The new RIM BlackBerry 7280 series ($400) is a solidly performing pager, personal digital assistant and triband phone that works in more than 100 countries.
Tri-band telephones work across the band-widths or networks of the United States, Europe and the Far East without requiring the user to change the SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) card in the phone.
Besides its global reach, the 4.8-ounce hand-held unit has an online calendar and e-mail service that can be synchronized with popular e-mail programs such as Microsoft Outlook and IBM Lotus Notes.
You also can view e-mail attachments on its 240-by-160-pixel screen, a feature that was not available in the old BlackBerry. The new model also has excellent battery life. This tester audited its reported 10 days of standby time by fully charging it and running the battery down. The BlackBerry was usable for more than a week before it needed to be recharged. When using voice and data services, the unit held its charge after light-to-moderate use for a typical business week of about five days.
While the BlackBerry failed to show some Web pages properly, its telephone and PDA capabilities did not disappoint.
Check www.blackberry.com.
