RAZR + Old BB = New BB + :-)

OK so I have been using the new Blackberry 8700c (from Cingular if the little ‘c’ didn’t give it away) for a week and have to say I am impressed.

Coming from a background of having the very old BB 950 then the BB 7280 and numerous mobile phones along the way I most recently had settled into using the BB for my email and info and the RAZR for the calls. I never could get used to using the BB as a phone and it seemed to consider itself a phone second (a distant second). This meant I always had two devices to keep up and keep charged which was annoying.

So once the new BB was announced and I read about its new features I decided to again try and go with one device. A week later I am still happy with that decision. The 8700c added several new features that make it work as a true smartphone and below is a summary of what stands out to me:

• The new screen is brighter with a higher resoution and is now smart enough to brighten and dim as the conditions require. The keyboard also now is backlit and automatically lights up when it detects it is necessary.
• The dedicated Send and End keys mean you don’t have to involve the sroll wheel when calling. And they put a dedicated Mute key on top which again means you aren’t fumbling with the scroll wheel.
• A speakerphone now means you can have those impromtu conference calls that pop up from time to time.
• EDGE – this has stepped up the speed on the device in general. Using the HTML browser you can hit web sites and if they are looking for mobile devices you can read content with speed and ease.
• Intel inside helps this device with its everyday functions. I know that in reading email it is faster at deleting and processing email over my last two devices. Combined with the EDGE modem you feel like this thing is moving at a speed several times faster that the last generation.

All in all it still feels a little clunky when you have it against your cheek talking but that is easily dealt with by using a Bluetooth headset which I use for extended conversations.

Time will tell – as of course will any new device that comes out – but for now I am happy.