RIM BlackBerry Pearl 8130 review from Canada

Button for 'standby mode' is also the button for microphone mute. This led to some confusion when I tried to place a call with the phone muted. I don't use 'stand by' mode as a result.

Keyboard unlock is a two-button operation - a little clumsy. But sliding phone into my pants pocket with keyboard unlocked does not appear to have caused any 'phantom' calls to date. I do worry about pocket lint building up in the track-ball though.

Setup menus are not the most intuitive; you'll have to consult the manual to get what you want, and there are many pre-loaded apps you'll want to delete right off the bat, like Facebook.

Stock ear-buds / hands-free mic are not comfortable under a ski helmet for me, but can be made to work with a pinch.

Desktop interface is clunky; Blackberry Redirector software is a pain - must be left on constanty to redirect email from desktop to device. Better to go through Blackberry Internet Service (via your provider) or your enterprise's BB server to input email address (es) that can be redirected to device. Use BIS filters to select which email senders get through, to keep data transfer costs low.

Mp3, PDA, Wireless Web all in a compact, candy-bar phone. I bought a 2GB Micro SD memory card for mine, and loaded up with songs from my computer's collection - NOT via telcoms music service. Enjoyed beautiful day skiing with tunes, and paused on hill to take a call, snap some photos, and MMS them - all on one device. Wish you were here!

Decent browser (not Opera) with page and text views, much better than Bell Mobility's standard browser interface. Can load regular HTML pages, and use encrypted sites like banking.

Sure-type keyboard takes a little to get used to, but multi-tap mode available for traditional phone users.

Download apps like Google Maps with phone's GPS to get directions from where you are, to where you're going. Cheaper than paying for 'nav' service, but without the voice commands. Lots of other high-quality apps are also available.

Great camera, remarkable powerful flash; When playing MP3's via speakerphone, sound quality is better than expected, loud enough to fill a room, though about on par with large transistor radio - still quite a feat given tiny speaker size.

Have not tried Bluetooth or document editor functions yet. Will post an update when I do.

10 000 times better than my previous Bell Mobility phone (Moto e815). Lighter, more feature rich, better camera, better browser, better MP3, and includes email, mapping and BT Obex - features disabled / not offered by Bell on the Moto. Got the BB as a free upgrade 2/3 of way through my previous contract (with new contract, sure) perhaps as compensation for being under-serviced.