Don’t get stuck with the wrong BlackBerry®

It’s a thorny issue. Should you get a BlackBerry Smartphone? If so, which one is right for you? Set aside the raging arguments about iPhone vs. Android vs. BlackBerry. Let’s assume BlackBerry is the only choice for you because of enterprise software compatibility, technical support availability, or plain loyalty. This narrows the field only slightly because there are at least nine categories of BlackBerry Smartphones.

Consider Carriers First

Before you choose a BlackBerry, choose a carrier. All the bells and whistles in the world won’t make up for a poor signal and dropped calls. And, maintaining a relationship with your existing carrier may make it less expensive to upgrade to a Blackberry and may keep calling and data plans less expensive with family rates or business plans.

Some BlackBerry phones are only available from certain carriers. So if a particular carrier isn’t available in your area, you may need to choose a different phone model. For example, the BlackBerry Storm is only available on Verizon networks. Verizon provides fairly ubiquitous coverage, but you may find that it is less reliable in your particular neighborhood or on your specific daily commute. Every network has its dark spots.

Camera Shy?

The next deciding factor is pretty black and white. Cameras come in handier than you might think and may be required for some BlackBerry apps. However, if your employer doesn’t allow camera phones, then the 8800 Series will be your only choice.

You’ll also find varying picture quality. The Tour, Storm and some models of the Curve take print-quality pictures using 3.2 megapixel cameras. Others have only 2.0 or even 1.3 megapixel cameras, which may be okay for sharing small pictures on the web, but may give you grainy images in print.

Click, Tap or Roll

If you haven’t narrowed down the choices yet, keyboard and navigation preferences may make the decision for you. There are three classes of keyboards on BlackBerry Smartphones, and each has its advantages and disadvantages:

• Classic QWERTY: Most BlackBerry Smartphones have a full keyboard-one button for every letter organized in traditional typewriter fashion starting with QWERT and Y in the upper left. This results in a larger phone, but the keyboard is easy to use and learn. BlackBerry models sport slightly different button sizing and spacing, so use personal preference as your guide.
  
  
• SureTyper: The Pearl and Pearl Flip Phones keep their size small by keeping the keyboard small. These models combine a traditional telephone keypad with a standard QWERTY keyboard. The SureType technology enhances typing with a default dictionary of more than 35,000 words and the ability to recognize frequently used words. Some people become quite proficient at this unique style of typing.
  
  
• Touch screen: Touch screen keyboards, exclusive to the Storm, are BlackBerry’s answer to the iPhone. However, on the Storm, using the keyboard in portrait view will activate a SureType keyboard, and turning the phone to a landscape position will give you a full QWERTY keyboard. If you’ve learned to type at blazing speeds using your fingernails, be aware that this screen won’t pick up on their touch.
  
  

In addition to your keyboard preferences, look for things like keyboard backlighting, spell check, trackballs, and convenience keys that may influence your preference.

Bells, Whistle and More

By now, you should have a pretty good idea which BlackBerry suits you best. There are many other bells and whistles to consider—some you may be able to live with or live without, but it still makes for fun shopping.

• Memory: Evaluate how much built-in memory a BlackBerry has and see if it can be expanded. This is especially important if you like to store music, videos or other multimedia on your phone.
  
  
• GPS: Available on most BlackBerry Smartphones, GPS makes it easy to get where you’re going and has lots of fun application potential.
  
  
• WiFi Support: If you don’t want to rely exclusively on your data service provider or if you expect to frequently use data features on your home or other closed networks, look for WiFi support.
  
  
  
• Battery Life: The battery life on BlackBerry Smartphones is generally good, and the difference between models is slim.
  
  
  

For more help comparing current BlackBerry Smartphone models, BlackBerry provides a helpful comparison tool.