Have Blackberry got the Math right?
34 – 20 = 14.
Right?
Perfectly so.
It might just be that this very simple sum launches RIM, makers of the infamous Blackberry range, into the consumer stratosphere.
Note I said Consumer, not Business.
Take the much loved standard 12 button keypad found on a standard mobile phone.
Add just two more buttons.
Now, be really clever and keep the casing size the same as a standard (small) keypad phone … and pack everything Blackberry into it.
And I mean everything.
Blackberry email, Blackberry Messenger, all the app’s (Facebook as standard) – the whole breathtaking lot.
Ensure connectivity is second to none.
Oh, and throw in a 624Mhz processor.
For a little extra “wow”and complete peace of mind for the Size Geeks, ensure the system can take 32GB SD card.
Of course there’s the camera with zoom, autofocus, flash & video.
Talking of video, I watched one on the 300 x 400 sharp Res’ screen, with the sound via the built-in Speaker Phone. Ha, the hoodies would love it.
In the UK, Touch Screen & Qwerty Keypads have only tempted roughly 25% of us.
75% of us still love the Óld Style’ keypad.
Blackberry seem to have finally realised something that still escapes our politicians – they’ve listened to the people.
Taking the best of themselves, RIM’s Mohammed’s come to the peoples Mountain, walking the talk and offering the new Pearl 3G (9105) as a gift.
The Blackberry Bold 9700 has 34 keys – the Pearl a blissful 14 yet still it matches the Bold 9700 punch for punch on tech’ spec’s!
However when you pick it up and play, as I did today at the launch, it feels like a cute text and ring mobile phone – not a big meaty workhorse for the business World. Beautifully however when you check the menu of offerings then there’s no doubt whatsoever that this is a Smartphone for the genuinely savvy consumer.
Oh, and I sent a text, using that old style keypad and the RIM predictive text makes T9 system look unbelievably clunky.
For the fashion affectionados amongst us, RIM have heard you too – there’s going to be colour! 
I’m impressed.
PS. Don’t go getting yourself confused with the 9100 – that’s the American version (a 20 key QWERTY Pearl 3G)
Full review to follow shortly on TakTikTech.
