Cingular Wireless produces some of today's most popular mobile e-mail devices. Blackberry 8700c leads the pack of handheld devices on the market today. It is the first EDGE-enabled and Intel-powered Blackberry and it offers a winning combination of performance, design, and functionality. It is available through Cingular Wireless for $299.99. The Blackberry 8700c offers best-of-breed design, combining everything that is loved about the traditional Blackberry form factor with the best aspects of the newer Blackberry 7100 series. From the 7100 series, the 8700c takes a similar compact (4.3 by 2.7 by 0.7 inches; 4.7 ounces) and sleek look that won't weigh you down or cramp your style. The blue-gray and black coloring is attractive, and more important, the smart phone feels good in your hands--solid and easy to use one-handed. On the 7100 series, most people weren't fond of the modified keyboard, which is why they were thrilled that RIM brought back the full QWERTY keyboard by making the 8700c slightly wider than both the Blackberry 7100g and the Blackberry 7100t. Although the 35 buttons are fairly well spaced, those with larger digits may have some problems, especially if they're used to the roomier keyboards of past Blackberry's. That said, the squares and tactile keys are raised above the phone's surface for easy typing and provide a satisfying click once pressed.

Moving on to the screen, the news just keeps getting better. The Blackberry 8700c boasts a beautiful 2.5-inch-diagonal display that shows off 65,000 colors and a fine 320x240-pixel resolution. This in an improvement upon past Blackberry's, and the change is noticeable. Viewing web pages and images is more enjoyable, as text and images are clearer and more defined. Plus, you can change the font type and size under the Settings menu. The 8700c also features a new light-sensing technology that automatically adjusts the backlighting of the screen and keyboard according to your environment.

Also new are the dedicated Talk and End keys, as well as the customizable soft key, which are all found just below the display. Although these buttons made their first appearance on the Blackberry 7100 series, the Blackberry 8700c marks the debut of this feature on more traditional-type Blackberry's. Finishing out the face of the smart phone is a small LED in the upper-right corner that blinks different colors for network activity (green), message notification (red), low battery (yellow), and Bluetooth connectivity (blue). Other features on the 8700c include a headset jack, a USB port, and a customizable shortcut key on the left spine, while the right side holds the familiar jog dial and the Esc key for easy navigation of the menu. There's a power button and a Mute key on top of the device. To turn on the speakerphone, which is located on the back of the 8700c, there's an activation key in the lower-right corner of the keyboard, but you can use it only once you're on a call. RIM packages the Blackberry 8700c with a USB cable for charging and PC synchronization, an AC adapter, and a belt holster. More accessories are available for purchase, such as a car charger ($28.99) and various headsets, both wireless and wired.