I have used this phone from the standpoint of a self-employed business fella on a £50+ contract per month. And I'm so glad I did!

The main reason people seem to pick the pearl over other Blackberry handsets is that aesthetically, it isn't much larger than a "usual" phone and is a bit more stylish than the normal corporate look given to the range.

Hardware wise, the Pearl is sleek and quite a sexy phone. The qwerty keyboard is compressed so it isn't the normal full keyboard, but you soon get used to that.

The software interface is exactly as you would expect of a Blackberry, save for the fact that menus etc. are a little more squished due to the reduction in screen size.

The trackball works a treat but you may find the occasional need to roll it about vigorously to (fingers crossed) clean it out a bit and dislodge some dirt that may have accumulated.

There is obviously a wealth of software available to be used on the Blackberry, and it goes without saying that the email / sync / groupware functionalities you'd expect from a RIM handset are as perfect as ever. Battery wont ever run out.

Definitely up there (for me) for the stylish but price-aware smartphone buyer.