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BlackBerry: Evolution of an icon. Photos (1/10)


BlackBerry Pearl
(1/10) Sure, Research in Motion's (RIMM) BlackBerry is a sexy phone today, with availability through major carriers like Verizon Wireless (VZ), AT&T (T), Sprint (S) and T-Mobile (DT). It's also tops in U.S. smartphone market share, defying the excitement around Apple's (AAPL) new iPhone, and Nokia's (NOK) rival devices. But this e-mail masterpiece had humble beginnings ….
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(Photo: Research in Motion)

Having worked with a range of Blackberry and other devices, the Pearl is the best. To get all that functionality into such a small package and still make it easy to work with…
Shall we even talk about data-compression? My Pearl surfs the web at about a quarter of the throughput of the other manufacturers out there.
Less data transfer-same result-less to pay my service provider. My Pearl is now a browser, movie-player, workout-music player, camera, instant messenger…oh, and it get's e-mail too.
In my opinion, too much focus on design leads to loss of functionality. Apple-itunes only, Sony walkman – have to use their poxy music-transfer tools. Pearl-use RIM's tools, OR use Windows…bring it on.

Posted By Brendan42: August 24, 2007 12:40 PM

ugly design

Posted By Elaine: August 23, 2007 1:39 PM

I would never call any current (or past, for that matter) BlackBerry sexy; but neither would I consider them to be dogbutt fugly, either. I'm a confirmed fan, but it takes a hell of a lot more than splashes of plastic chrome to make any consumer product "sexy", not the least a candy bar cell phone. If any phone qualifies, I'd still say it's the RAZR, a ground-breaker if ever there was one.

Even the largish iPhone doesn't seem to me to qualify as "sexy", despite the fact that I think the UI is the best currently out there (even though I'd still rather have a mechanical, tactile thumb/keyboard) and that the design has the hallmark of classic Cupertino cleanliness.

Posted By make_or_break: August 20, 2007 9:52 AM

The blackberry is an amazing device and I applaud RIM for their constant innovation in the wireless field. They created the market for smart phones and continue to dominate in terms of sales and reliability. Way to go Blackberry! May I forever be addicted to the Crackberry. Oh and Andy, the Blackberry Pearl has a better design than any other smart phone with the exception of the Curve. The iPhone's slow touch-based keyboard doesn't have anything on RIM and I'll have a type-off with an iPhone any day…and I'll win hands down.

Posted By John: August 20, 2007 9:45 AM

no more comments, only two words: Ugly design.

Don;t know how did your brain motivated to crown this ugly bulky design as 'sexy'.

Posted By Andy kyenes: August 17, 2007 8:40 AM
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Jon fortt

Jon Fortt
A senior writer for Fortune, Jon Fortt focuses on technology and innovation in Silicon Valley – a subject he's been reporting on since his days as a rookie reporter for the Lexington (Ky.) Herald-Leader. Before joining Fortune in 2007, Jon had reporting and editing stints at Business 2.0 magazine, and the San Jose (Calif.) Mercury News, Silicon Valley's hometown newspaper.
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