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Because most of the rest of the world's mobile carriers use GSM technology, Verizon Wireless customers who want to roam the world - particularly Europe - have been limited by their carrier's CDMA network. But with the introduction of Research In Motion’s (RIM) new BlackBerry 8830, a whole new world has (literally) opened up for Verizon customers.

The dual-mode CDMA/GSM smartphone gives users the freedom to make calls, send messages, and receive e-mails worldwide. It also offers EV-DO support, multimedia capabilities, and impressive performance.

The BlackBerry 8830 starts at $299.99 with a two-year contract (after a $100 mail-in rebate); data plans start at $64.99 for unlimited global e-mail with a U.S. voice plan (beginning at $39.99) and $69.99 for unlimited global e-mail without a voice plan.

Design
In contrast to its slimmer cousin, the BlackBerry Pearl, the BlackBerry 8830 employs the thicker, wider PDA form factor found in the GSM-only BlackBerry 8800. At 4.4 x 2.6 x 0.5 inches and 4.7 ounces, it has a nice heft and feels solid in your hand without crossing over into the land of chunky.

The silver casing is understated with an almost retro feel to its simplicity, and the BlackBerry 8830 sports a trackball just under the screen as its primary form of navigation. We still prefer the side-based clickwheel method found on older models, such as the BlackBerry 7130c, but the trackball became the new standard for BlackBerry navigation when it was introduced with the Pearl.

Despite our waxing nostalgic for the clickwheel, as trackballs go, RIM's implementation is top notch. The full QWERTY keyboard is well-designed, although the keys are very tiny. Ridges on each button help to prevent slippage and assist in accuracy. Despite its width, it is possible to type one-handed on the device with relative ease.

The BlackBerry 8830 features a clear 2.5-inch (diagonal), 65,000-color display with a 320 x 240 pixel resolution. In addition to the trackball navigator, you'll find the Talk and End keys, and the Menu and Escape buttons beneath the screen.

It also includes a light-sensing technology that automatically adjusts the backlighting of the screen, the keyboard, and the trackball, depending on whether you're in low light condition or not. This is handy in some cases, but in others, the blue light actually makes it more difficult to discern the numbers from the letters on the keypad.

Volume keys are found on the right side; the left side houses a 2.5mm headset jack, a mini USB port, and a user-programmable convenience key. A microSD expansion slot and SIM card slot are underneath the battery cover; and the power and mute buttons are on the top of the unit. As is standard for most new BlackBerries, the speakerphone button is conveniently located on the keypad, so you can activate it quickly in one click without having to navigate through menus.

Verizon ships the BlackBerry 8830 with a travel charger, a USB cable, a SIM card, software, power source adapters for your international travels, a clip-to-hip carrying case, and documentation.

Features
The big selling point for the BlackBerry 8830 is its dual-mode functionality, which enables the smartphone to switch automatically between CDMA and international GSM networks for seamless roaming. The phone does not support domestic GSM bands, though, so while in the States users will continue to use the Verizon Wireless network exclusively.

With the phone can access voice in 157 countries, including 135 via GSM, which means that users will have the opportunity to say "Can you hear me now?" in dozens of languages. E-mail coverage is available in roughly 60 countries. Depending on your plan, roaming charges can go as high as $2.49 a minute. The Global Help Desk offers tech support 24x7.