The BlackBerry PDA is everywhere in today's competitive business environment. Having all your email, business contacts, calendar, tasks and notes instantly available is no longer simply a convenience; it's a key competitive advantage. So how do you choose among the thousands of BlackBerry PDA providers out there? Like almost all your other major business decisions, it helps to have a plan.
The good news? There is no single BlackBerry PDA provider that's the best, so you have a ton of choices when it comes to BlackBerry PDA suppliers. However, once you find a BlackBerry PDA supplier that best fits your needs, you should stick with them, since that's the easiest way to build up "loyalty" benefits. If you switch your BlackBerry PDA provider each time a new BlackBerry PDA devices hits the market, you'll always be a new customer. Also, you don’t want to have to end your contract early -- paying cancellation fees and/or buying out your contract is painful.
Here's what to consider when choosing among the various suppliers of BlackBerry PDAs:
Find the best coverage from providers of BlackBerry PDAs
Since most people spend their time divided between their office, their home, and driving between the two, it makes sense to choose from those BlackBerry PDA suppliers that offer full signal strength when you're in these areas. You don't want to waste your time with a BlackBerry that doesn't get a signal and drops your calls.
I recommend: Review coverage maps for the major carriers, including
Verizon,
AT&T,
Alltel and
Sprint. If you travel extensively, make sure that the places you travel to most often have the coverage you need in order to effectively do business.
Compare network technologies of BlackBerry PDA providers
You'll also need to consider the technology various BlackBerry PDA suppliers will use to connect your device to their networks. Is it GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications, the leading technology for cellular communication worldwide) or CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access, i.e., doesn't use a SIM card)? Both offer comparable reliability and service. Whichever one you choose, all of the BlackBerry PDA suppliers now offer some very cool BlackBerry PDAs, so chances are you'll be fine.
I recommend: Phones that use the CDMA network are best if you often have data-heavy attachments, because such models use the high-speed
EV-DO network from Sprint Nextel or Verizon. The slower, GSM-based
EDGE network used by T-Mobile and AT&T is best suited for e-mail with small attachments or light-duty Web surfing, though AT&T also has a higher-speed
data network called HSDPA. Or, if you're a worldwide traveler (and have some cash to burn), consider the
BlackBerry 8830 World Edition, an unusual smartphone that supports both CDMA and GSM cellular-wireless networks.
The best-laid BlackBerry PDA plans
Finally, all BlackBerry PDAs depend on a network that needs both a regular phone plan and a data plan. Spend some time at each carrier's site (or store) comparing plans.
I recommend: All the carriers offer combined monthly plans for a two-year contract. But your bill can quickly run up if you add minutes, text messages, and other services. T-Mobile
lists their plans on their website without having to input a zip code. Sprint has offered an all-inclusive plan - unlimited everything for
low rates. Whatever your needs, estimate the minutes, data and text messages you believe you’ll need each month, then add 15 – 30%. That will give you a good idea of how much you'll actually spend.
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