When Research In Motion (NASDAQ: RIMM) hit the scene a few years ago, not that many people were interested in accessing work and personal email on the go from a handheld device. But, the company changed the paradigm of wireless email by allowing customers to be instantly notified of incoming email messages regardless of where they were: on the subway, on vacation (ehh), or even in a meeting.

Since then, companies have realized that when it comes to wireless communications, one of the killer apps (if not the killer app) may not be voice calls, but email wireless access without the need to lug a laptop everywhere. RIM has thus captured the hearts and minds of millions of customers with its BlackBerry products (often called "CrackBerry" since they cause portable email addiction). It has released a multitude of cellphone/email handsets for every major U.S. wireless carrier recently, and has even shifted away from just business customers to consumer-targeted devices with cameras and MP3 playing capability onboard. What can RIM do for a second act? Try to sell products directly to consumers instead of relying entirely on wireless company sales?

RIM has recently partnered with U.S. cellphone retail outlet Wireless Giant to open a small store in a Detroit suburb in what could be the start to what Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) has done, and done well: sell products directly from retail stores. However, signaling to wireless companies that you're willing to bypass them and sell directly to consumers can sometimes inflame executive egos. Wireless carriers depend on those long-term contracts to actually make money, you see. But, in this case, RIM will be selling its phones -- many models, to be exact -- to work with networks such as AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless. That ought to cause any apprehension to disperse from the wireless telecom companies. At least, for now.

This post was part of AOL Money & Finance's Best & Worst of 2007 feature. The voting has now closed and readers have chosen Apple's iPhone as the hottest gadget of the year. Be sure and let us know in the comments if you are pleased with this result.

2007 was definitely the year of the gadget. Every year, personal electronics get sleeker, attain more cutting-edge technology and functionality, and make their way into the the pockets and homes of millions of consumers. So, let's decide on which one was the biggest hitter this year, shall we?

First up, the Apple iPhone. Arguable the largest and most anticipated cell phone launch in history was in the news constantly form its January announcement until its June launch with partner AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T). Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: APPL) shined again as a marketing machine and hyped the iPhone as much as it could while tech blogs and the news media seemed to have a lust for the device months before it ever hit a single hand. What the iPhone lacked in features it made up for in style and user experience. The device sold more than a million units in the first three months it was sold, and has helped Apple maintain its aura as the coolest tech company on the planet this year.

Next, we have the Nintendo Wii. This $250 gaming system is the size of a large hardback book but has great graphics and a whole new way to play games. It's not nearly as cutting edge as the Sony PlayStation 3 or Microsoft Xbox 360, but that's not what it's about. The Wii was meant for everyone (not just gamers), and the way it makes players physically interact with games has been hailed as brilliant. Consumers think so too, as the Wii has outsold the Xbox 360 almost every single month in 2007, and is way ahead of the more expensive PlayStation 3 in unit sales as well.