SmartPhones - The BlackBerry Bold 9700

With twice the memory, greater speed, and a slimmer form factor, the Blackberry Bold 9700 earns the name introduced by RIM last year all over again.

The physical dimensions have been downsized slightly, but the screen is improved and the real, QWERTY keyboard is very user-friendly. A super sturdy frame and the replacement of the 9000's trackball with a trackpad are not the least of the new features here.

Partnering with T-Mobile and their 3G network, the BlackBerry is not just a competitor to the vaunted Apple iPhone. It's a true smartphone all its own. With a faster processor, UMA support for Wi-Fi calls, and an improved operating system, this unit takes second place to no one.

This slimmed-down model will attract new consumers - women, younger users, and others with smaller hands. It measures 4.29 inches high x 2.36 inches wide x 0.56 inch thick, and weighs only 4.3 ounces. At the same time, that faux leather backing gives this unit a sure grip for anyone. The slightly smaller screen (2.44 in, rather than the 9000's 2.75 in) is not a big loss, in part due to improved resolution (480 x 360 rather than 480 x 320).

The raised ridges on the keyboard are a welcome feature, giving a secure feel that's especially useful in dimmer light conditions. Responding to emails is a literal tap with less fumbling and the springy feedback feels very natural. The slightly smaller width (over the 9000) presented no problem.

The BlackBerry 9700's software aspects are also improved over its predecessor. The calendar sports a few drop-down lists, the alarm clock is easier to set thanks to a spinning wheel, and the home screen is much more customizable. Scrolling through lists is much easier and more sure-fingered with the trackpad.

The only real weakness here is the lack of a high-powered browser such as the Apple Safari. But the one it does offer works fine with BlackBerry widgets, Google Gears, and - of course - real-time streaming from sites like YouTube.

The phone plan is very flexible, thanks to UMA (Unlicensed Mobile Access). You can receive and initiate unlimited calls without having a calling plan whenever a Wi-Fi network is available.

Like its major competitors, the BlackBerry 9700 features voice-activated 'dialing'. That's very welcome for those on the go who often have their hands busy with a laptop, a magazine, or just a special friend. It also features multimedia messaging with threaded chat views. Very nice for using the phone as a micro-laptop. Thanks to the ability to store files on a 2GB card you won't have to worry about those emails with big attachments taking up all your internal storage, either.

With a 3.2 megapixel camera, GPS and geotagging, Bluetooth support, and more you could write a book about the BlackBerry 9700. But, then, it's much more fun to use one.