RIM Blackberry

Maple syrup isn’t the only thing we import from our friends in Canada.    Canadian company Research in Motion, better known in some circles as RIM, has played a central role in making convergent devices a part of our everyday lives.

The best example of a ‘convergent device’, (an object which acts simultaneously as several different devices), is the RIM Blackberry.  Originally designed as a simple two way pager, by 2002 the Blackberry was quickly evolving into the modern all-in-one handheld we see today.

The RIM Blackberry is a portable device, about twice the size of a deck of cards. One might best describe it as a computer, though it is clearly geared more towards communicating than computing.  While it comes with many handy applications, the device is perhaps best known for its Personal Digital Assistant software, or PDA apps.  These programs make scheduling easier, keep track of important events like birthdays and anniversaries, and act as a phonebook to keep important numbers stored.

With this ultimate communication device one can send and receive emails, text-messages, internet faxes, pictures, and of course, standard phone calls. The RIM Blackberry uses what’s known as a “QWERTY” keyboard setup, in which the relatively small keys are specifically laid out for the user’s thumbs to access them fluidly. While somewhat confusing at first, once learned, this key arrangement facilitates easy texting and messaging.

Some companies use the Blackberry to keep in touch with agents in the field or abroad.  Using what’s called the BES, or Blackberry Enterprise Server, corporations can run an e-mail server, which is available to any employee using the device.  Agents away from the home office can access important files, sound and video clips, as well as keep the boss abreast of conditions in the field.

The RIM Blackberry has gone from obscure to essential in less than a decade.  Just recently, the company released a statement claiming over 28 million users worldwide.

If you haven’t got one yet, it may be time to hop on the bandwagon.  In the fast paced business world of today, keeping up with the latest advances in technology is crucial to success.

You can check with your local electronics purveyor for deals on different Blackberry models, as they come in a range of prices.  However, when shopping for your device, make sure to check out the internet auction house known as eBay.  Recently, eBay has become a great place to shop for electronics, and some of the best deals around can be found there.

So if you find yourself unable to keep up with the intense pace of modern life, it may be time to investigate this device.  You won’t be disappointed.