Industry coverage, news, original feature articles, how to guides, videos, podcasts and reviews of BlackBerry service providers, software, accessories, hosted exchange providers and more

If you are new here, you may want to subscribe to my feed or subscribe to us on Twitter!

Think of a time in the past that you upgraded technology. With the way it advances nowadays, you probably don’t have to think back that far. Now think: were you impressed with the upgrade? Was it worth the extra money for the extra features included in the new model? Or were you better off with the cheaper, older model? Often, a company will release a new product not so different from a previous model in order to boost sales. New equals attractive, so the product’s novelty alone can boost stagnant sales numbers. What it means for the consumer is that you really have to do your homework before upgrading technology. Otherwise, you may end up overpaying for something you don’t need. Research In Motion hasn’t pulled such a stunt with the BlackBerry 8800. The newest SmartPhone in their arsenal checks in with plenty of new features that will make your business life even easier. It might even make it a bit more fun, too. And you’ll have the peace of mind knowing that your dollars are paying for real, tangible benefits.

All the features of the 8700 and more

The best part about the BlackBerry 8800 is that it is a true upgrade. Nearly every feature of the 8700 is included on the 8800, and they’ve added plenty more. This way, you’re not buying a new phone just to get one or two new features — features that you might not even use that often. You’ll be getting a product that is demonstrably superior to its predecessor. You can still e-mail from up to 10 accounts with ease — both personal and business accounts, just like the 8700. Instant messaging still comes standard. The 8800 has the same personal organizer and calendar you enjoyed with the 8700, and you can still use it as a modem. Basically, all the features that made the 8700 the best SmartPhone on the market are still around in the 8800. It’s what’s new that separates it from the pack.

Store more information — you’ll actually need it

Both the BlackBerry 8700 and the 8800 come with 64 MB of built-in flash memory. That’s fine and good if all you’re using the BlackBerry primarily for e-mail. But with the 8800, you’re going to need more. Why? Because the BlackBerry is now equipped with a media player, so you can play your favorite songs and watch your favorite movies right on your phone. Who needs an iPod, anyway? The best part is that the expandable memory comes in the form of a microSD card, a tiny chip that can store up to 8 gigabytes. That means that you can store 2,000 MP3 songs on one chip. Have other things you need to store? Have more music than will fit on the card? They’re removable, so you can have multiple cards that hold various data types. You can also store video files and access news and sports clips online, so you’ll always be up to date, no matter how far you are from a TV. With the microSD card, you can even store a few movies, which will come in handy if you’re on a long flight, or worse, are stuck in the airport with a delayed or canceled flight.

Two kinds of navigation

The first type of navigation new to the BlackBerry 8800 is a built-in GPS system. This is perfect for the businessperson on the go: now you won’t have to worry about not having directions, or getting lost. It is perhaps the most practical addition to the newest BlackBerry.
Not sure how to get to the big meeting? The GPS can guide you there. Stuck in traffic and on a deadline? The GPS can help you find an alternate route. Navigating the road has never been easier. Navigating the web becomes easier with the 8800, too. Instead of the two-directional click-wheel that has been a staple of the BlackBerry since…forever, the 8800 features a multi-directional trackball. This makes surfing the web considerably easier than before. Instead of holding down the “Alt” key to move left and right, the trackball allows you to move in all four directions with ease.
This allows you a more convenient web experience on your BlackBerry, as well as more ease in editing e-mails. Combined with the GPS system, the 8800 helps you navigate like you never have before with a SmartPhone.

Longer battery life

If you’re a heavy BlackBerry user (and chances are that if you have one, you are), one of the big complaints along the line has been battery life. When you’re tapping out 20 or 30 messages in one hour and are talking for the entire next hour, the battery tends to run out quickly. Still, the usage levels of BlackBerries is well known, so someone has to do something about it, right?
Research In Motion stepped up with the 8800, increasing talk time battery life by an hour, and standby battery life by 144 hours. Not only does that mean you can keep talking and typing longer, but it also makes those occasions when you forget your charger less of a hassle.
(Plus, if you forget your charger, there is a nifty new device: a battery extender.)

Less time worrying about how much longer your battery will last is more time you can spend being productive — or talking one the phone. And who knows? Maybe one day the extended battery life will play a major factor in your career. You just never know who will be offended if your battery dies in the middle of a conversation.

Other little perks

When you’re looking for an upgrade in technology, the first things you look for are useful features, like the ones just outlined for the BlackBerry 8800. A GPS system and a media player represent direct benefits to the user, so they’re the most publicized aspects of the device. Sometimes, though, it’s nice to get a few extra little things that make owning a SmartPhone more fun. After all, they have the capacity to add these things, so why not give the users a little lagniappe? The BlackBerry 8800 has a few of these features. Instead of the normal caller ID on earlier versions, the 8800 introduces picture caller ID. No, it’s not necessary. But it’s neat and it’s fun. You won’t get any more work done, but you can add a laugh to your day when your 6′6″ colleague calls and a picture of Chewbacca pops up on your phone.

The 8800 also features voice dialing, making life just a little better for you — and saving your thumbs a little. BlackBerry Thumb, an affliction caused by repeated thumb movements, like typing out messages, is an affliction affecting more and more users. Your thumbs could use the rest. It’s also perfect for in-car use, too, so you can concentrate on what’s important: the road.

Unlike many phones that say they offer upgrades, but are only marginally better than their predecessor, the BlackBerry 8800 provides upgrades that provide a direct benefit to the user. These aren’t just new, fancy bells and whistles — they’re useful tools that will make your business and personal life more convenient.

Share on Facebook | Add to De.licio.us | Digg This! | Technorati