The BlackBerry Pearl from Research In Motion (RIM) is a compact handset that offers the traditional BlackBerry functionality in a device no larger or heavier than most camera phones.

The new model is aimed at a wider audience than executives, but is still likely to find favour with corporate users who want a lightweight mobile email device.

Available from this month, the BlackBerry Pearl (also known as the BlackBerry 8100) resembles a standard "candy-bar" phone handset much more than other RIM devices and weighs just 89g. This weight and its small size means the Pearl can easily be carried in a jacket pocket. However, though it offers access to push email via BlackBerry servers, it lacks 3G network support or wireless LAN connectivity – features available on most rival smartphones. RIM said that 3G support is planned for a future version.

In tests, we found the Pearl easy to operate, and anyone used to a previous model such as the BlackBerry 8700g will find the interface familiar. The Pearl gets its name from the miniature trackball located centrally beneath its display. This is used to scroll through menus and select items. We found this quite simple to get to grips with, but not as instantly intuitive as the thumb-operated scroll wheel found on the right side of earlier BlackBerry models.

Because of the small size of the BlackBerry Pearl, its keyboard is a compromise compared with the qwerty design on other models. It puts two letters onto each key, and uses predictive text to work out what word the user is typing. Called SureType, this works well enough when composing text messages or the body of emails, but email addresses and other non-standard words will trip it up.

The keys also double as the phone keypad, letting users dial a number from the main screen. Pressing the green "call" button of the handset displays recent calls and enables users to look up a contact in the address book to call. The sc reen of the BlackBerry Pearl is an excellent clear and sharp colour display, like that of its larger sibling the BlackBerry 8700.

For our tests, RIM supplied the BlackBerry Pearl with a connection to Vodafone's GPRS network and a test email account on a BlackBerry server. We found we could view many web sites using the device's browser, although some did not display correctly. We were impressed to see that messages sent to and from the BlackBerry Pearl from our office mail system arrived within seconds.

Our review model came with many applications, including Yahoo Messenger, Google Talk and RIM's own BlackBerry Messenger. The system also includes a voice dialling tool, a media player, and a password keeper.

The BlackBerry Pearl has a 1.3 megapixel digital camera and an internal MicroSD Flash card slot to expand on its 64MB of built-in Flash storage. It also supports Bluetooth to link to wireless headsets.

RIM claims a battery life of up to three-and-a-half hours for talk time and 15 days on standby.