Life: Me and My BlackBerry

I know about BlackBerry phone for quite long time... it has very strong positioning as corporate's mobile phone with its push email feature. So, in my mind, only executives from all those big corporates is suitable of using this mobile phone since they need to check their email wherever they are. So, different to other mobile phone producers, BlackBerry maintains its own server to handle the data traffic with cooperation with the telecommunication providers, so all traffics will go directly to BlackBerry servers, well... it is quite crucial because they need to make sure the privacy and confidentiality of their clients' emails.

And, for so long, I never interested in using any of this BlackBerry phone... simply because I didn't see any value of using it (yet), I don't need its push email feature, and I am not a corporate executive.

But, last year, I saw a very interesting phenomenon where BlackBerry becomes a very popular among the Indonesians. It is quite amazing how BlackBerry can penetrate Indonesia's consumer market. Well, I believe it is a combination of the virtually 'unlimited' internet connection, and the booming of social networking activities which fits into its BlackBerry Messenger application. So, just using one device, user can fulfill his/her social networking addicts, without headache of high internet charges, wherever and whenever... :)

But, still... I keep my windows mobile smartphone and even got involved in the iPhone-hive... until last week... :) At last, I bought my own BlackBerry Bold 9700... the black one, not white one which is not that classy... anyway it has to be black, right? otherwise it has to change name to WhiteBerry then... he he he...

Why? Simply because I see the value of having it... most of my friends in Indonesia are using BlackBerry, so BlackBerry Messenger is the best tool to communicate with them, instead of Facebook and Yahoo! Messenger.

In term of price, since I have re-contract option and SGD100 voucher from SingTel, I got it @ SGD198 with 2 years contract. Worth it!

Besides, my windows-based LG-KS20 smartphone was underused, has been downgraded to just to make calls and send SMS only... and already considered 'too old' for a phone... :)

I have been using this BlackBerry for one week now... so far so good... BlackBerry Messenger is the application that I used most... eventhough it has Facebook and Twitter application, I still prefer using iPhone for those two apps. The 3.2MPixel camera is adequate, it has flashlight so can take good picture in the dark... The original leather case is nice and realize it has surprising function, when you put the phone inside it, the phone will 'sleep' (the screen will off), the when you take it out, let's say because it flashes due to new message, the screen will display the message right away without need to press any button. I found it quite surprising and distinct.

I found that BlackBerry Messenger is quite cool... it has Groups feature and can share pictures and make comments about it... No wonder, my friends less and less active and seen in Facebook and Yahoo! Messenger, they are all in BlackBerry underground!! Gotcha!!

I still love playing around with my BlackBerry Bold 9700 and explore more what can I do with it... Now, I am experiencing both of best world of smartphone... BlackBerry and iPhone. Cool...