BlackBerry Pearl 3G 9105

Touch screens and Qwerty keypads are the order of the day when it comes to mobile phones.

The Operation

BlackBerry introduces its first phone with a traditional alphanumeric keypad. Unlike the other BlackBerry phones that have two characters in each button, the Pearl has three, like a typical alphanumeric keypad. The keys are placed in a sliding position but are well spaced and easy to use. While other mobiles use the T9 dictionary the Pearl uses SureType which is more or less similar to the T9 dictionary. But it is believed that users will be missing BlackBerry's typical QWERTY keypad that is often used while emailing, something that BlackBerry is an expert at.

Can be called as the Wireless Wonder

The Pearl 3G has everything that a connectivity freak could ask for, including the new 802.11n Wi-Fi, 3G, on-board bluetooth, and Google Maps and GPS. The 3G feature in the mobile takes complete care of all the activities in the mobile with a single all-in-one box that stores emails from as many as ten email accounts, other facebook updates and tweets. A number of useful applications, that can be used both online and offline are offered to compensate for the small 2.24-inch screen of the Pearl.

Getting Online

The applications available online in the BlackBerry App World are very few when compared to the Apple's store and the Android's applications store and are more often very expensive too but those that exists are good usable applications.

 Surfing in the small screen may not be the greatest of experiences. But the same, might be the best when all the small-screened phones are put together. The BlackBerry messenger allows you to communicate with other Blackberry users across the world for free.

The Multimedia Magnitude

The phone features a 3.2 mega-pixel camera with an LED flash and the snaps are fast and accurate. Certainly a phone like Nokia E7 has more to offer with the 8MP camera coming with dual LED flash light which can also shoot HD video. Plus it has a front camera.

The Pearl 3G is also a good music phone too. A dedicated music button is placed on top of the phone and the 3.5mm jack would also mean that you can fit in any of your favourite headphones. The phone's built in memory power is just 256 MB while you can also extend the memory capacity using the microSD card. This is unlike the Apple iPhone 4 which offers only internal memory options.

User Interface

As CNET points out, the BlackBerry's user interface looks very much outdated. It would take some time before one gets used to it especially if it is a new user of BlackBerry. But after getting used to the number of options available, things will get easier as the optical trackpad is highly responsive and easy to navigate around. The flat surface works as smoothly as in the case of a laptop.

 On the verdict, the BlackBerry Pearl may still win the hearts of millions of people around the world, that are not too keen in getting a touchscreen. However the non-existence of a QWERTY keypad definitely will reduce the email luxuries that are so often popular in most BlackBerry brands. BlackBerry has made even smartphone makers like HTC bring out models like the HTC Chacha with the QWERTY keypad.