I found Web browsing and downloading applications over the T-Mobile EDGE network on the 8700g was indeed zippy.

As a phone, the 8700g performed fine. Calls were clear, and the speakerphone was impressively loud.

BlackBerries are known for long battery life, and the 8700g is no exception, even with the bright new screen and beefy wireless features running. It's rated for four hours of talk time, and 16 days of standby. After five days of normal use, I found that the battery indicator on my review unit was a notch below the half-empty mark.

The 8700g comes packaged with a travel charger, holster, headset, USB cable and a CD containing BlackBerry Desktop software. T-Mobile is hawking it for US$299 with a two-year service plan and $349 with a one-year plan.

Michelle Johnson is a freelance writer in Boston. Her e-mail address is mijohn@mail-me.com.