BlackBerry Bold 9700 - the ultimate messaging device

RIM has always been a market leader when it came to offering instant messaging devices in a secure environment and BlackBerry Bold 9700 is no different.

However, Bold 9700, which is a quadband GSM-based device, takes things a little bit further by boasting of features that would make any smartphone go red.

The slimline Qwerty device measures 109x60x14.1mm (4.3x2.4x0.6 inches), weighs 122gm (4.3 ounces), is powered by a 624MHz processor, runs on the critically acclaimed BlackBerry OS 5.0 (which boasts of a range of improvements to the existing applications - from more email options for Enterprise users to a faster web browser), and boasts of a 2.4-inch 480x360 pixel resolution HVGA display, 3.2-megapixel camera (with autofocus, variable zoom, LED flash and image stabilization), video recorder, 35-key backlit Qwerty keyboard, 3G, on-board GPS, media player with multiple audio and video support, 256MB internal flash memory, microSD card slot (internal storage expandable up to 32GB), WiFi, HSDPA, EDGE, GPRS, stereo Bluetooth with A2DP, 3.5mm headphone jack, microUSB port and, of course, BlackBerry's famous push email-service.

BlackBerry Bold 9700 also boasts of pre-installed IM apps such as BlackBerry Messenger, AIM, Google Talk, MSN Messenger, ICQ and Yahoo Messenger.

The device's calendar app also incorporates some great updates such as forwarding of events, conference call options and attachment viewing.

But what distinguishes the device from its hugely popular predecessor are the optical trackpad that replaces the existing trackball (the trackball in BlackBerry Bold became a major gripe to many users as it trapped dirt and grime and often fell out), a revised leather-like ('leatherette') battery cover and an improved battery life (the 1500mAh battery promises to power the device up to 19 days of standby time and 6 hours of talktime).

Of course, like any other smartphone, BlackBerry Bold 9700 has its own share of niggles. For instance, its image and video capture quality can't be compared with other smartphones, especially iPhone 3GS, Palm Pre, Nokia N900, HTC HD2, Sony Ericsson Satio or Motorola Droid.

BlackBerry Bold 9700 also sports a smaller display than most other smartphones, its browser is also a letdown as it is slightly laggy and sometimes freezes, and the device doesn't feature a touchscreen.

However, considering its keyboard (typing on BlackBerry Bold 9700's keys, which have a soft but sure-footed feeling to them, is a breeze), display (which is devoid of pixilation or distortion), software, specs and the fact that with this device you have access to Blackberry App World, BlackBerry Bold 9700 is arguably the best among all Qwerty-based devices launched by RIM so far.

With BlackBerry Bold 9700, RIM aims to bridge the divide between a business and a consumer phone by incorporating RIM's standard suite of productivity and entertainment software. And, by adding full support to for its enterprise server software, Bold 9700 will appeal to business executives while at the same time its multimedia features and functions make sure that Bold 9700 is also the perfect companion to have when people want to hang loose.

"It is a crossover between a business handset to one that owners would feel comfortable using as a consumer phone," said Blair Young, director of carrier products, RIM.