Blackberry Pearl

[SprNater]

Using Opera mini beta 4 and the newest OS for the pearl you get all that stuff. I have had my BB pearl for about 2 months now and there are really no downs to it, just relearning how to text and email which doesnt take long at all. And now I find it far faster than standard texting. With Opera mini you get the full page and a zoom function that formats just the text that you want fit the screen no problem. I would assume the sideload music and video with roxio is with the included USB cable and the newest OS software. This phone is great call quality is clear even with the speaker phone up all the way, I say go for it plenty of customization with www.blackberryforums.com also.

the pearl is a bit old, found this on giz about the newest verizon version of the pearl that sounds a lot better and i'm sure will make its way to cingular/tmobile

RIM finally announced the long-rumored CDMA EV-DO-happy BlackBerry Pearl 8130. Details include:
A 3.38-oz body that's just .55" thick
2-megapixel camera with "enhanced flash"
Built-in GPS with BlackBerry Maps and local search
Bluetooth stereo profile a 3.5mm for standard earphones
External microSD/SDHC memory card slot
Sideload music and video with included Roxio Media Manager for BlackBerry
Browser with Page View: full page on screen with magnifying glass
Expected from Verizon and Sprint very shortly, in shiny black amethyst or silver. [RIM via Electronista]<!--WEBBOT bot="HTMLMarkup" startspan ALT="Site Meter" --><SCRIPT language=JavaScript type=text/javascript>var site="s15gizmodo"</SCRIPT><SCRIPT language=JavaScript1.2 src="http://s15.sitemeter.com/js/counter.js?site=s15gizmodo" type=text/javascript> </SCRIPT><NOSCRIPT></NOSCRIPT><!-- Copyright (c)2002 Site Meter --><!--WEBBOT bot="HTMLMarkup" Endspan --><!--WEBBOT bot="HTMLMarkup" startspan ALT="Site Meter" --><SCRIPT language=JavaScript type=text/javascript>var site="sm7gizmodous"</SCRIPT><SCRIPT language=JavaScript1.2 src="http://sm7.sitemeter.com/js/counter.js?site=sm7gizmodous" type=text/javascript> </SCRIPT><NOSCRIPT></NOSCRIPT><!-- Copyright (c)2002 Site Meter --><!--WEBBOT bot="HTMLMarkup" Endspan -->

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[DeadGeneration]

AT&T uses a pretty crummy network. You know those verizon commercials that keep saying "it's the network"... they don't mean how many people you can call for tech support, haha.

 

[genericuser]

::slow clap::

you should really try out for last comic standing.

 

[jred321]

http://www.phonescoop.com/phones/finder.php

 

[EvilJen]

I had a windows mobile treo 750.. it may be overkill for what you want, but it is fantastic.

Also check with T-Mobile or whoever to see if they require a data plan for smartphones. Sometimes internet useage = airtime or extra charge. I know verizon wants 30 bucks a month for a data plan.

Yeah, we already know all that. It's like $10 for e-mail and $10 for the data plan or maybe it's $20 for the data plan. I dunno. I'm a girl and I saw it came in red so I was sold. Besides, aesthetically, it's a good looking, nice sized phone.

 

[EvilJen]

the razr's browser is pretty bad. opera mini makes it way better


the functions you're looking for are common to pretty much all phones. something like the pearl seems like overkill

All I care about is whether the phone is a piece of crap. I could care less if one thinks the applications it offers is overkill. (dunno)

 

[evilmonkeyMSP]

lol yeah, the data plan is $20 for unlimited data and email so its not a bad deal.

I just like the fact that w/ the blackberry you can load new programs on it and make the phone even better. So far given on what a few people who have it here have said its gonna be a go....

oh, and it comes in blue

 

[genericuser]

Yeah, we already know all that. It's like $10 for e-mail and $10 for the data plan or maybe it's $20 for the data plan. I dunno. I'm a girl and I saw it came in red so I was sold. Besides, aesthetically, it's a good looking, nice sized phone.

Just checking. I know way too many people who didn't buy any sort of data plan and then got destroyed on their first cell phone bill.

 

[EvilJen]

Just checking. I know way too many people who didn't buy any sort of data plan and then got destroyed on their first cell phone bill.

LOL! We're pretty well-versed in the cell phone arena but thanks for looking out for us.

 

[evilmonkeyMSP]

lol yeah, luckily we dont use s*** for anytime minutes now which allows us to get the smallest phone plan and after adding on the data plan for both of us the month bill still comes in at just under $100, before their $9,000 in taxes and fees of course lol

Just checking. I know way too many people who didn't buy any sort of data plan and then got destroyed on their first cell phone bill.

 

[genericuser]

Jess and I escape with a verizon family plan at the lowest level of minutes.

Although I am considering adding text messaging, because ever since I got my new number, people have been blowing me up with text messages at 15 cents a pop.

 

[evilmonkeyMSP]

texts are fun, but hopefully w/ email i can not deal w/ the texts because thats the only downfall w/ the T-mobile family plans, they dont have any small texting packages, only a 19.99 unlimited plan that covers everyone in the family plan....

 

[jred321]

to send texts via email (according to the internet, never actually done it):

T-Mobile: phonenumber@tmomail.net
Virgin Mobile: phonenumber@vmobl.com
Cingular: phonenumber@cingularme.com (probably changed)
Sprint: phonenumber@messaging.sprintpcs.com
Verizon: phonenumber@vtext.com
Nextel: phonenumber@messaging.nextel.com

 

[evilmonkeyMSP]

i figured there was a way to do it, thanks for the info jared.

to send texts via email (according to the internet, never actually done it):

T-Mobile: phonenumber@tmomail.net
Virgin Mobile: phonenumber@vmobl.com
Cingular: phonenumber@cingularme.com (probably changed)
Sprint: phonenumber@messaging.sprintpcs.com
Verizon: phonenumber@vtext.com
Nextel: phonenumber@messaging.nextel.com

 

[DeadGeneration]

When I first got my phone, verizon family plan, I didn't know all the terms and crap since it was just given to me. Anyway I decided to use AIM on the phone for a month and ended up with like 12,000 text messages at a dime a piece. I ended up buying into their texting plan to get out of that bill, which I think is like 5,000 texts and I stopped using the AIM function and only standard text message now.

 

[evilmonkeyMSP]

you can download www.beejive.com and its a multi IM program for AIM, yahoo etc that uses your data plan for IMs instead of SMS texts...

 

[MiaTurbo]

At work we have Blackberrys on T-mobile. i have a 8170, not a pearl. As far as t-mobile, it's service is comprable. As far as the pearl, i had a client with one, and helped set up. I don't like the trackball, nor the 2-characters per key.

otherthan that, I'm satisfied with the RIM capabilities. We have a BES at work, so I can't speak about RIM service through a provider.

 

[evilmonkeyMSP]

yeah, some people seem to prefer the side scroll tool but i think we'll be more happy w/ the mouse like trackball...

 

[jred321]

do blackberries use 3g networks for data or are they stuck on edge?

 

[evilmonkeyMSP]

edge