The New and Improved BlackBerry, Wireless Email Markets, etc.

So what is it with BlackBerry creator Research In Motion these days? BlackBerries are supposed to be black, monochrome devices, that busy executives use to answer their hundred plus emails a day. So whats with this???

Its sleek, its light, and it actually has a camera!!!

I’ve seen and briefly played around with first hand. Its much smaller than the BlackBerry 7130 (my current BlackBerry and an excellent unit itself) with a much brighter screen and — no trackwheel!

Interesting that RIM actually got rid of the trackwheel after years and years of it being their hallmark, in favor of a sort of more traditional navigation interface in the middle of the device. Unlike the typical phones, though, the Pearl has a trackball. Sort of reminds me of the old PacMan arcade games.

Scrolling through it was pretty easy, and the familiar BlackBerry usability pretty much came out, with the addition of more on screen options, similar to the on screen icons of the Nokia Series 60 phones. its not a 3G device, which is just as well as the network is still being rolled out anyway, and BlackBerries dont really need 3G to work well.

One look at it, and I know that this will be my next BlackBerry…

Having said this, I saw a leaked presentation by RIM on some gadget site of two new Blackberry devices coming out sometime in 2007. Both have the wide body form factor, similar to the 8700, but one of the new devices have GPS and the other, if memory serves, is a 3G device.

Could it be perhaps because RIM is starting to feel the pressure from other wireless email providers, despite having something like 67% market share with over 4 million users?

The wireless email market is clearly starting to consolidate. Microsoft has come into the picture with free wireless email built into Exchange (with SP2 required). Nokia just purchased Intellisync, and earlier Seven acquired Smartner.

Its interesting that more companies are realizing that server and device integration is becoming much more important towards offering a successful email service. Microsoft now has control of the server side with Exchange and the device side with their WindowsMobile OS, and Nokia has the same with Intellisync and their E Series devices, which are really made for business. Are companies like Good, Seven, Visto, and others without a mobile device business slowly on their way out of business? Or at least becoming a ripe takeover target? We will all just have to stay tuned…

On another note, its interesting that NTP, the patent holding firm thats been filing lawsuits left and right on wireless email is itself being sued. Apparently, the word is that one of the guys that built the foundation of one or more of their patents but left the company wants in with the big payoffs. Meanwhile, the word is as well that some of their earlier patents are being reversed. I guess what goes around comes around. To be honest I dont know the facts of the case, this is just what I’ve heard, so nobody sue me now!

And I thought that the wireless email space was getting boring….