At $90 via RIM's ShopBlackBerry.com, the Premium Multimedia Headset also isn't cheap. RIM wisely priced it under $100, which is the breaking point for many folks when it comes to accessories, but the price tag still seems rather steep to me. That's especially true when you consider the fact that some high-end headsets from company's like V-Moda and Sony Ericsson sell for just $10 or $30 more--and many of these are Bluetooth enabled and don't require cords at all. (Note: The BlackBerry Premium Multimedia Headset is so new that even the largest retailers of BlackBerry accessories, including CrackBerry.com, don't yet have it listed for sale. You can expect the price on such sites to be a bit more reasonable than RIM's own online outlet.)

BlackBerry Premium Multimedia Headset Playback, Volume Controls

Even though I was able to employ the new headset with pre-BlackBerry OS 4.6 devices, RIM warns on its retail site that the earbuds are meant for use with only its latest phones. I'm not exactly sure why this is--I've got an inquiry out to RIM right now, and I'll update this post as soon as I hear back--but I don't like it. I understand that new BlackBerrys are more technologically advanced than previous models, and the compatibility restrictions could have to do with a component not found in older devices, but I still wish the new headphones worked just as well with older BlackBerrys than newer ones, as I regularly use a number of different devices--BlackBerrys and non-BlackBerrys--and I can't see dropping almost $100 for a set of headphones I can only use with a few media players.

Finally, this is a minor quip, but I also don't like how RIM decided to place its logo so prominently on each earbud. You'll see BlackBerry "seven-dot" logos on the side of each 'bud--this is also the case with the slightly older Premium Stereo Headset. I don't like many products that are covered in branding, and this new headset certainly falls in that category. I would've liked to see a more subtle BlackBerry logo.

And to sum that all up...