Using Google’s Mail client, everything works pretty much as you’d expect. There’s an assumption that you’ll be using the web client much of the time–there are very many things you can’t do from the client (such as set up filters), and by default, only the inbox (and not any other labels) is displayed. It does do things like Ajax-style email address completion from GMail’s list of contacts. (Can be a little slow.) The search is quite good and fast.

I actually have my BlackBerry set up so that GMail forwards some mail to my BlackBerry. Mail sent from the BlackBerry gets bcc’d to my GMail account (setup via the BlackBerry web interface), with a “From” address of my GMail account. (BlackBerry calls this a “Reply-To” address, but they do modify the “From” header. The “Sender” is a BlackBerry account but this seldom causes problems.) GMail, upon getting the Bcc’d mail, figures out that since your “From” address is the same as the “From” address you’re using there, it’s a “Sent” message, and puts it in the appropriate folder. So all this works about as well as it could.

You can also get the BlackBerry to talk to GMail’s IMAP, though I haven’t tried this. I suspect it won’t do folders, and there will be a bit of a delay since it needs to poll.

“how does it sync with the Google Calendar and Contacts?”

Contacts aren’t synced.

The calendar sync is done via an app that runs on the BlackBerry. There’s no web-based configuration; you enter your username and password into the app itself and after that it just works.

HOWEVER, the E61i does not do U.S. 3G, the UI can be frustratingly slow, and Nokia US repair service has an abysmal reputation.

I can’t comment on the Google Calendar sync capabilities of the Blackberry, but I have to say that as primitive as their own calendar software can be, it seems to be a solid, well architected platform. As people have pointed out, there is at least one BB model which is a dual US CDMA (Verizon/Sprint) + GSM (foreign bands only) phone.

I use my E61i on T-mobile because I’m a bit of a phone geek and it fits my budget (it’s a heck of a bargain, actually), but if you can afford the service costs, the dual GSM-CDMA Blackberry 8830 on Verizon w/ EVDO is probably a great choice.

I’d make certain that Verizon doesn’t limit your ability to install apps on the phone, however, and look into Google’s calendar sync. Native GMail worked great on my old 8290. Hope that helps.

I’ve looked at the iPhone and, despite it’s beautiful UI, I think the Blackberry is superior in terms of sheer usefulness (for an email/contacts centric business user). My technophobe wife likes it so well that she picked up one to replace her 5-year old POTS handset despite my offers of an iPhone. Trust me, that’s the ultimate endorsement.

I have a Nokia E61i (blackberry form factor) and a Nokia E70 (gull wings qwerty) both which I purchased unlocked directly from Nokia and have served me very well, yet both lack American 3G. Although I’ve used Gmail with IMAP on both, I prefer the Java interface. It works extremely well as long as you’ve got connectivity, it’s not really designed to be used offline/for reference purposes though. I’m not a heavy calendar user, but Goosync.com worked for me.

Take a look at the Nokia N95, there are two versions with 3G (HSDPA), one with 8GB of internal storage, the other with a microSD slot for storage. Both are quad mode GSM so roam well internationally. They also can be configured to auto lock when the slider is shut, so you won’t have the pocket answer problem. Since they aren’t through a carrier, they also aren’t crippled and allow you to use cheap local sim cards and tether using bluetooth. At the moment, there is no Nokia phone with US 3G and qwerty.

Other nice things about the N95? Wifi, headphone/tv out port, standard microUSB port, bluetooth 2.0 (incl A2DP), a native podcasting app (perfect for listening to NPR on the go) and a Webkit based browser. If you want to touch one before buying it, drop by the Nokia flagship store in nyc or chicago.

I don’t work for Nokia, just like to pimp their wares.

However, the iPhone is a joy to use. I just got back from a ski trip where I had the iPhone plugged into my Giro helmet: http://www.snowshack.com/detail/SNW+G%2D01066+S
for tunes on the go.

It works very well with Gmail — my only email. It uses the new Gmail IMAP interface so that when you read (or delete) a mail on the iphone it shows up as read (or deleted) on the gmail web page.

The iPhone also apparently works with Google Calendar: http://gmailblog.blogspot.com/2007/09/updates-from-google-docs-and-google.html

Also, it’s great when traveling that about 1/2 of higher end hotels now seem to have clock/radios with an iPhone dock on top — giving you charging and external speakers.

