Components include:

• Mobile Phone: Blackberry Pearl 8100
  
  
  
  • Firmware version 4.2.0.64
    
  • 2GB MicroSD card
    
  • T-Mobile unlimited data plan.
    

• Bluetooth GPS receiver: Holux GPSlim240
  
  
  
  • 20 parallel satellite-tracking channels.
    
  • Dual function (Bluetooth and Serial connection options)
    
  • Compatible with Bluetooth Serial Port Profile (SPP).
    
  • Built-in rechargeable Li-Ion battery.
    
  • SiRF III chip-set.
    
  • Support NMEA0183 v2.2 data protocol and SiRF binary code.
    

• Google Maps
  
  
  
  • Google Services 1.3.0
    
  • Application Version 1.5.2 (#1025)
    

Maps are available as long as you maintain an ‘EDGE’ network connection. This became a problem as we drove through Yellowstone. I did have some luck when I requested routing information and zoomed in on the length of the route at a greater magnification. The system appeared to cache the maps needed. Your milage may vary.

The application did throw the occasional JAVA exception and there is a problem moving to and from other applications. I had to use the Blackberry menu for Google Maps to Quit the app before moving to some other application or risk freezing the Pearl. Recovery from this condition requires removing the battery to restart the phone.

Despite these caveats, Google Maps for the Blackberry Pearl is a tremendously useful application and a comparatively inexpensive and compact answer to the mobile GPS routing question.

(See also: http://www.google.com/gmm/)
(See also: Google Maps on Blackberry a “religious experience”.)
(See also: A Thing of Beauty.)