It's safe to say that the BlackBerry is now firmly entrenched in modern culture. BlackBerries are so popular that they have even been dubbed "CrackBerries." This comparison to a highly addictive drug is meant both affectionately and disparagingly, but few dispute the raw power and functionality that these devices give the modern worker and, indeed, the average individual. After all, the uses of the BlackBerry are not limited to business endeavors, and as these devices evolve, they include more abilities that anyone can harness to reach farther into the ether of the Internetand the world around us. The BlackBerry isn't just one device but a series of devices, each with various features. This book focuses on the latest and greatest model: the BlackBerry 8100, dubbed the Pearl. Although all BlackBerries are portable email stations, phones, and text-messaging conduits, the Pearl is special in that it is more like a handheld personal computer than a simple email or telephone appliance. This chapter introduces the history of the BlackBerry and the power, flexibility, and huge feature list of the new Pearla gorgeous jewel that developed from the grain of sand that was the first BlackBerry.
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