ANALYSIS: BlackBerry's new Bold 9700 smartphone is a sleeker, smaller version of the Bold 9000. While Research In Motion has tweaked the devices software through the new BlackBerry OS 5.0 and improved some of its hardware, the Bold 9700 offers largely the same BlackBerry experience as previous devices, which could be sufficient for many enterprise users but carries the risk that RIM could be outpaced by competitors such as Google and Apple.Research
In Motion finds itself in a bit of an odd spot these days. Although its
BlackBerry line of smartphones continues to be popular among both consumers and
the enterprise, a seemingly ever-increasing number of devices from other
manufacturers threaten to eat into the companys market share.
Faced with such a challenge, some companies may be tempted to
try something radical; but as the new BlackBerry Bold 9700 shows, RIMs strategy
is to emphasize what originally allowed them to become a dominant player in
smartphones in the first place.
The form-factor of the Bold 9700 follows closely in the
footsteps of the Bold 9000, although it is a little slimmer and lighter than its
predecessor. At 4.29 inches long, 2.36 inches wide, 0.56 inches thick and with a
weight of 4.30 ounces, the Bold 9700 fits comfortably in the palm. The
leatherette backing gives the device something of an "executive" feel, and
prevents it from sliding around on a slick surface such as a metal
desk.
In keeping with RIMs stick-with-the-basics philosophy for
the device, the Bold 9700 includes a physical 35-key qwerty keyboard and no touchscreen. Onscreen
navigation comes courtesy of a trackpad; RIM seems to have entirely abandoned
the trackball, which will come as a relief to those users frustrated with that
features tendency to clog or break.
Upon turning on the Bold 9700 for the first time, users will
notice the brightness and resolution of the screen, something that Research In
Motion is understandably emphasizing in their media materials related to the
launch. The high-resolution 2.44-inch screen features a 480x360 pixel color
display and supports more than 65,000 colors. Video and images seem noticeably but
not astoundingly sharp.
For more on the BlackBerry Bold 9700's features, please click here.
Along those lines, the Bold 9700 comes with a 3.2-megapixel
camera that includes standard-issue auto-focus, image stabilization, flash and
2X digital zoom. In addition to still images, users can also record video in
either normal mode (480 x 352 pixel) or MMS Mode (176 x 144 pixel). The camera
is much better than the one integrated into the Bold 9000, which was functional
but snapped muddy images if lighting conditions were less than ideal; with the
Bold 9700, images are substantially sharper, with clear colors.
The device tested by eWEEK utilized the T-Mobile network.
Over three days of testing, calls were relatively clear in Manhattan and
Brooklyn, with one dropped connection and minor interference at some moments;
however, quality of coverage could vary wildly in other areas of the country.
The 3G connection loaded Web pages fairly quickly, although the lack of
touchscreen continues to make online navigation a bit of a chore.
RIM claims that the Bold 9700s 1500 mAh removable
Lithium-cell battery will provide 6 hours of talk time, 21 days of standby time,
and 38 hours of music playback. After three days on continuous standby, and
roughly one hour of talk time and three hours of Web browsing, eWEEKs test
device is still at roughly 80 percent battery power.
Although the BlackBerry is not known primarily as a
media-friendly device, music playback was notably crisp and clear. The
music
navigation is basic and intuitiveyou can cycle through artists,
albums, genres, "All Songs," "Shuffle Songs," and playlistsbut lacks
the bells-and-whistles of
the iPhone or the Zune HD. The Bold 9700 supports MP3, WMA9 and a
variety of
professional audio formats.
BlackBerrys traditional productivity tools are back. The
Bold 9700 uses the new BlackBerry OS 5.0, which RIM touts as offering
improvements including a faster browser experience, a snazzier-looking
interface, and a boost in typing accuracy and selection. The BlackBerry Browser
has also supposedly been improved with speedier JavaScript and CSS processing.
Many of these software improvements, however, seem more like
minor tweaks than substantive upgrades. Web pages seemed to load in the
browser at roughly the same speed as with previous BlackBerry devices; and as
for the graphical improvements in the interfacemaybe the icons seemed to glow a
little brighter, with slightly sharper lines, but overall the new version of the
OS appeared a virtual carbon-copy of the previous iteration.
Those who rely on applications such as Word to Go and
Slideshow to Go, which allow lightweight editing of documents on the BlackBerry
device, will be relieved to learn that all those features are still present.
For those who enjoy procrastinating with games such as BrickBreaker, those applications also
continue to reside on the Bold 9700. Customers using BlackBerry Enterprise Server
5.0 will be able to manage e-mail folders, access remote files, and juggle their
calendar.
While the device continues to play to RIMs strengths, the
question becomes how much longer those strengths will allow the company to
maintain its standing among a business community with increased exposure to
competing devices from a variety of manufacturers. On the other hand, many
business users are looking more for functionality than the ability to watch
television shows or access Facebook, in which case the BlackBerry could hold
enduring appeal.
The Bold certainly seems a more comfortable fit for the RIM
line of devices than its BlackBerry
Curve 8520 smartphone, released in August as an overt attempt to appeal to a
more consumer demographic.
Although that device boasted the usual BlackBerry
functionality and applications, it included more robust multimedia options.
Along the outer rim of the Curve, RIM had placed a "Play/Pause/Mute" key, along
with a "Previous" and "Next" key, so users could cycle through multimedia files.
These dedicated media keys seemed tailor-made to appeal to the iPhone set, but
the marriage between traditional BlackBerry form-factor and portable media
player seemed an awkward one.
By contrast, the sides of the Bold 9700s casing include a
miniature USB port, 3.5-mm headphone jack, volume adjustment keys, and a button
for either snapping photos or opening applications. This feels much more
natural.
With the Bold 9700, BlackBerry seems to be sticking to what
it knows best. For many within the enterprise, that will be enough. But with
smartphones such as the iPhone continuing to gain ground, and other devices such
as the Motorola Droid in the pipeline, RIM may be tempted in its next iteration
to move from its safety zone and try something more radical.
Mobile & Wireless 
