blackberry

blackberry, name for several species of thorny plants of the genus Rubus of the family Rosaceae (rose family). See bramble.

---

blackberry

Blackberry (Rubus).

(credit: Derek Fell)

Usually prickly, fruit-bearing bush of the genus Rubus, in the rose family, native chiefly to northern temperate regions. The blackberry is abundant in eastern North America and on the Pacific coast; in Europe it is common in thickets and hedges. Its usually biennial, prickly, and erect, semierect, or trailing stems bear leaves with usually three or five oval, coarsely toothed, stalked leaflets; white, pink, or red flowers in terminal clusters; and black or red-purple aggregate fruits. The several trailing species are commonly called dewberries. Blackberries are a fairly good source of iron and vitamin C.

---

The all-in-one wireless data and voice device from Research in Motion, Ltd. (RIM), Waterloo, Ontario (www.blackberry.net). Available in cellphone and PDA sizes, these popular devices extend the office to the road, providing e-mail, phone, text messaging, Web browsing, organizer (calendar, addresses, tasks, etc.), as well as paging, Yahoo instant messaging and corporate data access. A raft of third-party applications is also available.

All About E-Mail
In 1999, the BlackBerry was the first wireless device that synchronized with the company mail system so that users did not require a different e-mail address when traveling. Initially set up for Microsoft Exchange, Domino and GroupWise synchronization were later added. For individuals, a BlackBerry e-mail address is also available.

By early 2004, a million people were using BlackBerries. The number leaped to two million only 10 months later and exceeded four million by 2006. See CrackBerry and smartphone.

BlackBerry Keyboard

Although small, many users are able to input characters quickly on the BlackBerry keyboard by using both thumbs. (Image courtesy of Research In Motion, Ltd.)