Originally Posted by elCheapoDeluxe

Yes and no. My understanding is that the new BES and devices are built around the ActiveSync protocol - so for users who just wish to connect to an Exchange server a BES will not be necessary. More here. This is probably key for adoption of the new devices since fewer and fewer companies seem willing to have BB specific infrastructure - and RIM doesn't want to loose out on device sales because of that. BES will be pushed on corporate customers who want better device management than Exchange offers natively. It is a big break for the company.

And I'm with you on the keyboard. I've tried going to all touchscreen and it doesn't work for the emails I find myself replying to in the field. They are too long and too technical. Specific spelling of technical terms, including capitalization and punctuation, can't be sloppy or abbreviated. Right now I'm using a Droid 4 but it has been a POC ever since the Ice Cream Sandwich update, with frequent lockups, and I'm not fond of the fat lump that is a slider phone (plus the lack of ability to use the physical keyboard one-handed). The best I've found is the cheapo HTC ChaCha - of which I have one for travel - but neither phones hold a candle to my old 9930. I should not have given that up to a coworker - and desperately want one but feel I should wait until the X10 comes out before I go buying any phones - especially since I'm not due a carrier subsidized upgrade and I will be paying full price. But the X10 looks like exactly what I want in a phone, and you can bet I'll be first in line the day it comes out.