When I first started looking into these devices, I found this part the most confusing. Research in Motion (RIM) has been making two-way paging devices for a long time (relatively), so there are lots of different devices, a lot of which are externally similar. They will also customize the product for a clients (e.g., the AOL Communicator). However, the main differences are:
There are also multiple versions of the operating system. The current version is BB OSv2, which is all I'll talk about below, although I use OS3.5 now.
With me so far?
Good. Now how does the above relate to model numbers? The 8xx and 9xx refer to two different networks: 8xx runs on the Motient network in the US and Bell Mobility in Canada, 9xx is the Bell South, er, Cingularity Wireless data network in the US and the Rogers AT&T network in Canada. The last two digits refer to the smaller, pager-on-steroids-sized version (x50) or the sorta-Palm-sized version (x57). Finally, the messaging service (what gets messages to and from the BlackBerry) comes in two "editions" called "Exchange" and "Internet." Bell South (Cingularity) and Motient also have their own messaging services, but devices using those services are called RIM950, etc.; not BlackBerry.
So 2 networks * 2 sizes * 2 editions = 6 BlackBerries?
Well, no :-). Some x50's have 1 Meg flash memory, others 2 Meg, and most are now 4 Meg. (x57's have 5 Meg.) Also, you have to choose both a BlackBerry and a service provider.
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Network provider:
A sidebar: The Motient/Bell Mobility networks use the DataTAC protocol, but nobody says DataTAC, they say Motient. The Bell South and Rogers AT&T networks use the Mobitex protocol, and everyone says Mobitex. Bell South recently changed its name to Cingularity, and Rogers AT&T changed its name from CanTel/AT&T. Coincidence? All I know is I think Cingularity is an awfully dumb name. It is right up there with "New Coke," so I'm not going to use it anymore.
Ummm...
Which network to choose depends on what coverage is like in your area. There are some differences, but for most personal users, coverage is the key issue. Essentially, the BlackBerry is an urban device. Network performance varies considerably, I suspect by city. I've heard Bell South has the best coverage, but no doubt YMMV. I know Bell South's network, at least in Tennessee, has much lower lag than Rogers AT&T in Ottawa. "Near-real-time" is the termed used to describe these kinds of networks, but I think "Waiting for a response" is perhaps a better description. You don't notice lag with e-mail, but with wireless web ...
Another thing - all these networks have coverage maps on their web sites. "Enhanced" means you can use the BlackBerry in a building, "Basic" means you have to be outside. The line between "Enhanced" and "Basic" coverage is not cut-and-dry; it is a continuum. Some have said the maps depict an optimistic continuum. I say the BlackBerry is an urban device - office and airport.
A secondary issue is the service provider. Each service provider has different features but usually on only one network, so you may want network over the other.
It is possible to roam between Canada and the US, but it isn't automatic, and there is usually an additional cost.
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Device Size:
The two sizes are a matter of personal choice. I spent some time with both devices. Factors to consider include:
Note a device that looks the same, and even has the same model number, may or may not be a BlackBerry. A BlackBerry is software plus hardware plus messaging service. Thus an "Interactive Pager 950" is not the same total package as a "BlackBerry 950," although the physical device may be the same.
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Messaging Service:
Finally, there are the "editions." The "Exchange Edition" is meant as a corporate solution. Messages sent from the BlackBerry have the same address as one's desktop. It works two ways, basic and complex.
In the basic way, your desktop machine runs all the time, and is connected to the Internet and is running Outlook. When your desktop Outlook receives a message, it forwards a copy to the messaging service. The messaging service encrypts the message (triple-DES) and sends the message to your BlackBerry. When you send a message from your BlackBerry, it is again encrypted and sent to your desktop machine. There it is unencrypted and sent out to whoever via Outlook - so BlackBerry mail is exactly like your desktop Outlook, sent-mail shows up everywhere, and you can send to non-Internet contacts (e.g. distribution lists). Pretty nifty, eh?
In the more complex way, i.e., in real corporations, a BlackBerry server runs alongside an Exchange or Domino mail server and does the same thing, except you can turn your desktop machine off. You buy the server separately.
The "Internet Edition" is the type for personal use; you run off the service provider's mail server with an address of you@yourprovider.com. The provider usually offers the option of having mail from your other e-mail accounts POP'd to the BlackBerry via the messaging service. However, all outgoing mail carries the you@yourprovider.com return address.
If you want to know more, look at the Exchange Edition white paper on the BlackBerry site. The Internet edition works in pretty much the same way, except the "redirector" application doesn't exist. It is replaced by a web application running off of https://bbie.blackberry.net (login required). The filtering looks like it works the same way. Exact details of how mail in the Internet Edition is handled varies by provider.
The other services (Interactive Messaging PLUS and eLink) use the same devices as BlackBerry, and do similar things, but you don't buy them as BlackBerries (although they are often called BlackBerries.) Confused? I was ...
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A Service Provider? What's that?
This is for Internet edition folks. People who buy the Exchange Edition typically are or have well-paid IT professionals who should be able to figure out whether they need a service provider or not :-). If that is you, read the white papers on the RIM site.
With the Internet edition, you need a service provider, and you buy the device from that service provider. These providers are not necessarily the company that runs the actual Network, although network providers can also be service providers. These service providers typically sell and/or rent BlackBerries, offer an e-mail service of some kind, and offer additional paging and messaging functionality. A list of providers is on the BlackBerry site. I would ignore the prices posted on that site, and refer to each provider site for exact pricing and plans. Many offer specials for committing to a 1-year term, or waive activation fees.
Different providers offer different software. The main different feature is the browser. Some providers do not include a browser in basic service, some do. Some browsers are available for separate purchase, e.g., GoAmerica. Others are only available as part of a service provider's bundle of applications. The browsers handle WAP (usually), but don't handle graphics or frames or flash or whatever eye/ear candy is on web pages. Text rules.
In case you're wondering, I have a 950 Internet edition running on the Mobitex (Bell South/Rogers AT&T) network. Rogers AT&T is also my service provider. Rogers bundles the Go.Web browser and its own numeric paging service with the BlackBerry.
Other providers provide RIM devices with custom programs, for example, devices marketed to deaf folks include TDD/TTY-like software, and voice-to-text service. Some versions are also private-branded, like the iPAQ BlackBerry.
The AOL Communicator is a x50 device (850 or 950, I don't know) that is customized for AOL. It doesn't have quite the same BlackBerry software. AOL's version also has AOL instant messenger included, which is not available otherwise. It also has a number of other custom programs.
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Last update February 28, 2001. Copyright 2001 Craig Seko All rights reserved.