Is it even possible to imagine life without the BlackBerry? That may sound like a facetious question, but consider it seriously for a moment. What did busy people do back in the Stone Age (by which I mean the mid-1990s) when they had to spend every waking hour in a frenzy of multitasking? How did they manage to engage in phone calls, emails, text messaging and instant messaging (all simultaneously) without the use of a BlackBerry? It seems as if they might as well have relied on smoke signals and carrier pigeons, for all the time they had to waste just getting basic tasks performed.

Fortunately, we don't have to worry about such antiquated problems anymore. The BlackBerry has revolutionized communications technology, making it possible to literally be everywhere at the same time. (Well, almost.) Let's review the device's history a bit to see how we've arrived at this lofty plane.

The BlackBerry was first unleashed on an unsuspecting public in 1999. An innovative wireless handheld device, it was designed to support mobile telephone, push email, text messaging, web browsing, Internet faxing and other services. The original BlackBerry had a monochrome display, but this soon became outmoded. All current models are equipped with full-color displays.

While the BlackBerry was not the first PDA device made available to the public, it definitely raised the bar in terms of both form and function. In addition to offering the expected PDA features, such as an address book, to-do list and calendar, the BlackBerry earned major kudos for its innovative capability to send and receive email wherever it is able to access an atmosphere wireless network of certain cellular phone carriers. In terms of design, the BlackBerry has always been notable for its unique built-in keyboard that allows for the use of only your thumbs to type messages. System navigation is primarily accomplished by the trackwheel, which scrolls vertically with a click function located on the right side. Certain higher-end models also incorporate a two-way radio, while others do not require any mobile phone coverage but instead are Wi-Fi compatible.

Current BlackBerry models employ an ARM 7 or 9 processor (older versions such as the 950 and 957 used Intel 80386 processors, by contrast). The latest GSM BlackBerry models (such as the 8100 and 8700 series) have an Intel PXA901 312 MHz processor, 64 MB flash memory and 16 MB SDRAM. That's a ton of power packed into such a portable handheld unit.

What really drives the BlackBerry's popularity is the convenience it offers. All new emails, contacts and calendar entries go to the device automatically. Users can access data offline in areas without wireless service, so no matter where you are, you are always in touch. This is absolutely critical for businesspeople who are required to travel often.

While on a plane for three or four hours, the business world continues to spin, although you can't keep track of it. As soon as you land, the BlackBerry will update all new incoming information, allowing you to rejoin the action instantly. If you don't yet have a BlackBerry, it's probably time to start asking yourself why.

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