The BlackBerry 8800 is the thinnest BlackBerry handset yet and designed to satisfy the most demanding mobile professionals. Equipped with a full, highly tactile QWERTY* keyboard and RIM's user-friendly trackball navigation system, it also includes built-in GPS (Global Positioning System), multimedia features and a microSD expandable memory slot.

"The BlackBerry 8800 smartphone offers another winning combination of superior hardware, software and service embodied by an extremely elegant industrial design," said Mike Lazaridis, President and Co-CEO at Research In Motion.

"We spent a tremendous amount of effort refining the BlackBerry 8800, inside and out, and that effort will be evident to customers. From the premium finish to the vivid screen to the exceptional sound quality and the unmatched usability, the BlackBerry 8800 is a standout choice for mobile professionals."

The quad band GSM/GPRS and EDGE-enabled BlackBerry 8800 offers best-in-class performance with smoothly integrated support for voice and data applications, including phone, email, text messaging, a web browser, organiser, multimedia and more. Powering its robust performance is an ultra-thin, high-capacity battery that further extends the uncompromising battery life for which BlackBerry handsets are renowned.

Through its built-in GPS, the BlackBerry 8800 can pinpoint its location and provide "out-of-the-box" support for a wide variety of location based applications and services including BlackBerry Maps. BlackBerry Maps provides driving directions with the ability to track the route via GPS, it also integrates with other BlackBerry applications so users can generate a map from an address in their BlackBerry Address Book and send maps via email from their BlackBerry 8800.

The BlackBerry 8800 is a world-class mobile phone with advanced and easy-to-use phone features including noise cancellation for enhanced audio performance, Speaker Independent Voice Recognition for Voice Activated Dialling (VAD), intuitive call management functions such as smart dialling, conference calling, speed dialling and call forwarding, as well as dedicated "send", "end" and "mute" keys. It also features a high quality, low-distortion speakerphone and Bluetooth 2.0 for use with hands-free headsets, car kits and other Bluetooth peripherals. Support for polyphonic, mp3 and MIDI ringtones is included.

With the large, bright, high resolution (32 x240) landscape display, images appear vivid and crisp for viewing emails, attachments, pictures, videos, web pages, business applications and games. Built-in light sensing technology automatically adjusts the screen, keyboard and trackball brightness for optimised visibility in various lighting environments. The vibrant display, coupled with the BlackBerry 8800’s innovative trackball navigation, delivers a user experience that is dynamic and intuitive.

The BlackBerry 8800 also comes with a media player and stereo headset jack. Its expandable memory capability allows users to store their favourite music and videos on a microSD card to enjoy while on the go. Music and video are delivered with rich sound and vivid colour.

The BlackBerry 8800 can operate with BlackBerry Internet Service, giving users the ability to manage up to 10 supported personal and corporate email accounts, as well as BlackBerry Enterprise Server, which includes IT policy controls for managing the handset's features and usage.

The BlackBerry wireless platform gives customers the capability to deploy a variety of applications. Hundreds of business solutions from third party software providers can further extend the BlackBerry platform to support various business needs such as CRM, sales force automation, field services, business intelligence, supply chain management and continuity of operations, as well as a broad range of industry-specific applications for sectors including health care, law enforcement, government, financial services, insurance, pharmaceutical, professional services, real estate, manufacturing, wholesale and retail.