I have the old Palm PDA (Zire Platinum) which my employer will support, but it takes "a village" to get them to approve wireless email on a handheld device.
If I want clients to reach me in real time via email, what is the current model Blackberry I shoud consider for purchase at this time? And, is there a better model looming on the horizen (next Q) I should wait for?

Appreciate your peer advice BEFORE I buy (this is NOT expensable)....

Best Regards,
Donna

OK I'll give this one a go.

As each carrier vary in their technology your decision will reside there first. For eg: GSM/CDMA/iDEN the most common North American network standards.

If require a phone first and email second the Blackberry 7100 series is an excellent device.

BB 7100:
http://www.t-mobile.com/products/ima...&class=pda

If your looking for a more traditional Blackberry which strength is email first and phone second. there are multiple offerings.

BB 7520:
http://nextelonline.nextel.com/NASAp...neDetailAction

BB 7250:
http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/s...edPhoneId=1588

BB 7750:
http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/s...edPhoneId=1558

BB 7290:
http://www.shoprogers.com/store/wire...mp;summar y=1

BB: 7780:
http://www.shoprogers.com/store/wire...mp;summar y=1

Offerings will vary from carrier to carrier, the links above will provide some insight to the current models and network technologies.

Another consideration - do you need coverage outside of North America? If not, strongly consider the Verizon Wireless 7250 - it is an excellent, new BlackBerry. If you need a speakerphone, only the Nextel 7520 and the T-Mobile 7100t have them (I am giving American companies since you fly the American flag icon). If you want a GSM "classic" sized BlackBerry, the 7290 can not be beat.