What is it in a nutshell?
The BlackBerry is a wireless handheld device that provides numerous services relating to communication, organization, and personal productivity, including cell phone service, email, text messaging, web browsing, GPS navigation, scheduler, address book, camera, and so on. Such devices, along with the iPhone and certain models of the Palm Treeo, are known generically as "smart phones."
Background
When the BlackBerry was introduced in 1997, it was essentially a two-way pager, rather like a walkie-talkie. In 2002, the "modern" BlackBerry began to emerge, with its multiple and convergent services. The most recent models -- the BlackBerry Pearl and BlackBerry Curve -- were introduced in 2006 and 2007 respectively. The latest model -- the BlackBerry Bold, released in 2008 -- adds WiFi functionality to its features.
Specific types or brands
Blackberries
BlackBerry competitors
Functionality
The model evaluated for the purposes of this document was the BlackBerry Curve. Its features include cell phone service, email (which can be configured to sync with your laptop or desktop email client), BlackBerry Messaging (i.e. text messaging to other BlackBerry users), GPS Navigation, 2-megapixel camera, address book (which can be configured to sync with Outlook Contacts), web browser, media player (for MP3s and videos), and scheduler (which can be configured to sync with UW's "BookIt" system). The BlackBerry Curve is compact -- about as big as a pack of cards, but thinner -- and nicely designed. Its trackball allows a user to access its various applications fairly easily, and its QWERTY keyboard allows a user to type in text. The email, messaging, and web browsing features can be used in any location that has cell phone service.
For me, the weaknesses of the device were its (necessarily) small screen, which made browsing the web a challenge: it was fine in a pinch -- for example, to look up a phone number using canada411.ca -- but it wouldn't be feasible to use the BlackBerry Curve for sustained web browsing. Exacerbating the small screen size was the slower connection to the Internet: even "stripped down" web pages took much longer to load than on a wired desktop computer. This may be less of an issue with the latest model, the BlackBerry Bold, which incorporates WiFi technology for accessing the Internet. Finally, the small keyboard made it cumbersome to type text of any length; it was fine for short emails, and for typing in web addresses, but one certainly would not want to use the BlackBerry to write an essay. I would have liked to use the device for text messaging, but its functionality is currently limited to BlackBerry Messenger: it's not possible to use the device to send text messages to users of Yahoo Messenger or Windows Live Messenger, unless you purchase a third-party application such as Beejive.
The features of the BlackBerry Curve that I most appreciated included its cell phone capability, especially its ability to recognize the names of contacts when they are spoken: if I want to phone Jane Smythe, I simply speak her name into the device, and it dials the number. The BlackBerry Curve's ability to send and receive email, and to syncrhonize seamlessly with my PC-based email, were also useful. Its GPS navigation proved very useful when I was attending conferences in unfamiliar cities. I found myself using the camera in unexpected situations -- such as when I wanted a copy of a poster on a wall -- but the quality of the pictures is low. I also acquired a useful third-part application called Mobipocket eBook Reader, which allowed me to conveniently dowload eBooks and RSS news feeds, which I read during time that would otherwise have been wasted -- for example, while waiting for a bus. A similar application is known as Viigo.
Impact on teaching
The BlackBerry Curve is not a tool that I would use much in direct support of teaching. I would not, for example, use it to write and send email to students because such messages tend to be longer, and it wouldn't be comfortable to input them on its small keyboard. Likewise, I would not use a BlackBerry to browse a course management system. I might, though, occasionally use its built-in camera to take a photo of a whiteboard that had been filled with text or diagrams during a class. All in all, the BlackBerry Curve is a very handy "life-tool" (one that many instructors say they couldn't do without -- and at UW nearly 500 faculty and staff have one), but its direct relevance to teaching is limited. I would suggest, too, that the same might be said for other smart-phones, despite attempts by some corporations to deliver course content via a BlackBerry.
Impact on learning
The limitations of the BlackBerry Curve with regard to learning are similar to the ones noted with regard to teaching: it's a handy "life-tool," but its pedagogical value for a student pales in comparison to, say, a tablet or notebook PC.
Accessibility issues
While the small size of the BlackBerry Curve is a plus for some users (it easily slips into a pocket), it exacerbates visibility issues and keyboarding issues for users with visual or motor impairment. Its built-in scheduler, however, would benefit those with organizational challenges.
Best practices
Use a BlackBerry, or other smart phone, to support communication via its cell phone capability, email capability (remembering that the small keyboard makes long emails challenging), and text messaging. Use a BlackBerry to help keep track of your schedule (by configuring it to sync with UW's BookIt system) Use a BlackBerry to help you navigate (through its GPS system) Use a BlackBerry only as a last resort to browse the web; don't attempt to use it to access a course management system.
Hardware and software requirements
A BlackBerry comes with the hardware and software that you need to operate its built-in services. Additonal applications can be purchased, such as applications for viewing and editing spreadsheets, or converting voice to text (that is, you dictate an email message and the application converts it to text for sending).
Impact on support and training
At the University of Waterloo, IST provides campus-wide support for Blackberries. Technical support is also provided by the AHS, Arts, Science, and Environment faculties.
Financial cost
The cost of purchasing the device itself varies according to the model: The BlackBerry Curve -- $200 The BlackBerry Pearl -- $150 The BlackBerry 8820 -- $350 (this is an older model, despite its higher price) The BlackBerry 8700R -- $150 Additionally, there is a monthly service fee, which varies according to the quota of data transfer and phone minutes (voice) allotted in each service plan. UW's standard Corporate Plan through Rogers is $25.25 per month for just voice. Additional data plans can be purchased from Bell for $20 per month for 5 mb of data or $32 per month for 8 mb of data. These data amounts will likely suffice for most users who are using their data quota primarily for email. However, browsing the web or using GPS navigation can eat up much more data, which will result in surcharges. For more information about corporate plans, please contact Elaine Martin.
Current usage at UW
Nearly 500 faculty and staff at UW have procured a BlackBerry through UW's corporate plan, which uses both Rogers and Bell as service providers. Of these, about 100 people use the BlackBerry Curve, while others use older models: BlackBerry Pearl -- 15 users; BlackBerry 8800 -- 75 users; BlackBerry 8700R -- 95 users; BlackBerry 7290 -- 80 users; and a few others use other models.
Current usage elsewhere
Around the world, there are currently about 14 million BlackBerry users. Apple is forecasting that there will be about 10 million iPhone users by the end of 2008. Current support at UW BlackBerry support is provided at UW by IST. If you need assistance setting up a BlackBerry, send an email to request@ist.uwaterloo.ca, and someone from IST will arrange to meet with you.
More information
UW's IST Department on the BlackBerry CNET review of the BlackBerry Curve. Compare various BlackBerry models CrackBerry (BlackBerry user forum)
The bottom line
Use the BlackBerry Curve -- or any other BlackBerry or smart-phone -- as a life-tool, but not as a teaching tool. Mobile learning is better supported through laptops, notebooks, and tablet PC
