The T-Mobile BlackBerry Pearl (also known as the 8100), is RIM’s major move towards a more consumer oriented device. The most obvious feature is the pearl-like trackball centered just below the screen. The second thing that you think when you see this device is how small it is, especially when compared to its predecessor, the 7100 - which seems huge and clunky in comparison. However, the small size may be a problem for some users. More on that later. The case plastics of the Pearl are mainly glossy black, with chrome accents on the sides, which means it will be a fingerprint/face grease magnet. However, I was surprised how well the Pearl’s finish was scratch resistant after carrying it in my pocket for a week. T-Mobile also has the Pearl in an exclusive white model. Read on after the jump to see how we like this device.

The Pearl has the standard BlackBerry components, such as the SureType keyboard, crisp and bright color screen, BlackBerry OS, T-
Mobile provided OZ instant messenger, giving you access to the major IM networks such as AIM, MSN, Yahoo, and ICQ. One major component that has never appeared on a BlackBerry up until this point is an integrated camera. The camera is pretty standard for a device this size, taking 1.3 megapixel photos, with an integrated flash, and it has up to 5x digital zoom capability.

The SureType keyboard seems to be nice at first glance, and when you type on it, it is nearly foolproof in guessing what you typed. It basically puts two letters on one key, and uses software calculations that monitor your typing patterns to guess what word you’re trying to type. The trackball makes it much easier to correct the SureType algorithms - meaning you no longer need to move your thumb up all the way to reach the thumbwheel and shift your hand position, etc. Unfortunately, I feel that RIM reduced the size of the Pearl (as compared to the prior 7100 model) a bit too much, because my fingers kept hitting the edges/corners of adjoining keys, causing errors in my typing. My hands/fingers are sized about average for a man. I don’t have problems typing on comparable devices such as the Sidekick 3, Treo 700p, and BB 8705g.

Overall, the BB OS on the Pearl does feel more fluid and responsive, due to the trackball. I think that the trackball is a better fit for the OS, because rolling a ball around and pressing it down for clicks feels more natural than the thumbwheel. It helps that you don’t have to scroll through all the icons on the screen - now you can navigate in any direction, so that part of using the OS is definitely faster. Any program you can use on a BB, you can use on the Pearl. The Pearl does come with a couple of downloadable “push” programs, giving you access to information via icons in the OS, such as weather, news, etc. At first glance, it seems nice, but then again, you have to get used to how this information is presented. Relay software (IP-Relay and i711.com) installed without problems on the Pearl, and worked just fine. It handles email just like any other BB, which is probably the best and most responsive email system available on a pager.

It does help that the Pearl’s screen is high quality and is one of the best I’ve seen on a device this size. Everything is crisp and clear, and colors just pop out at you. You won’t have problems seeing things on this screen, and in spite of the Pearl’s size, you still can adjust fonts like on any other BB device to increase readability, which is good news for those with vision issues. Photos and videos (actually the Pearl calls those plus music “Media”) playback are new to the BB OS, and they are executed very well, and look very good on the Pearl’s screen. The Pearl has a microSD slot inside the battery compartment, so you will be able to store photos, videos, and music on this expansion card. Unfortunately, even though
the Pearl has somewhat decent 2.5G networking (EDGE), streaming is not enabled. To get photos and videos on the Pearl, you need to either download them via the BB web browser, or sync them from your computer to the Pearl’s microSD card.

There are a couple of other things I need to mention. Charging and syncing is done via the standard RIM mini USB charge/sync port. It does appear that the Pearl has two contacts on the back so that it can be placed into a cradle to sync/charge. One thing I did not like about the Pearl was that the battery cover on the back would not stay on very well. As I grasped the Pearl to type and shifted hand positions, this was enough to slide the battery cover off. Not good. If I was to stick with this device, I would probably tape the cover so that I do not have to deal with this issue.

Accessibility-wise, the Pearl offers adjustable fonts for those with vision issues, and the documentation states that it is TTY-compatible for those who need mobile TTY access. The Pearl does not state any sort of hearing aid compatibility, so it is recommended that you go and try it out at a T-Mobile store to see how well it works with your hearing aids before ordering your new Pearl online.

I think this is a good device for people who need to communicate with deaf family/friends once in a while. It looks like, is sized like, and basically is an enhanced phone for those who want occasional access to email/text capabilities.

But it would make a terrible pager for a deaf person, unless they love the BB OS, want a ultra-small pager, and are willing to put up with the cramped, but efficient SureType keyboard. Since the Pearl includes Bluetooth, it’s possible you could use an external Bluetooth keyboard.

T-Mobile BlackBerry Pearl
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Our thanks to GoAmerica for providing the T-Mobile BlackBerry Pearl 8100 used in this review. You can purchase these GoAmerica devices via DeafPagers.com’s online store here