800/1900 GSM network, 128x128 pixel screen
- Nokia 9300 Operates on 900/1800/1900MHz GSM network, 128x128 and 640x200 pixel screen
- Sony Ericsson P910 Operates on 900/1800/1900MHz GSM network, American and Chinese variants on 850/1800/1900, 208x320 pixel screen
Providers
Many cellular/digital providers offer BlackBerrys.
North America
- Nextel
- Cingular
- Verizon Wireless
- Sprint Corporation
- T-Mobile
- Rogers Communications
- Bell Mobility
- TELUS Mobility
Europe
Australia
Africa
South Africa
Asia
Philippines
- Globe Telecom
- Smart Communications
Malaysia
India
Hong Kong
- Three Hong Kong (http://three.com.hk)
Singapore
External links
- BlackBerry.com (http://www.blackberry.com), the main site.
- Research In Motion (http://www.rim.com), the manufacturer of the BlackBerry.
- BlackBerryForums (http://www.blackberryforums.com), a popular discussion forum about BlackBerry, which also hosts a large BlackBerry FAQ (http://www.blackberryforums.com/showthread.php?t=252).
- International BlackBerry User's Group (http://www.ibbug.org), an international consortium of BlackBerry.
- BlackBerry Blog (http://www.blackberryblog.com), a blog on the BlackBerry platform.
- BlackberryCool (http://www.blackberrycool.com), a resource website with news and reviews on BlackBerry related items. Also home to the Blackberry Software Directory (http://www.blackberrycool.com/bbsoftware).
- RIM Road (http://www.rimroad.com), a popular BlackBerry website, with discussion forums and a list of 3rd party software
- PinStack.com (http://www.pinstack.com/portal.php), a BlackBerry website, with news and forums
- BlackBerry-Links.com, BlackBerry Links and BlackBerry Resources. Collection of BlackBerry Related websitesde:BlackBerry