Mark Evans

RIM's New Device

You have to be intrigued by the launch of Research in Motion's new handheld device, the 7100T. Looking more like a phone than an e-mail device, it offers many of the features loved by the Crackberry crowd, but does away with the QWERTY keypad. What you get is a device with a little less battery life (eight days vs. 10 days for the 7200) but a more consumer-friendly product. For anyone who has been reluctant to adopt the Blackberry due to concerns that it is primarily an e-mail device, the 7100T should overcome any concerns. Strategically, the 7100T demonstrates that RIM is capable of taking crucial moves to address competitive issues. With Nokia coming from the phone side of the wireless world with its new 9300, and upstarts such as Danger and Good coming from the e-mail side, RIM needs to make bold moves to remain viable and, more important, dominant. The 7100T is a positive move in the right direction.