Following the release of the new smartphone, the BlackBerry® Bold™ from Research In Motion (RIM), we take a look at what makes it unique and the likely impact it will have on the legal industry.

So what do you look for in a smartphone? Reliability, ease of use, feature rich functionality? Don’t we all?

Meeting expectations can be difficult, especially in light of the ‘i-Phone killer’ question that has emerged since the eagerly awaited release of the device. It would seem, though, that RIM have hit the nail on the head by incorporating many of the desirable functions of existing BlackBerry handsets in just one device. It might just prove to be an ‘i-Phone killer’, however, for now we’re more interested in its business credentials.

The real breakthrough as we see it is that for the first time ever and to rival Windows Mobile you can now edit your documents on the move via the pre-loaded Dataviz Docs to Go Suite. Certainly a welcome addition to anyone who spends time out of the office but also needs to keep working.

Talking of firsts, it is also the only quad-band handset to support EDGE and tri-band HSDPA high-speed networks for global roaming, contain integrated GPS (for applications such as BlackBerry maps) and Wi-Fi, as well as offering a rich set of multimedia features in one. All too often these days we are required to travel further afield on business to areas we are often unfamiliar with – with the above technology you now have the assurance that wherever you are in the world, you can stay connected and find where you need to be.

The need to view documents and third party applications clearly when you are offsite is a vital part of any legal professional’s work and now having improved the quality of their display, viewing these has been enhanced significantly. Add to this a new simplified, user-friendly interface, similar in appearance to that of the i-Phone display, a re-designed full QWERTY keyboard with raised curved keys to avoid mistyping, along with all the standard features that the manufacturer is known for and you can’t fail to be impressed.

That’s all very well I hear you cry but you want good call quality too? It would seem RIM have thought about that as well – by adding a new acoustic design to increase quality and clarity, as well as noise cancellation technology that offsets background noise and a powerful speaker phone as standard.

All of the above features in just one device from a respected manufacturer, designed to make your day easier and quicker – now we think that is smart!

Should you require any further information about the BlackBerry Bold or, indeed, any other handset, you can email us at legal@total-ltd.co.uk or contact us on 0845 070 5460.