With all the recent iPhone 3G hype, it’s been easy to overlook the solid line of phones that BlackBerry has released this year. The Pearl, Curve and 8800 World Edition models aren’t flashy, but they’re the best smartphones out there for people looking for function over flash.
Phone First. Sound quality and reception are excellent. You still make phone calls on your phone, right?
Battery Life. Our BlackBerry 8800s only need to be charged about every 2-3 days, even with regular talking, internet browsing and email downloading. Forget to charge your iPhone overnight and it’ll die on you before lunch.
Choice of Carrier. BlackBerries are available with almost every major mobile carrier. If you want an iPhone, you’re stuck with AT&T.
Not Just Business. The BlackBerry web browser certainly isn’t as nifty as the iPhone’s, but it’s plenty good for browsing Wikipedia or ESPN. With an extra 16GB memory card, the BlackBerry serves as a very capable portable media player.
Cost. Most BlackBerry models are cheaper than the iPhone, but the real savings is in the monthly service and data plans.
PS. The upcoming iPhone-like BlackBerry Storm is getting rave reviews.
