Photo thanks to Mobile Gazette

Can you really have the best of both worlds?

The new Blackberry 8800 basically turns the Blackberry Pearl into a swirl, mixing in the Pearl's flavor of the month trackball navigation system, with such business specific features as a full QWERTY keyboard and built-in GPS (Global Positioning System) that integrated with Blackberry Maps and e-mail; making getting and sending directions easy. Further Blackberry 8800 review reveals other Pearl holdovers, such as light-sensing technology that automatically brightens for dark environments, plays MP3s, MPEG4 and H.263 video format, and has Bluetooth. Unlike the Pearl, and nearly ever other hand held device released this century, it doesn't have a camera.

But one advantage the Blackberry 8800 definitely does hold is regarding the microSD expandable memory slot. In the Pearl, it's tucked behind the battery compartment and can't be accessed without removing the battery and shutting off power. This problem has been addressed in the 8800 and while still located in the battery compartment, you no longer have to remove the battery and reset your clock just getting to the memory slot. The battery in general is a boon on the Blackberry 8800, as battery time can withstand two to three days of heavy talking.

You can't do a Blackberry 8800 review though without noting the curious omitting of 3G network compatibility. How can you market a phone at the business community where time is money, and only allow them to access the internet on the slower EDGE network when Blackberry already offers other models already equipped with faster UMTS technology?

The 8800 is definitely a capable phone, but unless you're infatuated with the idea of using a trackball with a QWERTY keyboard, this Blackberry 8800 review suggests you steer clear of the model, as it feels like a time bider between the innovation of the Pearl and Blackberry's next big thing.