BlackBerry

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.

Modern BlackBerry handhelds incorporate an ARM 7 or 9 processor, while older
BlackBerry 950 and 957 handhelds used Intel 80386 processors. The latest GSM
BlackBerry models (8100, 8300 and 8700 series) have an Intel PXA901 312 MHz
processor, 64 MB flash memory and 16 MB SDRAM.[2] CDMA BlackBerry smartphones
are based on Qualcomm MSM6x00 chipsets which also include the ARM 9-based
processor and GSM 900/1800 roaming (as the case with the 8830).The devices are very
popular with some businesses, where they are primarily used to provide e-mail access to
roaming employees. To fully integrate the BlackBerry into a company's systems, the
installation of BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES) is required.

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