After my lackluster experience with the first generation iPhone — dropped calls, data interruption, and the inability to load Documents to Go or any software app that can view and/or send MS Office docs — I have learned to not depend on smartphones or any handheld device for that matter. A laptop, WiFi or data modem will suit me just fine because something held in the hand, though nice, may not work.

Yesterday, RIM’s (Research In Motion) Blackberry went south to become Resource Isn’t Moving. For those who depend on their Crackberry, life fell silent as old fashioned ways to communicate rose to the surface. Yes, as in calling someone, actually hearing their voice, listening to them and responding appropriately. Sometimes the universe demands balance and there will be those days when you will have to stop passively texting folk and actually talk with someone. Hooray for downtime.

I noticed my Blackberry dragging at about 2:00 p.m. yesterday but, with laptop at the ready, it did not slow me down. I did notice intermittent data retrieval but it was too unreliable for my tastes. Later I learned RIM’s network was DOA and no wonder.

According to the Los Angeles Times, RIM apparently issued a statement saying “the problem may have stemmed from a flaw in two recently released versions of its BlackBerry Messenger application software.” Oh I hate updates. Actually, my last update took far longer than needed, so much so I could have cooked and ate breakfast before seeing my Blackberry again. Ugh!

Well, 12 hours later, while sitting at my desk at 2:00 a.m., what did I hear? Bahling, bahling, bahling, bahling. Oh yes, the sweet sound of email coming in for a landing.

I missed the first disruption in service last Thursday because, as mentioned above, I’ve learned to ignore the thing. If I need to search for a restaurant, look up an address, or Navigate myself near or far, I’ll use it if available. If not, there’s always the laptop, a desktop, my non-AT&T iPhone with WiFi, something. Backups are good.

I will say this about the Blackberry, it is more reliable than it is unreliable, unlike the iPhone. Drop calls? Not a problem with my Verizon Blackberry. Making a call in the middle of planet Zircon? Again, not a problem with my Verizon Blackberry.

Now, speaking of Verizon and the iPhone, apparently, rumors are swirling again regarding a potential marriage between the two. According to LimitedEditioniPhone.com, maybe, just maybe that little exclusivity contract with AT&T will NOT get an extension and maybe, just maybe, Verizon will get a crack at the iPhone, to have and to hold.

Okay, let’s recap shall we. I remember reading somewhere that the iPhone would deliver itself to Verizon’s doorstep in 2009. Well, watching the clock on the wall, my watch and the calendar, that ain’t happened. Another story said the iPhone would be in the Christmas stocking of Verizon for year-end 2009. Well, there’s just a couple of days left til Christmas and it must be waiting for the late shoppers. Now the belief is — and how folks hear this is news to me — the exclusive contract with AT&T expires in June 2010 thus leaving the door open for others, possibly Verizon. Yeah, right. Let’s just say Verizon, though it is updating its network, still does not have the “right stuff” to handle an iPhone. Perhaps Sprint but not Verizon. If it happens, I for one will be in shock. With that, if you see me in my front yard eating a bunch of crows next June, refer to this post.

Granted, Verizon has AT&T beat with the best reception in town but, the iPhone is GSM and Verizon insists on sticking with the old, crudgy CDMA. So no, I cannot see the iPhone on Verizon’s network.

In the meantime, while everyone sorts out this mess, I will continue on with my Blackberry Storm. I love it, it works for me, I can do all of the things I used to do with my Palm Treo, it is more reliable than that ruckem, suckem iPhone and if I never see another iPhone again it will be too soon. There, I said it. My Crackberry was down — data wise — for a few hours. That iPhone, it just could not send a memo to tell me about its unplanned and numerous breaks. It just did it.