Blackberry : Computer Hardware Buyers’ Glossary

They combine a hand-held programmable computer with a cell phone and an optional GPS or camera. Some models speak both WiFi and cellular (CDMA, GSM or 3G) protocols.

Some BlackBerry PDAs/cell-phones, such as the 8700 (312 Mhz Intel PXA901 Hermon processor, 16 MB SDRAM, 64 MB flash memory) support J2ME, CLDC 1.1, MIDP 2.0. Last revised: 2004-08-09 Verified: 2008-01-09 Although Blackberry devices run applications that use only the standard MIDP APIs (commonly referred to as Midlets), developers can also use Blackberry’s proprietary JDE Java Development Environment API. You need JDK 1.5+ to run the JDE simulator.

Blackberry uses its own code-signing scheme. Certificates cost only $20.00 CAD .

The main reason for the success of the BlackBerry is the way RIM has offered tools for corporations to create custom applications. Further, the UIs are well polished. Cell-phones in general are notorious for impossible-to-use command structures.

The phones come in a bewildering array of models. Some have 3G cell-phone, WiFi, GPS, a camera, Internet Access, Java, full keyboards, Blue Tooth, USB …

The lower price models include the 7230, 7100, 7200. The midrange are the Pearl and the larger more-expensive full-keyboard Curve. The high end are the 8800 and the 9000 Bold. The newest model is the Storm, which has a touch screen instead of a keyboard.