BlackBerry 8700c converging to Treo

[Colin Dunstan]

PC World has a story on how RIM's latest BlackBerry 8700c (lucky bastards got a preview unit) is getting closer to Palm Treo territory.

The 8700c is still more of a PDA than a phone. It's 2.7 inches wide, almost half an inch wider than the Treo 650. Although at 4.7 ounces, it's significantly lighter in weight; the Treo checks in at 6.3 ounces. Still, the 8700c's charcoal grey and black case seems somehow more svelte and more compact than previous BlackBerry hybrids, except for the much more phone-like 7300, which doesn't have a true QWERTY keyboard. I like what RIM has done here, but I'm wondering whom the target audience is. The 8700c is not a Palm or Windows Mobile killer. But it is a very good BlackBerry, one that could well answer the prayers of corporate BlackBerry users who are ready for an upgrade. Otherwise, if a large pool of third-party applications doesn't mean much to you, but you are prepared to invest in a device to help manage your e-mail or do a little light browsing, the 8700c is certainly worth considering.

Related: The Juicy New BlackBerry (BW)