Is a Blackberry a User-Friendly Device?
When the Blackberry was first introduced in 1999, it wasn't considered the most user-friendly device amongst employees who were using them for business. In 2003, Blackberry released a new model that started gaining popularity amongst businesses for its ease of use and available application. Now Blackberry has created an even more friendly-user Blackberry with the Curve, and employees are finding that there isn't much else on the market that matches the ease and speed of Blackberry's email messaging system. The newer Blackberries are also slimmer, allowing users to quickly slide the phone into their pocket without it feeling bulky or uncomfortable.
Blackberry Touted as the Most User-Friendly for Business
There's a reason that large companies utilize Blackberries as their main form of communication. The QWERTY keyboard, file and email storage, and quick access and editing of documents is exactly what every businessperson needs. While Blackberry does offer touch screen capabilities, the keyboard is considered one of the better user-friendly features of the phone. Not only do you have full access to a keyboard, you are less likely to make mistakes commonly seen with other phones that only offer touch screen typing.
Whenever a businessperson speaks about their Blackberry, they usually mention the ease of the phone's email messaging system. Email is the number one way that companies correspond with one another, and the Blackberry has its own messaging system that is faster than using a web-based email address. Users easily and quickly get instant messages and emails from other Blackberry users without waiting for the Internet to connect or web-based email to load. Because of this feature, many businesses are still hanging onto the Blackberry as the most competent form of wireless communication amongst employees.
Internet Improvements Make Blackberry More User-Friendly
The newer phones on the market offer full web browsing via the phone. Blackberry was slightly behind in this area, but has recently revamped their technology to allow for full HTML web browsing. This feature is easy to use and offers the same convenience of the competitors. Employees can now view websites, stream live video, communicate on social networking sites, and upload or download files directly from the Blackberry.
The applications available for Blackberry also help make it user friendly. Blackberry's platform allows people to use Java to create applications to help with business applications such as downloading and editing files. Users can send and receive faxes, download Word documents and edit them on the Blackberry, edit Excel files, and view a variety of documents. These apps are simple to use and easily understood by users.
While there are a number of competitors on the market, the newer user-friendly interface and physical setup of a Blackberry make it one of the most popular mobile devices for business people. Users also like the security of the Blackberry's email messaging system as opposed to web-based email that's susceptible to being hacked. As with any technology, the company continues to work on the Blackberry platform and work out any kinks that may make the device unfriendly to users.