Using the Blackberry

I am, along with two other research librarians, testing the usefulness and functionality of the Blackberry 8820. It's not perfect, but by and large I am finding that it is extremely useful. Many of the students who contact me are very surprised with how quickly I am able to reply. I am able to do this with little or no sacrifice on my part as well, and if it is really is a vacation day or a holiday I just turn it off and pretend that it is locked back at my office and attached to the wall with a wire.

I think that librarians deserve mobile telephones, email, and web browsing capability so that we can stay in touch without having to remain seated next to our wall mounted telephones.

Anyway, today's Wall Street Journal (3.31.08) has an article about the emerging technology that will be coming soon to mobile telephone communications. Here is the citation to that article:

Jessica E. Vascellaro (2008, March 31). Technology (A Special Report); Coming Soon to a Phone Near You: Your cellphone is about to get a lot smarter; Here's what to expect in the months ahead. Wall Street Journal (Eastern Edition), p. R.1. Retrieved March 31, 2008, from ABI/INFORM Global database. (Document ID: 1454142301).

I will take this opportunity to instruct the Villanova community by telling you that the full text of the Wall Street Journal is available via ABI/Inform Proquest. Look it up there yourselves.

I would like to know how much a mobile telephone costs to acquire, operate, and maintain compared to the traditional non-mobile wall / desk mounted unit with the cords and big, easy to read, buttons.