BlackBerry 8700 / 8700c
Discontinued 1st
November 2005
The BlackBerry 8700c is the first handset
available in Research in Motion's (RIM) new range of
Intel-based smartphones. The 8700c is available exclusively
on the Cingular network in the US, but other variants
should follow in 2006 on other networks worldwide.
It looks a little like a cross between
the BlackBerry
7100 series and the "classic" BlackBerry
7230 and 7290 when it comes to styling. There are several
major improvements though, meaning that the 8700c is
a significantly more sophisticated handset when it comes
to technical specifications.
The screen is now a 320x240 pixel panel
in 65,000 colours. RIM describe it as using "active
matrix transmissive technology", which sounds more
like the type of screen used in the 7100 series than
the classic 7200 series. The BlackBerry 8700c is
almost imperceptibly smaller and lighter than the 7230
at 136 grams and 110x70x20mm, so users who are familiar
with older models will have no problem adjusting. However,
that does mean that it's quite a large device to use
as a standard mobile handset, but as the 8700c comes
with Bluetooth, it can always be used with a compatible
headset, or even by using the 8700's builtin handsfree
calling. Talktime is 4 hours with up to 16 days standby.
RIM haven't mucked around too much with
the excellent BlackBerry keyboard, but they
have added answer, mute and hang up keys.. something
that was conspicuously missing from earlier handsets.
It's a quad-band GSM phone with GPRS and EDGE support,
but no 3G.. however, EDGE will be great for those who
have access to it. There's no camera either, which
will be a relief to many businesses. Internal memory
is just 64Mb, but most corporate Blackberry users don't
find this to be a problem.
The
8700's software has also had a makeover, and it includes
a range of PIM functions, a web browser (which will
benefit from the 320 pixel wide display) and a version
of breakout. Because this is a smartphone, more applications
can be added at a later date. Email is the BlackBerry's
strong point, and it's compatible with RIM's own push
email system and standard internet mail protocols, which
can also view a variety of common attachment types.
For a little bit of added fun, the BlackBerry 8700 now
supports polyphonic and MP3 ringtones - there's no media
player on the 8700c though.
Much has been made of the 8700c being
the first "Intel" BlackBerry, but the 312MHz
PXA901 (also known as "Hermon") isn't the
kind of processor you'd find in a desktop PC. In fact,
it's just a faster variant of the ARM processor used
in previous BlackBerry devices, and really the fact
that it's made by Intel is pretty irrelevant. You are
not going to be able to run Windows applications on
the BlackBerry 8700.
RIM say that the BlackBerry 8700c should
be available in the US on the Cingular network from
21st November 2005. However, RIM have had some severe
patent difficulties in the States and it's quite possible
that the 8700c may run into legal difficulties at some
point. However, other 8700 series variants should follow
after a few months of "exclusivity", most
likely a BlackBerry 8700t for T-Mobile, 8100v for Vodafone
and probably many others worldwide.
Our verdict - the BlackBerry 8700c is
perhaps not as feature packed as the Motorola
Moto Q or Nokia
E61, but it does seem to be very well focussed
on the needs of businesses who may not be impressed
by cameras, MP3 players and WiFi. The 7230 and 7290
devices have proven to be very popular with corporate
customers and many individual subscribers, so it is
quite likely that the 8700 series will be another highly
usable and popular range.
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BlackBerry
8700c at a glance
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Available:
|
Q4
2005
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Network:
|
Quad-band
GSM
|
Data:
|
GPRS
+ EDGE
|
Screen:
|
320x240
pixels, 65,000 colours
|
Camera:
|
No
|
Size:
|
PDA-style
device 110x70x20mm
/ 136 grams
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Bluetooth:
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Yes
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Infra-red:
|
No
|
Polyphonic:
|
Yes
|
Java:
|
Yes
|
Battery
life:
|
4 hours talk / 16 days standby
|
|
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