As far as not being 3G, I find that although it is somewhat slow, it is still very usable and I think it gives — by far — the best web browsing experience I’ve had on a phone. Check out this article: http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/03/iphone-delivers-bigger-browsing-share-than-windows-mobile/
If the iPhone web experience were not vastly superior, why would the browser share be so high?

Of course, when the 3G model comes out, I’ll probably upgrade in the first week.

Setting up WiFi at a new location is extremely quick and easy. I leave my iPhone in auto-detect mode. That way, if I’m not currently connected to WiFi and the phone detects a WiFi network while you are trying to load a page, it asks you if you want to attach to the network. If you tap Yes and no password is required, that’s it — you are connected. If the network requires a password you get an immediate pop-up asking for it.

There IS sometimes an issue if you are using WiFi in a hotel or hotspot somewhere when you are using one of the other apps (not Safari) to access the internet (e.g. the stock price app). Often these WiFi networks require you to view some initial web page before viewing anything else. So, you have to go to Safari, view this page, then use the other app. This did have me baffled for a while before I figured it out.

You can also allow the iPhone (or any iPod) to be treated as a disk drive (you configure this setting from within iTunes) and then you’ve always got a multi-gigabyte portable drive with you.

People worry about the typing speed, but after about two weeks I found I was almost as fast as with my Blackberry. You learn how to use the virtual keyboard, and learn how to work with the auto-correction — either accepting it’s automatic and usually correct interpretation of your typing or explicitly rejecting any inappropriate corrections (by tapping the proposed correction which is generated and viewable on the fly).

Although the iPhone doesn’t have GPS, it does have a button on the Google Maps app which triangulates your location based on cell tower signal strengths. It seems to have an accuracy of about 1/4 to 1/2 mile. Of course a real GPS would be better…

Also, I’m excited about the fact that over 100,000 people downloaded the new SDK in the first four days:
http://news.digitaltrends.com/news/story/16026/over_100000_download_iphone_sdk
That will no doubt lead to many new useful and fun applications.

The only real problem I have with it is the speaker-phone which is very quiet and almost unusable.

Having said all of this, I’m also a fan of Blackberrys and I will be keeping a close eye on Android based phones. However, for the moment, I find using the iPhone a pleasure almost every time I interact with it.

get a bberry – on sprint – all blackberry plans come with ulimited data usage as PAM – phone as a model. Any modern laptop comes with built in bluetooth and then you are set – to snarf data off the sprint network at a few hundred kilobit. voice calls are not possible when the phone is being used as a PAM.

the 88xx from sprint are gsm capable. unlike verizon, which ties you to their plans, you can get your own sim card and party on when you are in wonderland or wherever you travel…

I second that the google apps on a blackberry are par none. the browsing generally sucks – but hey it is fast.

the blackberry plans are $40 on top of your phone plan…..oh and dont get the suretype keyboards – they are ok but dont compare to the full keyboard blackberries….

I use a T-Mobile Dash.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to email me.

So I only use the web, and even then, it sucks. I had to register Opera in order to use multiple tabs. It’s also quite slow when any graphics appear and rendering is often sub-optimal so you have to scroll ten times to get to the content. Furthermore, it has some uncharacteristically poor usability choices, e.g. opening from a bookmark requires you to drill three levels into the menu system, and entering a word into the address bar does nothing (ie doesn’t use I’m Feeling Lucky like Firefox does, or resolve it to a .com).

One thing you didn’t mention is input mechanism. This is actually why I went with the P3600, because it takes stylus input. I spent 30 minutes in 1998 learning Graffiti; I never felt the need to carry a keyboard in my pocket after that and have always benefitted from less bulky devices and more screen real estate. I’m reluctant to switch to an iphone with its tiny soft keyboard.

I haven’t tried integrating with Google features. I did try installing Google Maps native edition and it simply doesn’t work.

With smartphones, you are reduced to choosing the best of the worst; there’s really no smartphone that really gets it and doesn’t do stupid things. Iphone comes close, but lacks 3G, stylus input, and sane PDF handling.

BTW Why would you hold a PC to your ear? Put it in a backpack (utility belt etc) and use a headset!