BlackBerry Bold 9930: An Enterprise Evaluation

29.08.2011

Overall, RIM's new BlackBerry 7 software feels very much like its BlackBerry 6 software, just running on more capable hardware, which leads to a smoother, more fluid, or "liquid" BlackBerry software experience. While there are some major enhancements, the overall layout and general functionality of BlackBerry 7 is just like BlackBerry 6. Because both versions are so similar, it was very easy to get used to and make the transition to the new 7 OS.

The most significant improvement in BlackBerry 7 relates to the overall performance and what RIM has named "Liquid Graphics." Due to the faster processor, a new graphics chip set and some "tighter" code, BlackBerry users will see much less lag on the BlackBerry Bold 9930 than on previous BlackBerry smartphones. Most BlackBerry owners are probably painfully familiar with the dreaded spinning clock icon, which appears when the device is overloaded and can't keep up with all the processes running at a given time. I wish I could say you don't see the clock icon at all on the Bold 9930, but unfortunately, that's not the case. However, the overall BlackBerry 7 navigation experience is much smoother.

The BlackBerry Browser also got some valuable modifications in BlackBerry 7, and it shows. The Webkit-based browser now fully supports HTML 5 video. It's faster and smoother, and simply a better overall Web browsing tool. The Bold 9930's touch screen works seamlessly with the BlackBerry 7 browser, making touch-based scrolling and zooming a pleasure.

Another notable feature in BlackBerry 7: Voice-activated universal search, lets you search just about anything on your device, including messages, contacts, browsing history and various applications, as well as query various online services, without ever having to touch your device. Universal search isn't new to BlackBerry 7, but the voice-activation part is unique to the new OS. In my tests, the voice search function worked quite well.

From a business perspective, the behind-the-scenes BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES), which connects BlackBerry smartphones to corporate resources, is just as important as the handheld software. And, as expected, I had no trouble at all connecting my BlackBerry to my corporate BES. It really couldn't be easier to get most BlackBerrys connected BES; for the majority of users, it's as simple as launching the e-mail setup process and then entering in an access code provided by your IT department.