Overview of Blackberry

The Blackberry is a handheld, wireless communication device that emerged on to the market in 1999. In this article, we will discuss the features of a blackberry phone and why it is so popular today.

The Blackberry is a handheld communications device and a favourite amongst gadget freaks. It first emerged on to the market in 1999, at the time of which it solely functioned as a two-way pager. But by 2002, a lot of improvisations were made and the new Blackberry came replete with email, text messaging features, web browsing, Internet faxing functionalities and voice communication features as well.

If you’ve always been looking for a way to permanently access your emails, even when you’re on the go, then the Blackberry phones can turn your dreams into reality. The Blackberry is the same size as a PDA and has a mini keyboard that allows you to reply to emails on your phone.

But how does the Blackberry work? Connected to a specific cell phone operator (Cingular, T-Mobile, Sprint, Nextel and Verizon), the Blackberry terminal regularly access the users email server. So, when a new email arrives in the inbox, the terminal taps into it. The user will then be able to read the mail and reply. Since Blackberry is all about innovation, the very fact that the emails are synchronized with the messaging server in real time makes it extremely special. It also supports GPRS, GSM and UMTS facilities.

Initially, the Blackberry services were solely dedicated for business purposes and for companies. But today, individuals from all walks of life have started using these devices. Yes, the devices were very popular with the businesses, as they were primarily used as an email delivery system for executives on the go. Integrating a Blackberry phone into your company requires the installation of the Blackberry Enterprise Server. However, what with its popularity growing, there are some companies that have now started prohibiting the use of Blackberry’s at work.

Many security experts have spoken about their fears with regards to communication being intercepted. However RIM, the editor of Blackberry, has said that all traffic is encrypted right from the start to the end by the Blackberry servers. In fact, the Blackberry has the same level of security that a traditional VPN would have when configured correctly. The Blackberry not only provides users with the means to communicate, but also gives them the freedom and control that a normal phone doesn’t offer. Today, more and more professionals need to travel while working and are required to be permanently connected to their companies. The Blackberry solves all these problems.

Most of the Blackberry devices come with a full QWERTY keyboard, which makes it easier to key in and send emails and text messages.

Some of the Blackberry models that have been launched are:

• The Blackberry 8800 Series
• The Blackberry Tour
• The Blackberry Storm
• The Blackberry Pearl Flip
• The Blackberry Pearl
• The Blackberry Curve 8900
• The Blackberry Curve 8500
• The Blackberry Curve 8300
• The Blackberry Bold
• The Blackberry Torch
• The Blackberry Curve 3G

Today, there are more 5.5 million Blackberry users across the globe, out of which nearly 3 million users are from the United States. With its usual PDA applications like the calendar, address book, to-do lists, etc, the Blackberry also offers a wide range of games, themes, ring tones and other useful applications.

Owing to its enormous popularity, the Blackberry has also given rise to a whole new market of crime and theft. Many mobile phone thieves today are getting smarter and are not only stealing mobile phones for the value of the actual device, but for the confidential information stored in them. Since Blackberry’s are more often than not used by businesses, they tend to contain important data about clients, account numbers, social security numbers, etc. that you wouldn’t want anybody else to access. This is why using effective anti-theft measures to protect your Blackberry phone is a must.

Today, there are many effective anti-theft software’s like Snuko that are adept at tracking down your stolen mobile, backing up the data, remotely wiping it clean and locking it to prevent any unauthorized usage of your phone. So, protect your Blackberry.